This is my first instructable and I realize it is not actually one but I'll make it anyway and see what you other users think about it.
My purpose with this list is to spread the knowledge of the different free sample programs in the hobby electronics community so we can build more cool things.
If you know of a free sample program that is not yet on the list or are responsible for running a free sample program and want to correct anything I've written about your program, or want to get removed from the list for some reason then please send me a message, in the latter case preferably with a reason.
My purpose with this list is to spread the knowledge of the different free sample programs in the hobby electronics community so we can build more cool things.
If you know of a free sample program that is not yet on the list or are responsible for running a free sample program and want to correct anything I've written about your program, or want to get removed from the list for some reason then please send me a message, in the latter case preferably with a reason.
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Signing UpStep 1: Ethics of Free Sampling
I borrowed this part from the How to choose a microcontroller instructable and fully agree with it:
"I suppose there are ethics to requesting free samples. Here are some of my personal rules:
1) NEVER resell samples. I see lots of eBay listings for chips in quantities that match the max sample quantities of some vendors. It pisses me off. (Of course, this COULD be another "sample channel" officially endorsed by the vendor. But it doesn't look that way.)
2) Don't lie more than necessary. I think making up a company name is fine, but inventing 10000 fellow employees and a product that will sell 10k/year of a chip is over the line. (This has been especially interesting as I've transitions from student to engineer at unknown company to engineer at extemely well-known company. These days If I ask for a sample, I'm likely to get a phone call from an enthusiastic salesperson hoping for a win in our next big product, and I usually explain that no, the best they can hope for from me is to get inserted into some odd piece of custom lab gear.)
3) Don't be greedy. Some vendors limit you to so many samples per month, or per order. That doesn't mean you should submit new sample orders every month, or order the maximum number of samples allowed. (OTOH, be aware that for many of the chips we're talking about, the order processing and shipping costs more than the chips themselves...)
4) Spread Good Publicity. If you pubish a project that used a sample, be sure to say nice things about their product. If you can't find something nice to say about a chip you sampled, you probably shouldn't say anything at all. ("Don't look a gift horse in the mouth"?)"
"I suppose there are ethics to requesting free samples. Here are some of my personal rules:
1) NEVER resell samples. I see lots of eBay listings for chips in quantities that match the max sample quantities of some vendors. It pisses me off. (Of course, this COULD be another "sample channel" officially endorsed by the vendor. But it doesn't look that way.)
2) Don't lie more than necessary. I think making up a company name is fine, but inventing 10000 fellow employees and a product that will sell 10k/year of a chip is over the line. (This has been especially interesting as I've transitions from student to engineer at unknown company to engineer at extemely well-known company. These days If I ask for a sample, I'm likely to get a phone call from an enthusiastic salesperson hoping for a win in our next big product, and I usually explain that no, the best they can hope for from me is to get inserted into some odd piece of custom lab gear.)
3) Don't be greedy. Some vendors limit you to so many samples per month, or per order. That doesn't mean you should submit new sample orders every month, or order the maximum number of samples allowed. (OTOH, be aware that for many of the chips we're talking about, the order processing and shipping costs more than the chips themselves...)
4) Spread Good Publicity. If you pubish a project that used a sample, be sure to say nice things about their product. If you can't find something nice to say about a chip you sampled, you probably shouldn't say anything at all. ("Don't look a gift horse in the mouth"?)"
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IC's
Analog Devices: www.analog.com
Maxim: www.maxim-ic.com
National Semiconductor: www.national.com
These companies are a MUST!! together Microchip they can give you years of fun.
Maxim is more focused in interfaces, conversion devices, etc.
Sensors
Sensirion: www.sensirion.com
This company doesn't deliver samples normally but sometimes they are offered, so you have to check it from time to time. Usually only deliver 1 sample per account and you need a valid corporate email. They have really nice sensors.
[Sorry by not using links (href) but i have problems with my browser and it doesn't updates correctly the text]
I haven't a company ( i work for them ) and from time to time i request samples for research purposes, requesting the samples i need (the last time i requested some samples was 2 month ago). The problem with corporate vs generic emails appeared when 4 or 5 years ago there was such abuse from different countries that the companies finished the samples service and they changed the registering method. Since then it's mandatory a corporative email in many of them to avoid the abuse.
These ethics stated are VERY important if all of us want to continue enjoining the samples service.
I think I used my hotmail adress - got three free AS1100, free next day delivery; life can be good!
i need a 5v electromagnetic DPDT relay for this i'ble: www.instructables.com/id/Mousebot-Revisited/
I've been looking at it for a while and I'm stumped.. I also am making this on a IC PCB from RadioShack, so i need it to have the correct pin arrangements...
I just need the part number to use in the form!! Thanks!!
Charles
Ps no Im not too worried about spellin my kb is messing up.