Fast 5 Protos Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

NOTE: If you require PC boards outside of the Fast 5 Protos service capabilities, please visit our company for details at,
RB Design and Fabrication for full Printed Circuit Board layout, manufacturing, and turn-key assembly solutions..

Fast 5 Protos general company FAQs.
Fast 5 Protos product and pricing matrix FAQs.
Fast 5 Protos manufacturing FAQs.
Fast 5 Protos technical file setup FAQs.
Fast 5 Protos ordering FAQs.
Fast 5 Protos shipping FAQs.

Fast 5 Protos general company FAQs.
Who is Fast 5 Protos?
What are Fast 5 Protos?
What are the hours of operation?
How do I contact Fast 5 Protos?

Who is Fast 5 Protos?
Fast 5 Protos is a quick-turn prototype solution made available through RB Design, Inc. RB Design offers PCB services including PCB layout, PCB manufacturing, turn-key assembly, and quick turn prototype PCBs. All Fast 5 Protos are manufactured at our facility in the U.S.A.


What are Fast 5 Protos?
Fast 5 Protos stands for a quantity of five printed circuit boards manufactured in 24-48 hours. Proto meaning PCB prototype. We offer a prototype PCB build with the option of add-ons, including soldermask, solder finish, silkscreen, and delivery.


What are the hours of operation?
Office hours are 8:00 AM-5:00 PM PST. We are closed on weekends and on all major U.S. holidays. However, through Fast5Protos.com, our customers can get quotes and place orders 24 hours a day.


How do I contact Fast 5 Protos?
We accept orders 24/7 through our on-line website. Email is available during regular business hours through our sales department at sales@fast5protos.com. You may also reach us by telephone at 888-722-2621, M-F 8:00 AM-5:00 PM PST.

Fast 5 Protos product and pricing matrix FAQs.
What are the standard PC board features?
What additional add-ons can I get with my board?
What are the Fast 5 Protos prices?
Can I order more than 5 prototype PCBs?


What are the standard PC Board features?
Available PCB Layer counts are 2-8.
Maximum board size is 14" x 16".
Material is FR-4.
Final thickness is 0.062".
1oz. copper finish.
OSP finish.
0.010" minimum finished hole size.
Electrical test comes included with all multi-layer (4-8 layers) boards.


What additional add-ons can I get with my board?
(Add-on features below will incur additional costs)
Green solder mask both sides +$100.00.
Solder finish (non-ROHS) with green soldermask + $130.00.
White silkscreen (legend) + $40.00 per side.


What are the Fast 5 Protos prices?
Standard prices are based on square inch size of your PCB and layer count. All Fast 5 Protos orders come with 5 prototype PC boards. The standard boards come with OSP finish, no soldermask and no silkscreen. Add-on features are available at additional costs.

Board size in square inches	0-10	11-20	21-30	31-40	41-70	71-160	161-224
2-Layer	$125	$145	$165	$195	$225	$255	$325
4-Layer	$295	$355	$395	$435	$465	$555	$815
6-Layer	$405	$455	$495	$535	$575	$665	$1,025
8-Layer	$505	$555	$605	$645	$695	$795	$1,175

Can I order more than 5 boards?
No. If you require more than 5 boards you can either place two orders (get 10) with Fast 5 Protos or contact RB Design for other specific needs.

Fast 5 Protos manufacturing FAQs.
What is the Fast 5 Protos manufacturing policy?
What is the minimum trace width allowed?
What is the minimum spacing between traces to copper lands?
What is the minimum annular ring on vias?
What is the closest copper to edge of board?
Are the boards electrically tested?
Can you handle controlled impedance requirements?
To what acceptability standards do you build?


