Homebrew PCBs

I've been looking around for a single source from which I can order a wide variety of parts. For example, at the moment I'd like to get the following:

Blank PCB (no resist coating)
some capacitors & resistors
R8C mcu
FT232R
some 4XXX and 74XX chips
PBL3717 stepper motor driver (or L297/298, etc.)

So far, the only place I've found that carries everything is DigiKey -- but they are more expensive, sometimes significantly so, compared to some other sites. I've found several sites that carry almost everything I want, but always something is missing.

The reason I'd like to find an inexpensive single source is to combine the shipping/handling costs -- if I have to place an order from two or three different places, the extra s/h is going to wipe out any savings. If there isn't anything better, I'll probably go with DigiKey, but I thought I'd ask here first!

Thanks,

Andy

goldmine-elec.com
www.allelectronics.com
http://alltronics.com/
no affiliation with any, other than satisfied customer.

> I've been looking around for a single source from which I can order a wide variety of parts.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "rmustakos" <rmustakos@...> wrote:
>
> goldmine-elec.com
> www.allelectronics.com
> http://alltronics.com/
> no affiliation with any, other than satisfied customer.
> 
> > I've been looking around for a single source from which I can order a wide variety of parts.
>


Check these to see if they suit your needs. 

http://www.bgmicro.com
http://www.futurlec.com
http://www.sparkfun.com
http://www.jameco.com
http://www.alliedelec.com
http://www.mouser.com
http://www.thinktink.com/

Goldmine has great prices on the copper board, but does not carry the R8C or FT232R. Neither All Electronics nor Alltronics carry these either. Hence my problem! :)

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "rmustakos" <rmustakos@...> wrote:

>
> goldmine-elec.com
> www.allelectronics.com
> http://alltronics.com/
> no affiliation with any, other than satisfied customer.
> 
> > I've been looking around for a single source from which I can order a wide variety of parts.
>

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "rmustakos" <rmustakos@...> wrote:
>
> goldmine-elec.com
> www.allelectronics.com
> http://alltronics.com/
> no affiliation with any, other than satisfied customer.
> 
> > I've been looking around for a single source from which I can order a wide variety of parts.
>

Mouser and Allied Electronics.
www.mouser.com
www.alliedelec.com

Thanks -- a couple of these were new to me. Unfortunately, I'm still striking out on trying to find everything on my list -- Futurlec and Sparkfun are both good sites; the former has a really nice selection of connectors, which is of interest. But neither of them carries the R8C. Neither does Jameco. Allied lists the R8C, but doesn't stock it, and they don't have the FT232R. Mouser has the FT232R, but not the R8C. Think & Tinker looks like a great source for PCB supplies ... but I didn't see anything else (may have missed it?). And so it goes -- I just don't understand why someone hasn't arranged the perfect source for my needs! :)

Sigh. Looks like Digikey is the only choice for one-stop shopping. Now I need to do the math and see whether their higher prices are outweighed by not having to pay multiple S&H. Either that or I need to give up on the R8C, even though my reading of their manuals since getting DJ's endorsement has made me really want to try one out ...

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "warrenbrayshaw" <warrenbrayshaw@...> wrote:

> 
> Check these to see if they suit your needs. 
> 
> http://www.bgmicro.com
> http://www.futurlec.com
> http://www.sparkfun.com
> http://www.jameco.com
> http://www.alliedelec.com
> http://www.mouser.com
> http://www.thinktink.com/
>

"awakephd" <a_wake@...> writes:
> Sigh. Looks like Digikey is the only choice for one-stop
> shopping. Now I need to do the math and see whether their higher
> prices are outweighed by not having to pay multiple S&H. Either that
> or I need to give up on the R8C, even though my reading of their
> manuals since getting DJ's endorsement has made me really want to
> try one out ...

Note that digikey doesn't charge handling.  If you use USmail, it's
just a few dollars for shipping.  I use digikey as my first choice
supplier (with priority usmail, about $5, but regular mail for small
packages is $2.36), as I've found nobody else that carries all the
things I buy, although the occasional specialty item requires other
suppliers (mouser, jameco top my list).

Only if I need to go to a second supplier do I do a price comparison,
and by from each whatever is cheaper there.

Looks like you have an 'opertunity' here.  Develop a 'shopping' site that
can access the
available inventory of each of the vendors, and give a 'least overall cost'
shopping list
with spreadsheets or forms that could be faxed or emailed to each vendor.

Pay for it with a 'fee' ($1/set of orders, or .5% of amount ordered) or
better, by ads on the web site.
Keep adding more 'obscure' vendors.  I'd start with digikey, jameco, then
down the shopping list
of others. ... Also, allow users to block vendors they have a prejudice
against for any reason (bad
shopping experience, customer service, etc ... or for no reason at all).

I only want 2% of your revenues for the idea ;) ... Enjoy

IHS ... Jack


On Mon, Mar 30, 2009 at 6:25 PM, awakephd <a_wake@...> wrote:

> <snip>
> Sigh. Looks like Digikey is the only choice for one-stop shopping. Now I
> need to do the math and see whether their higher prices are outweighed by
> not having to pay multiple S&H. Either that or I need to give up on the R8C,
> even though my reading of their manuals since getting DJ's endorsement has
> made me really want to try one out ...
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Jack Coats <jack@...> wrote:
>
> Looks like you have an 'opertunity' here.  Develop a 'shopping' site that
> can access the
> available inventory of each of the vendors, and give a 'least overall cost'
> shopping list
> with spreadsheets or forms that could be faxed or emailed to each vendor.

I have found findchips.com to be pretty good for this kind of thing.

Rats. Another great idea ruined by the inconvenient fact that someone else got there first. Sigh. In addition to the world arranging itself to meet my needs, I would like it also to arrange itself to meet my timing! :)

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "javaguy11111" <javaguy11111@...> wrote:

>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Jack Coats <jack@> wrote:
> >
> > Looks like you have an 'opertunity' here.  Develop a 'shopping' site that
> > can access the
> > available inventory of each of the vendors, and give a 'least overall cost'
> > shopping list
> > with spreadsheets or forms that could be faxed or emailed to each vendor.
> 
> I have found findchips.com to be pretty good for this kind of thing.
>

Thanks, DJ -- I had noticed that, and should have mentioned it as one of the variables in the pricing equation. The real sticking point for me in going with DigiKey is that Goldmine (and maybe others) is so much cheaper on blank PCB; I keep trying to find some magic combination that will let me have it all ... maybe I've watched "High School Musical" with my daughters one too many times! :)

But I think you are right -- DigiKey is going to be the best solution, at least for everything else.

Andy

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, DJ Delorie <dj@...> wrote:

>
> Note that digikey doesn't charge handling.  If you use USmail, it's
> just a few dollars for shipping.  I use digikey as my first choice
> supplier (with priority usmail, about $5, but regular mail for small
> packages is $2.36), as I've found nobody else that carries all the
> things I buy, although the occasional specialty item requires other
> suppliers (mouser, jameco top my list).
>

What I do is keep a list of what I want from each supplier.  In my
case, it's a spreadsheet that adds up the costs and adds shipping.
When it gets to be enough stuff, the order goes in.  I may have to
wait a while longer for some low-priority projects, but it saves money
in the long run.

Yep. ... but the ideas are still out there.  I still think there is a market
for a Mr.Fusion! (ref: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763/ )


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Eh, ideas are cheap.

No-one has done it before because it's too hard to do.  It's a lot of work
even to do it with a few suppliers and a few hundred parts, been there, done
that.

First you need to obtain the catalog for every supplier, (& keep it up to
date, including specials), then you need to cross-reference all of the
individual parts across suppliers, then allow for price breaks and
discounts, and we haven't even gotten to shipping yet.

Try it with something 'trivial', like just listing 5W resistors from a half
a dozen suppliers.  You'd be surprised at how long it takes.

Tony


> Rats. Another great idea ruined by the inconvenient fact that someone else
got there
> first. Sigh. In addition to the world arranging itself to meet my needs, I
would like it
> also to arrange itself to meet my timing! :)
> 
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "javaguy11111" <javaguy11111@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Jack Coats <jack@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Looks like you have an 'opertunity' here.  Develop a 'shopping' site
that
> > > can access the
> > > available inventory of each of the vendors, and give a 'least overall
cost'
> > > shopping list
> > > with spreadsheets or forms that could be faxed or emailed to each
vendor.

> >
> > I have found findchips.com to be pretty good for this kind of thing.
> >