Colorful Creations with the New JLCPCB PCB Service

PCBs aren't just for circuits

by Anne Barela

published July 31, 2024, last edited July 31, 2024

posted in Hacks Wearables

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Beginner

Project guide

Ordering Your Boards

You can place an order directly in EasyEDA, or uploading Gerber files generated from EasyEDA on JLCPCB's quote page.

If you are using a saved Gerber file, click the Add Gerber file.

You need to set the corresponding options in the JLCPCB ordering system to select multi-color silkscreen. If you don't use their settings, it can cause delays or incorrect boards.

The Gerber view is not very accurate as far as visualizing all the layers. If you have anything more than a simple board, use a 3rd party Gerber file viewer. And note all Gerber file viewers will NOT show the color image used, it will show blank. That's not an error as the PNG file is a special addition by JLCPCB.

Multi-color silkscreen currently requires the following PCB specifications：

Layers	2 layers,4 layers
PCB Color	White
Outer Copper Weight	1oz
Surface Finish	ENIG
Gold Thickness	1u
Via Covering	Tented, Untented, Plugged
Delivery Format	Single PCB, Panel by Customer

See the image above showing these settings.

Likely 2 layers would be correct and there is likely no vias in art designs so whatever results in no cost should be used.

Check the dimensions to ensure they are rather close to the dimensions of your board. If they are not, double check things. You don't want to pay for more board space than you want to use.

IMPORTANT: Advanced Settings

This tripped me up. The "Advanced Options" below the board information didn't show anything! You MUST expand the section yourself with the "v" in the upper right of that section (circled in green), making it a ^.

Now select the settings above ensuring you click "EasyEDA multi-color silkscreen" under Silkscreen Technology.

If you fail to select this, you will not get the color printing you want.

Save to Cart

Now focus on the order details in the upper right portion of the page (I "circled" it in orange). The required ENIG finish adds cost if there is bare copper. Don't check Build Time, as there is no parts assembly on these boards.

Ordering

Go to your cart and select the PCB you just made. The standard order is for 5 copies and that should be good to get them in hand to be sure they are exactly what you want.

Select shipping. This will likely be more than the boards cost. It is just the way it is when the only service that does this process is in China.

Pay and complete the order. Relax and Wait.

Review and Status

JLCPCB engineers review all designs to ensure they meet the company's design rules. Any perceived issues and they will contact you per the information you provide on ordering.

Note that is you did not specify a copper pour, for example your design is only printed on the silkscreen layer, the engineers may flag it as not having copper layers. You need to let them know that is fine. If you are having ENIG color peeking out, perhaps the copper layer didn't get specified and you need to fix things.

You can return to your JLCPCB user page and check on orders to see the status of the board at the various manufacturing steps.

Likewise they will provide shipping information per the service you checked. If the service offers tracking, you may use the tracking number to follow the shipping process.

Page last edited July 31, 2024