What is the Fast 5 Protos manufacturing policy?
1. We will not edit, correct, or revise your CAD files in anyway to assist in the manufacturing of your board due to mistakes in the supplied gerbers or drill data.
2. No UL logo or date code stamps will be added by us during manufacturing unless it is already included in the supplied files.
3. Boards will be routed to the board outline. We will not rout internal cut-outs or slots.
4. Maximum number of unique drill sizes allowed is 12 tools.
5. Plated holes. The annular ring (from edge of hole to pad edge) of the pad covering the plated hole must be minimum 6 mils for vias each side and 8 mils for component holes each side. If the annular ring over the plated hole is less than this a non-plated hole may occur.
6. Fast 5 Protos parameters will over-ride any notes. (Example: Drill drawing notes)
7. No edges will be beveled.
8. Boards are built As is. Built as is means we will manufacture your PC Boards from the data you supply with no edits performed by us. Your boards may have some issues if your data does not comply with the Fast5protos manufacturing requirements stated here.

What is the minimum circuit trace width allowed?
The minimum traces/circuit width is 0.006" (6 mils). If the trace width is less than 6 mils there may be a loss in copper during etching resulting in a possible open or break.


What is the minimum spacing/gap between circuit traces to copper lands?
The minimum gap between traces and copper lands is 0.006" (6 mils). If your clearance between copper is less than 6 mils there may be a chance the copper will bridge during etching resulting in a short.


What is the minimum annular ring on vias?
The minimum annular ring on vias is 0.006" (6 mils) each side of the hole. The pad must be large enough to tent over the hole otherwise you may lose the metal in the hole during etching resulting in a non-plated through hole.


What is the closest copper to edge of board?
The closest copper traces and land fills to edge of PC board is 0.010" (10 mils). If the copper runs closer to the edge it may be exposed during board rout.


Are the boards electrically tested?
All multi-layer (4-8 layer) boards come electrically tested as part of the service. Two-layer boards are not tested.


Can you handle controlled impedance requirements?
No. This feature is not available through the Fast 5 Protos service. However, you may visit RB Design for complete board design and manufacturing needs.


To what acceptability standards do you build?
Fast 5 Protos are built to IPC-A-6011/6012 latest revision Class 2 with inspection based on IPC-A-600 latest revision.

Fast 5 Protos technical file setup FAQs.
What files do you need to manufacture my Fast 5 Protos PCB?
How do I send my files?
Do you recommend any file-generating software?
Do you recommend gerber/drill file reader?
What if I don't have gerber files?


What files do you need to manufacture my Fast 5 Protos PCB?
The following files need to be compressed into one ZIP file and uploaded through the web site at order placement. Our web application will only accept one ZIP file per order. Your file set needs to be complete with the following data:

1. Gerber files in 274X or 274D formats. (274D format will require an aperture or environment file)
2. Excellon NC drill file.
3. Drill tool list specifying finished hole sizes, hole quantities, and plated/non-plated holes.


How do I send my files?
You will be prompted to upload your files through the web site during order placement. Your files are encrypted and maintained in our secure database which is then transfered to manufacturing through Fast 5 Protos web application.


Do you recommend any file generating software?
Common layout packages include Altium/Protel, PADS, OrCAD, and Eagle.


Do you recommend gerber/drill file reader?
We recommend downloading Pentalogix®, ViewMate® gerber viewer. It is a free viewer that can import most gerber layers and drill files.


What if I don't have gerber files?
Gerber and drill data is needed to manufacture your PC boards. If you are having difficulties obtaining your gerber and drill data you can contact us through RB Design to see available options.

Fast 5 Protos ordering FAQs
What is the Fast 5 Protos ordering policy?
What types of payments do you accept?
How do the on-line transactions take place?
What is the cut-off time for orders?
When can I order boards through Fast 5 Protos?
Can I place orders over the phone?
How can I cancel my order?


What is the Fast 5 Protos ordering policy?
1. All orders must conform to our technical file setup. See technical file setup FAQs.
2. Orders are not guaranteed to be accepted by Fast 5 Protos until files passes our engineering review.
3. Boards will be manufactured per supplied customer files.
4. We will not edit, correct, or revise your fabrication files in anyway to assist in the manufacturing of your board due to mistakes in the supplied gerber or drill data.
5. All files will be retained for six months.
6. Prices are subject to change at any time.
7. We reserve the right to change prices and delivery at any time.
8. Orders can be shipped within the U.S. only.


