$&*^ Futurlec continued: I love Mouser, found a nice PCB

[ExpAnonColin]

So it's still been 25 days since I ordered from Futurlec and I still don't have my order after 2 emails.  But I will just keep waiting.

But I did do a mouser order on Sunday, I think, and it arrived today, quite nicely I must say... I would have ordered from Futurlec, but, well, I'm going to try hard to never order from there again.

Anyways, one item I ordered was a 3k9 resistor (needed the specific value and didn't want to do a parallel deal).  Oddly enough, the bag came that was supposed to have it in it, but nothing was in the bag.  This was a 5c item mind you.  So I called them (Futurlec does not give out their number), immediately got to talk to someone, she apologized a ton, said they would ship one out free of charge, but I just said "no no, it's OK, it's only 5c, just be careful in the future".  And she was nice the whole time.  So I think I am going to bite the bullet and order from Mouser in the future... the only thing I'd be missing would be the 50c pots, and Mouser has a much bigger selection and their parts are extremely high quality.

And as far as getting boards manufactured, I looked around and found:
http://www.sparkfun.com/shop/index.php?shop=1&cart=229575&cat=86&;

2.50 per sq inch works out at about the same as futurlec if you're going to get it masked and silkscreened... and if you do double side thats an added bonus.

Maybe one day Mouser will release some 50c pots

-Colin

[Karmasound]

you know, i was going to go for those .50 pots too. but after the runaround they gave me last time (6 weeks). i'll spend the extra money and buy from someone here in the states, someone who cares about their customers. at least i'll know when they will be here. :roll:

[ExpAnonColin]

you know, i was going to go for those .50 pots too. but after the runaround they gave me last time (6 weeks). i'll spend the extra money and buy from someone here in the states, someone who cares about their customers. at least i'll know when they will be here. :roll:

If only there was something comparable...  circuitspecialists does 80c, but they are not knurled

-Colin

[KORGULL]

//www.allelectronics.com have a variety of pots for $0.50 (some even cheaper) some knurled, some round, and some flatted shafts.
Knobs are $0.50 - $0.75.
They are a good, reliable company.
The Electronic Goldmine usually has some good deals on pots too.

[ExpAnonColin]

But the problem is that there is no standard series... I mean for production stuff I need the same exact pot, except 5 different values, you know?  Otherwise eBay works OKtoo.

-Colin

[Hal]

I just ordered a PIC programmer from sparkfun - fast delivery, etc.  I like the company.  Look around their web site - so many resources free there.  Good stuff.

[object88]

Hang on... this Spark Fun prototyping PCB service... it's literally just $2.50 per square inch?  So I could, for example, purchase a 2" by 1" PCB, 2-layer, with silkscreen and solder mask, for $5?  OK, you need to be skilled on some software, but otherwise, what's the catch?  Is there a large cost for the software required, or are there free versions (or free software to convert files to the required format)?

[ExpAnonColin]

Hang on... this Spark Fun prototyping PCB service... it's literally just $2.50 per square inch?  So I could, for example, purchase a 2" by 1" PCB, 2-layer, with silkscreen and solder mask, for $5?  OK, you need to be skilled on some software, but otherwise, what's the catch?  Is there a large cost for the software required, or are there free versions (or free software to convert files to the required format)?

Nothing... get osmond.

I got an email back.  They say my credit card didn't go through.  I probably entered it wrong.

Maybe they could have @#$%ing told me that a few weeks ago. I'm really a layed back guy in real life

-Colin

[dubs]

First time I ordered from futurlec it arrived in Australia 10 days from ordering (they ship from warheouse in malaysia).
Last order took 5 weeks, it took a month by airmail to arrive (when it should take 7-10 days). Their prices are extremely cheap compared to prices in australia but I wonder if it's worth the wait??

DO mouser ship to Australia?

[onboard]

"Spark Fun" ? :roll: I love it.

Must be all that Colorado mountain air....

Seriously, that's a deal, almost too good. And I have to thank the forum for seeing to it that I never ordered from Futurlec in the first place.

On the subject of pots, Mouser is out of their Alpha 24mm knurled 1M linear, with no re-order. I'm going D-shaft.

[travissk]

Got my order from Futurlec; it seems everything is in order. I'll check more carefully later, but it's a good amount of stuff for ~$40

4-5 week wait, but I've got enough pots to last for a handful of projects now.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

DO mouser ship to Australia?

Yes. So do Smallbear, Digikey, Electronic Goldmine, Jameco, and All Electronics.
The thing to watch is this:
1. check minimum order size.
2. always specify USPS (that is, United States Postal Service) because, if a parcel is sent via UPS or FEDEX, that will add a LOT to the cost, plus it will mean a 100% chance of attracting customs & GST charges, whereas a small (less than say $500 worth) lot via USPS almost certainly won't. (sometimes does, by accident, but only very rarely).

[Gladmarr]

Hey, I just ordered a PIC programmer from Sparkfun as well.  It works great so far.  I'm always interested in a new place to get pcb's from, since I have the software to make the board layouts, and I'm really bad at etching my own boards!!   :roll: