This page contains a list of links that we here at the widget foundry have found useful. The pages can include vendors for products, informational sites, and sites detailing other cool projects. We will try to group them logically. If there are any broken or outdated links on this page, please notify Nathan Lowrie right away.
Electronics And Embedded Systems
Board Houses
- Advanced Circuits - Advanced circuits is a board house that I have had really good experience with. The service is nice and professional, the prices are reasonable, and they give you free popcorn with each order! Nice for larger runs, but if you can wait the 2 weeks try BatchPCB.
- BatchPCB - BatchPCB is an offshoot of Spark Fun Electronics. They provide a service for prototyping that is practically unbeatable in price. If you can wait the 2 weeks, it is well worth the price. On larger runs, you may want to check out another board house though, as this service is economical only on smaller runs.
Circuit Design
- Discover Circuits - Discover Circuits is an informative site that contains many examples of user submitted circuits. Most of the circuits don't carry an explanation with them, but are still very useful nonetheless if you can do basic circuit analysis. Handy reference guide.
- Spark Fun Electronics Tutorials - Most of you probably know Spark Fun for the electronics that they sell. Indeed, they are a great supplier of prototyping supplies and modules. However, they also have a few tutorials about past projects they've built and certain basic circuit design techniques. Worth checking out, especially if you are just starting out in electronics.
Vendors
- All Electronics - All electronics is a surplus electronics store. They have some very interesting items. Sometimes the price is a little high, but overall I have had very good experience with this supplier. You can find some really good deals here.
- Allied Electronics - Allied is geared more toward industrial accounts, but still honors small accounts and non-business customers. You can find many components at really good prices here. Interlinked with Octopart.
- Digikey - Digikey is perhaps the largest electronic component vendor on the planet. They have everything you ask for and more. Customer service is very friendly and US based. They treat small accounts and orders well, but remember you get big price breaks when you order a component by the thousands. The website is a bit cumbersome to use, especially for product searches, but hey, that's why we have Octopart...
- Mouser - Like Digikey. Website is a bit friendly. Sometimes cheaper than everyone else. Online checkout. Interlinked with Octopart.
- Newark - Like Digikey, Mouser, and Allied. Prices on components are sometimes better here. Online checkout is nice. Interlinked with Octopart.
- Octopart - Octopart is THE premiere search engine for electronic parts. It is the google of the electronics world. You need a part, search for it. Datasheets are instantly available as are prices/availability for the manufacturers that carry it. Recognizes and displays quantity discounts. You can filter your searches, build, store, and publish your own parts list. Octopart allows me to be 10x more efficient when designing circuits.
- Spark Fun Electronics - These guys really know there stuff. The mainly sell electronics modules, but do have prototyping supplies and components for prices much higher than what you would pay from Digikey and the like. The boards that they sell are hard to beat though. Excellent products and service. They are getting new stuff in all the time. Interlinked with Octopart.