What types of payments do you accept?
Payment terms are by credit card transactions through Fast 5 Protos website only. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.


How do the on-line transactions take place?
Bank card transactions are processed electronically through Fast 5 Protos web site by means of a secure Internet gateway with our provider, Authorize.Net.


What is the cut-off time for orders?
Orders must be received by 12:00 noon PST to count as the first day of manufacturing. Orders received after 12:00 noon will start on the following business day.


When can I order boards through Fast 5 Protos?
Orders can be placed 24/7 though the Fast 5 Protos web site. However, orders are only received during regular business hours, 8am-5pm PST, Monday-Friday.


Can I place orders over the phone?
No. In order to offer the most competitive prices to our customers, we only accept orders through the Fast 5 Protos website.


How can I cancel my order?
The process of your PC Board starts as soon as the order is submitted through the website, so it is not possible to cancel your order. We recommend you preview your gerber and drill files with a viewer before submitting your order. If you don't have a way to view your files we recommend downloading Pentalogix free viewerViewMate.

Fast 5 Protos shipping FAQs.
How are orders shipped?
Do you deliver orders?
What is the shipping schedule for 2 layer PCBs?
What is the shipping schedule for multi-layer (4-8 layers) PCBs?
Are you closed for any holidays?


How are orders shipped?
Orders are shipped UPS Ground free. UPS Red pre-paid available for $40.00 charge. UPS Blue and UPS Red Collect.


Do you deliver orders?
Yes. Orders can be delivered in San Diego County for an additional $50.00.


What is the shipping schedule for 2 layer PCBs?
(Orders must be received by 12:00 noon PT to count as the first day.)
Orders received by 12 noon Monday will ship Tuesday.
Orders received by 12 noon Tuesday will ship Wednesday.
Orders received by 12 noon Wednesday will ship Thursday.
Orders received by 12 noon Thursday will ship Friday.
Orders received by 12 noon Friday will ship Monday.


What is the shipping schedule for multi-layer (4-8 layers) PCBs?
(Orders must be received by 12:00 noon PT to count as the first day.)
Orders received by 12 noon Monday will ship Wednesday.
Orders received by 12 noon Tuesday will ship Thursday.
Orders received by 12 noon Wednesday will ship Friday.
Orders received by 12 noon Thursday will ship Monday.
Orders received by 12 noon Friday will ship Tuesday.


Are you closed for any holidays?
Yes. Fast 5 Protos will be closed for shipping and manufacturing during major U.S. Holidays. Manufacturing and shipping time skips closed days and starts from resume date. However, orders can still be placed through the Fast 5 Protos website any time. See our holiday shipping schedule below.

Holiday shipping schedule

Calendar 2009

Thanksgiving Holiday:
We will be closed November 26th. Jobs scheduled to ship November 26th will ship on November 30th.
We will be closed November 27th. Jobs scheduled to ship November 27th will ship on December 1st.

Christmas Holiday:
We will be closed December 24th. Jobs scheduled to ship December 24th will ship on January 4th 2010.
We will be closed December 25th. Jobs scheduled to ship December 25th will ship on January 4th 2010
We will be closed December 28th. Jobs scheduled to ship December 28th will ship on January 4th 2010
We will be closed December 29th. Jobs scheduled to ship December 29th will ship on January 4th 2010
We will be closed December 30th. Jobs scheduled to ship December 30th will ship on January 4th 2010

New Years:
We will be closed December 31st. Jobs scheduled to ship December 31st will ship on January 4th 2010

Calendar 2010

New Years:
We will be closed January 1st. Jobs scheduled to ship January 1st will ship on January 4th.

Memorial Day:
We will be closed TBD. Jobs scheduled to ship TBD will ship on TBD.

Independence Day:
We will be closed TBD. Jobs scheduled to ship TBD will ship on TBD.

Labor Day:
We will be closed TBD. Jobs scheduled to ship TBD will ship on TBD.