Impact of Tariffs on PCB Fab

[For The Popcorn]

I finally threw in the towel for the strange (to me) optical encoder circuit on the vending machines and laid out a more conventional circuit. Since these machines are 25+ years old, the LEDs in the photo interupters may be getting pretty dim too – they're on when the .machine is powered up, so they have a lot of hours.

The schematic shows a pretty standard arrangement for an optical encoder. A buck converter module drops in 24 volt supply voltage to 5 volts. A Schmidt trigger conditions to signal to a PIC18F timer input. I've added an n-channel MOSFET so the LED can be powered only when needed; the gate is pulled high so this feature can be ignored if desired.

The PCB is mounted with screws through the encoder ears. The encoder fits in the exact space of the original. I've used a 5mm removable terminal block for connections, but I'll probably just solder a short pigtail to a Molex plug to mate with the existing cable.

I've ordered the boards from Elecrow. They do not charge extra for v-scoring. In a less than 100mm × 100mm panel, I can get 6 boards

Cost to build 5 panels of 6 boards (30 total): $1

DHL shipping: ~ $25 (seems like it's increased by ~ 30%)

Tariffs: ~ $25

Total charge: just over $51.

 

[Ian Rogers]

Tell us the funny part!!

If Donny wants you to make in the good ol' USA.!! How much?

 

[For The Popcorn]

Tell us the funny part!!

I wish there was a funny part. With Congress passing his budget today, millions of people will lose their health-care, many rural hospitals will close, food assistance programs, including school lunch programs will end (Meals On Wheels for the elderly have already been cut, even though the cost was less than trump's golf trips). Very small tax cuts for the middle class will end in a few years while massive tax cuts for the uber-wealthy have been made permanent.

I could go on, but I know I'll be banned if I do.

The one absolute true of trump and all of his actions is that cruelty and fear is the goal. Those people cheering this budget bill are the lowest scrum of the earth.

 

[jpanhalt]

I wish there was a funny part. With Congress passing his budget today, millions of people will lose their health-care, many rural hospitals will close, food assistance programs, including school lunch programs will end (Meals On Wheels for the elderly have already been cut, even though the cost was less than trump's golf trips). Very small tax cuts for the middle class will end in a few years while massive tax cuts for the uber-wealthy have been made permanent.

I could go on, but I know I'll be banned if I do.

The one absolute true of trump and all of his actions is that cruelty and fear is the goal. Those people cheering this budget bill are the lowest scrum of the earth.

Great laugh and best Independence day in the past 4 years. Thank you for echoing Hakeem Jeffries.

Has ETO been bought by Facebook?

 

[For The Popcorn]

You're on the wrong side of history jpanhalt .

 

[MaxHeadRoom78]

I just recieved my order from PCBway to Canada, 2 bucks for 5 boards 8. for Global Shipping, no tarrifs.
2 weeks delivery!

 

[For The Popcorn]

Could Canada adopt Washington, Oregon and California please?

I backed the mini desktop Cubiko CNC machine from Genmitso several months back and they have finally started to ship. I was dreading the tariff but they are being delivered in the US without additional charge. Looks like, with my backer number in the 2000 range, it's going to be mid August before I get mine

I am relieved about the tariffs, especially when that amount could have been more than I paid for it.