For prototype and hobbiest projects getting parts is a challenge. There are a number of ways to buy parts:
- Direct from the manufacturer - But some don't sell direct or have high minimum order dollar value or quanities.
- From a walk in retail store - Although Radio Shack, Fry's, etc. have large stocks, they almost never have all the parts needed.
- eBay - You might get a good price, but the quality and functionability are really not known
- Internet vendors - most are OK, but until you learn about them delivery times may not be very good
- Back in 2002 you could build many small projects using only Radio Shack parts. But in 2007 it seems they have discontinued both the catalog and many of the parts. So they are no longer a viable source in my opinion.
They all have on line ordering and a hard copy catalog
| Disty |
Phone |
Tech Support |
Sales |
Handling |
Comment |
| Digikey | (800) 344-4539 |
online form |
online form |
$5 if <$25 |
They are probably the #1 Microchip disty.
Excellent engineer oriented
web pages with excellent search function that leads to price, delivery
and more detailed technical info. But they don't carry all the
manufacturers that I buy from. On line data sheets. 3 Dec 2008 3:20 Placed on line order. 3 Dec 2008 4:20 Order processed & shipped USPS Priority 5 Dec 2008 Order arrived. |
| Mouser | (800) 346-6873 |
tech@mouser.com | sales@mouser.com | 0 |
Another high quality disty almost as good as
Digikey On line data sheets. |
| Jameco |
(800) 831-4242 |
tech@jameco.com |
domestic@jameco.com international@jameco.com |
$5 if <$25 |
Think of Jameco as the generic discount
disty. Their prices can be way lower than the big guys.
good selection of Wall Warts, LEDs, etc. On line data sheets but under Jameco# not part number so don't show up in Google. |
| McMaster Carr |
(562) 463-4277 | online form | online form | 0 |
This is the place to get mechanical parts like taps & dies including odd sizes and raw material stock |
| Olander |
(800) 538-1500 | customercare@olander.com |
Fastners of all kinds in stock Best to phone, the on line tools are not too good, but the phone service is top rate |
||
| Newark Farnell |
(800) 463-9275 |
? |
quotes@newarkinone.com |
$5 if <$25 |
Another high quality disty almost as good as
Digikey $5 handling fee merchandize < $25 |
| Allied |
(800) 433-5700 |
? |
on line RFQ |
$25 min order |
Another high quality disty almost as good as Digikey |
| Arrow
Components |
(877) 237-8621 |
online form | online form | ? |
limited hours No minimum easy to deal with. |
| American Microsemiconductor | (973) 377-9566 | online form | (973) 377-9566 | ? |
they buy up obsolete invertory no experience with them. There is an on line store & data sheets |
| Powell |
(800) 235-7880 |
? |
info@powell.com |
? |
no catalog, limited product line, but good prices |
| Future |
n.a. |
? |
? |
? |
the only place you can get LumiLEDs |
| Segor Germany |
n.a. |
? |
? |
? |
stocks
Philips magnetic sensors |
| Techni-Tool |
(800) 832-4866 |
? |
? |
$10 if
<$50
|
Sells solder paste, needles, etc
whereas the big distys only sell in case lots drop shipped. Great
phone tech support and good attitude. |
The Electronics Source Book - Useful if you know the manufacturer and part number and are looking for stock.Back to Brooke's Products for Sale, Military Information, Home page
Thomas Register - Back PI (Pre Internet) every company purchased the encyclopedic volumes known as the Thomas Register. That's how you got the phone number of a company that made what you were looking for. Today many companies use the Thomas Register as their only web presence. Many of these companies don't have their own web page and may be slow to respond to email.
Google - You can find almost anything here, but it may take looking at hundreds of summaries
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