Prototyping Surface-Mount Boards

[Rho_HV]

Anyone knows the best way to make surface mount boards to solder and test SMT components? I usually buy copper clad boards and make cuts on the surface to divide the board into voltage nodes, but it is really tedious and ineffective. Anyone knows a better way?

thanks

 

[gar]

120620-1242 EDT

Buy Pre-Sensitized Positive Acting PC stock, like GC 21-334.
As a search string in Google enter --- GC 21-334.
You also need etchant which is ferric chloride. Needs to be heated, use an IR bulb.

Or use a source such as:
http://www.expresspcb.com/index.htm
http://www.expresspcb.com/expresspcbhtm/tips.htm

Also look into Allegro isolated current sensors.

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[n1ist]

For quick boards, I use toner transfer (print the artwork on an old magazine with a laser printer, and use a laminator to fuse it to the board). You can still get FeCl etchant at Radio Shack. Many people use muritatic acid/hydrogen peroxide as an etchant.
I use KiCAD for layout; it's free, reasonably easy to use, and generates Gerber files so I can send them to any board house.

Honestly, it's hard to beat ExpressPCB on cost for fast turnaround if you can fit your design in their miniboard service. If I can wait two weeks, I usually use Itead Studio (I believe Seeed Studio uses the same board house). While I haven't used it, the service over at DorkbotPDX has gotten very good praise on line.

For volume, I have used Itead, Gold Phoenix, PCBCart, and PCBGeek.
/mike