Viagrid – PCB template for rapid PCB prototyping with factory-made vias [video]
21 comments
·October 27, 2025JKCalhoun
sokoloff
I would definitely use this to knock together quick prototypes before ordering boards from China.
So many times that I’d happily pay $20 to try a board right fricking now (and I doubt they’ll be $20 all-in).
For me, it would replace breadboarding, not replace a final prototype PCB before committing to a first assembly run.
marcosdumay
> I'm a sucker for solder masks, silkscreening…
The author of the video has some previous work on solder masks and silk layers. You may want to check the earlier laser manufacturing videos.
altairprime
That fitting problem sounds like an excellent job for a computer program! I wonder how many prebuilt PCB layouts would be necessary to fit most hobbyist requests.
androiddrew
I tried the laser etched PCB with the same laser and the same settings, I could not get it to etch through the copper. No clue why. Always impressed with the Opulo guys, but wish it was reproducible.
LarsDu88
It's a shame there aren't US manufacturers who can manufacture custom PCBs as cheaply as JLPCB or PCBWay.
These types of lasers might be a stopgap if tariffs make buying from those companies inordinately expensive, however the extreme cost, and the need to do a bunch of cleanup kind of makes me suspect there needs to be another iteration of this tech.
willis936
OSHpark and sunstone are pretty good. circuithub is serviceable for turnkey assembly (though they might outsource fab overseas, uncertain).
the__alchemist
Without assembly, I'm not sure how I'd use OshPark for practical purposes. We need a non-China vertically-integrated setup.
all2
I've had problems with Sunstone since they got bought by a company in the Midwest. It may just be corporate integration pains, but still.
Specifically we had issues with added graphics not in my GERBERS, and some through hole plating issues.
willis936
Yeah that's fair. I don't use them very often. They're in a similar bin as Advanced in that regard.
inferiorhuman
Right, but OSH Park competes on quality not price. In fact the other day I came across a reddit post from the owner of OSH Park explaining that e.g. JLC is selling their finished products below his material cost. Add on to that the subsidized shipping and of course they're going to be well below what any US based company can offer.
https://old.reddit.com/r/PrintedCircuitBoard/comments/9bt5ed...
K0balt
I’ve had good results with jlcpcb and I push their manufacturing limits a little bit now and then to get the miniaturization I need. 0402, 5mills, tight vias, small BGA no bad boards yet (n~1000). Tried pcba too, worked, but a small sample size. Even in HASL they work and their stencils are dead-on.
And $2.10 plus shipping for 5 boards, $7.50 for ten (4layer FR4, HASL) is crazily subsidized for prototyping. It’s like free prototyping boards. Even 6 layer and flex boards are cheap. They also have crazy cheap CNC and 3DP, but I haven’t used that yet.
Also the integration of the free design tools (easyEDA pro , DFM review, etc) is unbelievably efficient with one-click to order parts or boards lol
I haven’t used had a great customer experience so far, but I do suspect they are either subsidized or use a lot of loss leaders to pull people into the ecosystem.
Other companies may offer better quality, but I’m fine with Toyota, I don’t need Rolls Royce for what I’m doing.
wrs
That post is 7 years old and JLC has changed a lot since then. It would be interesting to hear his current impressions (presumably they're still doing competitive comparisons).
brg
In the 90’s we ordered them from TX
Teever
So glad to see a Stephen Hawes video make the front page. I've been trying for a few years now to get discussion going around his opensource pick and place the LumenPNP[0]
His goal of bringing small scale manufacturing down to the workshop / home garage level is really inspiring and is especially relevant in the modern era of tariffs and economic upheaval.
To get good at something people need to get hands on experience and it needs to be affordable and relatively easy to use. The kinds of tools that Stephen is promoting make that possible and that's critical if we want people to get good at building things.
Topgamer7
I find his videos very interesting. And I'm always a proponent of open systems and processes.
I will say that his presentation style always tilts me a bit. It's his laugh/excitement always seems forced/fake.
the__alchemist
Ahhhh. Another one. I'm convinced there is not a single acronym/technical short word I pronounce [in my head] the same way as other people. C'est la Via.
Retr0id
... how were you pronouncing PCB?
bongodongobob
I don't really get this. If I'm doing vias, I'm nearly finished with prototyping. Not to mention routing is a part of that and I don't want to route twice.
coryrc
I guess you've never used QFN packages nor high-speed digital buses.
Also you don't have to reroute, you can build it the same.
Cool that people are trying new things. And I sure hate waiting for a PCB order to make its way from Hong Kong or Taiwan to Nebraska.
I'm not sure I want the trade-off of having to try to fit my existing circuit into those pre-populated vias.
Part of the joy of PCB layout is trying to be "optimal". That might be optimal in board size, optimal in the elegance of the trace layouts. I even trying to minimize vias (or not have them altogether). With prefab vias, there will be kludges to work my own vias into those locations. And, honestly, the unused vias will annoy me as well.
I'm a sucker for solder masks, silkscreening… I think I am too in love with what I get back from Hong Kong and Taiwan.
My "quick prototyping" consists of breadboarding and trashy perf-board mockups.