Hardware Construction

Suppliers

Dallas Personal Robotics Group - Electronics supplier list
DesignNotes.com - Affordable prototyping products
Dan's Small Parts - Lots of RF discretes
Makezine Store - Lots of microcontroller stuff
Sparkfun Electronics - Microcontroller development

• Breakout Boards - Great for quick applications Ethernet, USB, CF, SD, and XBee
• Tutorials - Excellent how-to information

Parts Express - Lots of DIY electronics and parts
NightFire Electronics - Has great SMT part kits plus other prototyping supplies
CWS - Excellent mfg direct coils; $10 minimum order
Wright Hobbies - Cheap LCDs; AVRs
macetech - Sells ShiftBrite $5 RGB driver w/ 60ma LED; uses Allegro A6281
Automationdirect - Sells all kinds of industrial controls; thermocouple probes

Hardware

McMaster-Carr - Mostly mechanical including bulk material; metal, plastic, etc.
Grainger - Mostly mechanical
Small Parts
Online Metals
Drill Bit City - Small drill bits w/ enlarged shanks (new and used)
Discount-Tools - Solid Carbide Circuit Board Drills (new)
Howard Electronic Instruments - Soldering equipment including paste
Stencilsun Limited - Soldering equipment including paste; also will cut paste stencils
MicroMark - Hobby hardware and tools
PapaJohn's Toolbox - Lots of various hobby tools

Major Outlets

Jameco Electronics
Mouser Electronics
Digikey
Circuit Specialists
Allied Electronics

Making PCBs

• gEDA - My reference pages for gschem and pcb
• Homebrew_PCBs @ yahoo · Homebrew Printed Circuit Boards @ Yahoo Groups
  • TT Technique - One of the best newbe how-to posts I've seen
  • TT Technique - A few more seemingly good tips
• Decent PCB's on the Cheap - Good overview of the entire TT technique
• Tinnit Tin Plate - Tin Plating Chemical @ Parts Express
• Home Brew Hot Air Rework Iron
• Toaster oven surface mount soldering - Has a sample temperature profile
• How to turn your toaster into an IR reflow oven - DIY controller
• Etching with Air Regenerated CuCl2 - FeCl is hard to find; CuCl2 never needs to be thrown out
• Easy PCB Fabrication - Great tips for TT paper (staples brand)

PCB Manufacturers

• Barebones PCB - Cheap, 2 layer no mask or silk, 1 day, $50 / 3-3x2
• Advanced Circuits PCB - Parent site for Barebones PCB, 2 layer full spec, 5 days, $99 / 3 boards up to 60 sq in each
• BatchPCB - Ultra cheap for qty 1, 2 layer full spec, 10-20 days, $10 + $2.50 / sq in. in any volume ($25 / 1 - 2x3)
• SiERRA ProtoExpress - Moderate, 2 or 4 layer full spec, fast, $90 / 3 - 10 sq in at 10 day turn
• PCFABEXPRESS - Moderate for 5 boards, 2 or 4 layer w/ mask and silk, 3-10 days ($69 3 - 2x3 in 3 days)
• ourPCB - Very cheep; $54 for 3 boards w/ 2 layers, mask, and silk; 2 weeks; 3 board minimum but breaks are for sum of all boards

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