There is a short answer, a couple of longer answers and an even longer answer to your question–
The shortest answer is “Yes”, there are services that will do what you want, but the more you have them do, the more it will cost.
There are companies that will even start with a raw, generic idea and work it up into a fully-realized product, provided its viable of course, and for a price. Another thing that may possibly be a factor is that if this is going to be a commercial product (even if you only think maybe someday you might market it), you will probably also have to have it tested for various types of compliance and safety prior to any potential sale-- with some exceptions and caveats-- at the very least, you will not be able to sell it as a “Class ‘A’ Consumer Device” without the testing. Depending on what it is, you might get away with selling it as a “Class ‘B’ Commercial Device” with minimal testing, or else with little or no testing if it can be classified as an “OEM Embedded Device” (that may not be the correct name for the class) meaning it would be completely incorporated and used as a sub-component of a larger “product”. And there are variations to all of the above rules and classifications based on how it will ultimately be used, sold, incorporated, its voltage/power requirements, whether it is line-powered o
Canadian Circuits used to have freeware software for making gerber plots (http://www.canadiancircuits.com/). I haven’t looked there in a long while (years) so it may not be there any more or else not relevant. But I just did a google search for “gerber plot (freeware OR shareware)” and there were a number of offerings that came up. I think there is some free (open source) stuff you can get and run for Linux too-- my recollection is that there is a program called “pcb” or something similar for Linux that has all the various sortware accessories you’d want including routers, schematic capture, plotting, etc.
There’s also EaglePCB which I’ve only used their demo version many moons ago-- it came with some similar accessories.
I eventually standardized on ProCAD, which I still use to this day, albeit on a very old and antiquated computer!
Yes, that of course is the rub. Also be aware that all electronic components come pre-loaded from the factory with “magic blue smoke”. Once you do something to let the “magic blue smoke” escape, the device will no longer function. And to make it interesting, some mfgr’s include an extra “go-bang” feature which can really increase your excitement and thrill level, especially as you’re trying out the circuit for the first time or experiencing the “magic blue smoke”. Its amazing what they can cram into electronic circuits these days.
One serious warning and piece of advice-- whatever it is you’re tinkering with-- don’t let it stand between you and the door (or the floor, whichever’s closer) when you power it on for the first time.
And if you don’t think you’re suitably experienced or your skills aren’t up to the task-- leave it for the professionals, they can screw it up a lot better than you can…
Toss the Sharpie… er, I mean “high-cost etch-resist pen” and use a laser printer or else a copying machine to produce your board. Print it out backwards (copy it if you must to get it transfered to toner) and the literally “iron” it onto your board-- use a moderate heat-- not low, not the highest, something above the middle though and preferably put a buffering surface between it-- I just use a couple sheets of paper, works fine-- BUT be aware that you can get high-temperature transparency sheets that are perfect for this procedure. They cost a little extra-- but sometimes they can be re-used if you clean them right.
Thank you for your informative reply. I will check out the copmany you mention.
BTW, this is strictly for my own use. In fact I am not the designer of the circuit so although I have explicit permission to use the designer’s PDF to make and populate circuit boards for my own use, it would be a big no-no to sell. And the PDF is indeed a 1:1 image.
The circuit board is small and you are right - I could typically get two to four out of a single “standard” board size at the companies I’ve checked out (as I noted in my original post, there are a LOT of copmanies that will do prototyping (as they all seem to call it), but ONLY from a Gerber file).
