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Suppliers

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Revision as of 18:46, 25 February 2010 by Ril3y (talk | contribs) (→‎Printed Circuit Boards; Fab, Supplies, Assembly)

Purpose of this page

List of suppliers for various materials and items and user reviews.

Please add new suppliers and user comment lines (with attribution / date) Suppliers can be rated by in the user comment lines. Convention is [1] = worst, [5] = best

See also

Pumping Station: One's Sources page

Electronics, Robotics, CNC...

  • Mouser Electronics
    • [4] Very complete line of electronics parts. Good searchability, fast service, decent prices on parts. Tools and some other items are expensive (alden 10/02/09)
  • DigiKey
    • [3] Very complete line of electronics parts. I find it harder to navigate than Mouser, and more expensive. I generally don't use them unless I can't find something elsewhere (alden 10/02/09)
  • Avnet Electronics Marketing
    • [4] US electronics parts distributor, like Mouser or DigiKey. Good searchability. Avnet Inc. also offers consulting, design, and FAE services (will 10/02/09).
  • Jameco
    • [3] Well known supplier - reasonably complete line (not as complete as Mouser, Digi-key, Avnet), some prices are very good. (alden 10/04/09)
  • Hebei (China) LEDs only
    • [5] Best prices on LEDs I've found - but does have a $199 minimum (see Buy LEDs Online for smaller orders). Ship fast. Worked through a problem with them and they handled me fairly. (alden 10/02/09)
  • Buy LEDs Online LEDs only
    • [4] US distributor for Hebei. Same stuff. Prices are more expensive but no minimum. (alden 10/02/09)
  • Modern Device
    • These guys have pretty good arduino clones, the Bare-Bones-Board and the Really-Bare-Bones-Board, kits from about $10. Fast & cheap shipping, good customer service. (jackson 10/02/09 -- did a bulk order from them.)
  • Semiconductor Store
    • Esoteric electronics, like Nordic ANT radios, some robotics parts. Some parts can have high minimums (alden 10/04/09)
  • All Electronics Surplus
    • [4] Nice bargain bin to hunt around in. Not very complete line of parts, but some very good buys. (alden 10/04/09)
  • Surplus Traders Surplus
    • [4] Great prices, particularly in the Extreme Specials section. Run by Ted Duskes, who's a square dealer, and willing to negotiate. Bad news: something like a $100 minimum, and the website is horrible. (alden 10/04/09)
  • Electronics Goldmine
    • Discounts on SMT components, and often has cool weird stuff like IC masks and wafers. Special robot section. (dan 05/03/09 via gareth's article via alden)
  • Circuit Specialists
    • Lots of good stuff for making PCBs, motion control, and other related stuff (alden 10/06/09)
  • Arcade Electronics LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR
    • [3] Local full-line distributor. Prices vary, but good experiences with them (alden w/hat tip to Mark Fearer - 10/16/09)
  • Sparkfun
    • Assortment of electronics, assemblies, mechanical components for robotics, motion control and other applications (alden 12/08/09)
  • Polulu
    • Assortment of electronics, assemblies, mechanical components for robotics, motion control and other applications (alden 12/08/09)
  • Hobby CNC
    • David Powell from Harford Hackerspace is trying to kick-ass on Riley's CNC with stepper motors from this site. Beware (alden 12/08/09)
  • The Computer Place LOCAL
    • [5] Clone boutique on steroids. Good prices and wide selection of PC components. Wall of cables. Gaithersburg, MD and Fairfax, VA (martin 12/31/09)
  • Digilent
    • [5] Xilinx FPGA and Atmel/Microchip microcontroller development boards and accessories. Makers of the fine boards used in our FPGA class. (martin 12/31/09)
  • Monoprice
    • [5] Wide variety of audio/visual/networking cables and accessories - low prices (martin 1/7/10)
  • Alltronics
    • Nice broad selection of surplus stepper motors, other CNC and robotics parts, and electronics (alden 01/20/10)
  • MDflystore
    • eBay seller with good prices for development boards, prototyping gear, SMT, etc. (alden from blabber post by AndrewQ 1/27/10)

G33k Out Shop Sites

  • Think Geek
    • Name says it all - weird and wonderful stuff of every variety! (martin 12/31/09)
  • DealExtreme
    • Incredibly random selection of electronics and other stuff. The Cubic Configurable Storage Toolboxes (sku 4580) are great for holding surface mount parts (alden 10/06/09)
    • From Fredrik Nyman: Bottom line: check your order status. (Back ordered items can delay your order if you don't check on it)
  • Woot.com
    • What can you say about Woot? (alden 12/08/09 - thx Daniel Ternes)
  • Sci-supply
    • Accoutrement for the mad scientist (martin 12/29/09)
  • Archie McPhee
    • Lowbrow, hilarious junk. Check out the cocktail napkin notebook. (martin 1/21/10)

