Astonishing PCB Quality from PCBWay for My Retro Tech CPU Project
I built a homemade retro CPU using classic 74-series DIP logic chips and wire-wrap construction — a true retro tech project — and documented everything on GitHub (fortinsylvain/MyCpu). When it came time to fabricate the custom PCB, I turned to PCBWay — and the experience was outstanding. I'm happy to share my experience here. First, I transferred my handwritten schematic into KiCad and completed the routing for each component. When it came time to submit the design, I was impressed by PCBWay’s one-click KiCad integration — all design files were automatically submitted to the factory with a single click. No file packaging, no ZIP uploads — just click and go! The ordering process was fast and seamless. The web interface was intuitive and transparent, allowing me to track each step of the production process in real time. The PCBs arrived astonishingly quickly, properly boxed and well-protected. Although I ordered 5 boards, PCBWay generously included 6 — a thoughtful bonus! The boards had a clear silkscreen, precise solder mask, and excellent overall build quality. The soldering process went smoothly, and on first power-on, the board worked! The transfer from wire-wrap prototype to professional PCB was a complete success. I also discovered a strong online community around PCBWay, full of shared open-source hardware projects — very inspiring! Huge thanks to the team at PCBWay for helping bring my dream project to life. I’ll definitely be back for future builds! — Sylvain Fortin