Beginner's quiestion

[clicky]

After 7+ years of being absent from micro controllers' world I have just received Atmel AVR development tool/programmer, etc and now I have a problem: I have no idea where to order parts from! A couple of months ago when I put together little brushed ESC I have overpaid parts by factor of 5 or more (at least that was my impression) buying them from Maplin, but when I was looking at some online services situation wasn't better by any means.

Where to go? Which sites online are you using in sourcing parts (micro controllers - Atmel's in my case), voltage regulators (7805 for instance), logic circuits, passive elements, etc?

Also, are you making PCBs at home or do you use some service? Is it expensive? When we are talking about PCSs what are today's preferred tools (software) for such?

Thanks in advance,
Click

[psyrex]

hackaday has a nice list for online parts: http://www.hackaday.com/2007/11/16/how-to-where-to-find-parts-for-your-projects/

I prefer a combination of Jameco.com and a local surplus electronics store.

[mem]

Have a look at Farnell (http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/home/homepage.jsp) in the UK. They have a £20 minimum order but they ship quickly and prices are good.

Also, if you are starting up with the AVR environment, have a look at the Arduino (http://www.arduino.cc/) platform. Its an Atmega168 board with USB programmer that has a very easy to use IDE and lots of good information on the web.

I got my board from nkcelectronics (http://www.nkcelectronics.com/arduino.html) , The are in the US but it arrived in under a week and cost less than £17 shipped.

Olimex (http://www.olimex.com/pcb/) make PCBs at reasonable prices if your project is to complex for veroboard.

[clicky]

Thanks! :)

I'll have a look. Farnell was something I did order before but last time I checked, it looked like I will be paying far more for delivery (from USA) than parts themselves. And that put me off a bit.


BTW I do have a programmer/development board

[AndyOne]

Thanks! :)

I'll have a look. Farnell was something I did order before but last time I checked, it looked like I will be paying far more for delivery (from USA) than parts themselves. And that put me off a bit.


BTW I do have a programmer/development board

Farnell have some items they bring in from their Newark division in the USA which will cost about £13 per order surcharge but there will usually be a UK sourced equivalent part which will be more expensive in itself but without the shipping charge. Try searching their database on-line.

Andy.