Mechanical Parts & Fabrication

  • McMaster-Carr
    • Very complete line of mechanical parts. Good service. Pricing can often be beat if you hunt around. (alden 10/4/09)
  • Small Parts
    • [4] Wild selection of esoteric parts. Stockouts common, but otherwise good services (alden 10/04/09]
  • Enco
    • [3] Very complete source for machine tooling, can be expensive. Online specials (Hot Deals) can be good deals, however. (alden 10/02/09)
  • Harbor Freight LOCAL STORES
    • [3] Some things are really cheap. Others are just "cheap". Not good for precision equipment such as lathes, rotary tables, etc. Still useful, however (alden 10/02/09)
    • There is a retail store in Laurel, MD, Gaithersburg, MD and another in Woodbridge, VA.
  • Grizzly Industrial
    • [4] Good source for machine tools themselves and some limited parts. See Enco for more complete parts and supplies (alden 10/04/09)
    • [4] I really like my 14" Grizzly bandsaw. The PA retail location is claimed to be the largest tool showroom in the world. (martin 12/21/09)
  • eMachineshop
    • [4] Will machine parts from proprietary CAD drawing package. I had a very satisfactory experience with them on a 200-part run. Can be expensive for very short runs (alden 10/03/09)
  • Little Machine Shop
    • Well known source for small CNC parts, machinging tools and parts (alden 10/04/09)
  • Shapeways
    • Cool 3d printing service. I have not ordered from them (alden 10/06/09)
  • McFeeleys
    • More wood screws and fasteners than you knew existed. Should be called Screw Depot but that would attract the wrong clientèle (martin 12/21/09)
  • Ponoko
    • Laser cutting. Call Riley Porter first! (alden 12/08/09)

Plastics

  • eStreet Plastics
    • [4] Acrylics, etc. Very good prices and good for small quantities (e.g. 1 foot lengths of tuning, etc. (alden 10/02/09)
  • Delvies Plastics
    • [4] Acrylics, casting supplies. Good prices, shipping is OK, but not lightning fast. (alden 10/02/09)
  • TAP Plastics
    • [3] Acrylics, casting supplies. Good selection, services; somewhat more expensive than some other suppliers (alden 10/02/09)
  • Piedmont Plastics LOCAL
    • Sells a variety of plastics. Has a sales counter with knowledgeable & helpful sales person. Sells scrap at discount - call to see what they have. Can fabricate and special order stuff. Sells limited selection of plastic working supplies: glue, bottles, etc. Beltsville, MD (Was Reid Plastics in Rockville, MD) Another shop in Richmond, VA. (martin 12/29/09)

Metals

  • Metals Depot
    • [5] This has been a great find. Small quantities of steel, aluminum, etc; cheap prices, reasonable shipping, good service. (alden 10/02/09)
  • Speedy Metals
    • [4] Good second choice to Metals Depot. Somewhat larger selection, somewhat higher prices. (alden 10/02/09)

Printed Circuit Boards; Fab, Supplies, Assembly

  • Copper Clad PCB ebay Seller
    • [4] Reliable, quality fabrication within 1/16" - 1/8" variance. Very good prices on custom cut PCB sizes. By far the best place to get DIY PCB boards in bulk and custom cut to boot!. I've ordered one time. (Ril3y 18:46, 25 February 2010 (UTC))
  • Advanced Circuits
    • [4] Reliable, quality fabrication, prices vary. Very good prices on bare-bones prototypes. Other volumes may or may not be competitive. I've ordered many times (alden 10/03/09)
  • Custom PCB, aka Silvtronics
    • [3] Very cheap offshore (Malaysia). Not as good quality as others - hole alignment, plating finish..., but may be OK for simpler applications. (alden 10/03/09)
  • Express PCB
    • [3] Prototyping shop with good prices. Has an easy-to-use, proprietary drawing package. At some point you'll want Gerber files and outgrow these guys (alden 10/03/09)
  • Gold Phoenix
    • A lot of people use this company. I have no experience with them to comment (alden 10/03/09)
  • Sunstone
    • [2] I never used them as they always price out higher than the alternatives. (alden 10/03/09)
  • PCB Cart
    • Chinese maker. Have not personally tried but a reliable source uses them regularly. (Osman 10/24/09)
  • BatchPCB
    • Haven't tried. Recommended by R M Adams. (Osman 10/24/09)
  • Stencils Unlimited
    • Very good prices on solder paste and other circuit supplies. Boards can be had cheaper from other suppliers in this list (alden 12/08/09)
  • Mettrix
    • [4] Board fab and assembly in NY State. Prices are good but not rock bottom, They are very helpful, especially for less experienced customers - such as I was (alden 12/08/09)
  • Advanced Assembly
    • Short run assembly. Recommended by Sepideh Miller on list (Dec 2, 2009) (alden 12/08/09)
  • eP Board Design
    • adapters supplier and pcb manufacturer. based in cal. (Osman 12/11/09)

Other

  • Uline Shipping Supplies
    • [4] Every kind of box, bag, tube, pallet, etc. imaginable. Highly reliable. Prices reasonable in quantity, somewhat more expensive in small Q's (alden 10/04/08)
  • Global Industrial Equipment
    • [4] Really rangy catalog of industrial equipment. They have some great shelves, benches, bins. Watch out, shipping adds up for heavier items (alden 10/04/09)
  • Gempler's
    • [4] Complete catalog of farm and outdoor equipment. See powdered Gatorade gallon bags. (alden 10/04/09)
  • Battery Junction
    • [4] Hard to find batteries, including Lithium Thionyl Chloride 3.6v batteries (alden 10/06/09)
  • Terrapin Trader LOCAL
    • [4] University of MD Surplus Property - From physics to food service they got it. Lots of furniture, good but not great deals. (martin 12/21/09)
  • T W Perry LOCAL
    • [4] Building/construction supplies. Quality lumber, sheet goods, millwork, fasteners, tools... Helpful, knowledgeable staff - great alternative to big orange borg. Delivers. Baltimore, Chevy Chase, and Gaithersburg, MD, Leesburg and Springfield, VA (martin 12/29/09)
  • Vienna Hardwoods LOCAL
    • [4] There are many really great hardwood outlets in the area. This shop is closest to me and usually has what I need at a reasonable price so I don't have a reason to go further. Exotic lumber, veneer, flooring. (martin 12/29/09)
  • Crazy Ray's LOCAL
    • [3] "It's a parts garden, not a junkyard." (martin 2/3/10)
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