Component shortages

I'm wondering that too. My build quantities are in the dozens to hundreds, which is right in the region of maximum pain. I've done about fifty PCB redesigns since the shortage started, replacing chips with stuff I can find. And I bulk-bought some essential stuff early on, but that's all running out. I expect to have nothing to work with in about a year. How is everyone else doing?

-Jim MacA.

In general terms, a construction bid includes line items for materials and fixtures, sometimes with elaborate descriptive elements. As a project proceeds, the (architect, usually) owner's project manager OKs payments to the subcontractors and suppliers.

Thus, when doorknob Alpha isn't shipping, the project manager has to consider and approve an alternative Beta or... the guy hanging the doors doesn't get his work finished (and paid), and there's no hardware bought.

The professionals, I'm sure, are very much annoyed.

With great difficulty.

In some cases, we are ordering parts from what we can find on stock, then starting the design when the devices arrive physically.

It's a real disaster for the industry. The manufacturers can't even ramp up their production, because the people that make the production machines can't get the parts for the control electronics.

Yeah, board spins plus quantity buys of what we can get. On the plus side, it's mostly brand-new parts that are in stock.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

It is often not at all hard to find substitutes when you are in the design stage. A 10k ohm resistor is most likely no different from a 12k ohm resistor for the vast majority of uses. Same with capacitors, etc. When you are dealing with digital chips, you need to only design in devices you can get a substitute for. Mostly that will mean a different footprint, but so be it. If real money is at stake, the cost of a respin is not such a big deal compared to shutting down a car factory. As long as the code can be ported with little effort, the real work is avoided.

I planned for availability issues from the get-go. One part I couldn't plan for was the CODEC, which was made in a factory that burned down! The $3 part is now $150. lol Good thing I have all I need at the moment.

Just got back to Puerto Rico and the weather here is beautiful! It was nice in Virginia, but dropped to below freezing the night before my flight out! Even my heavy sweater was not enough to keep warm while waiting for the parking lot shuttle. Good thing they were on time and I didn't have to stand around. Tonight I had dinner in the pool, literally. LOL That and a couple of rum and cokes.

Have I mentioned that on every plane that lands in Puerto Rico the passengers break out in applause? It's pretty cool. They have a lot of pride.

I like it here.

Contract manufacturers are pretty f***ed. They can't complete a job if the parts can't be bought. I have a consigned order I've been working to place and some CMs seem to think they don't make enough if they don't buy the parts, so they no-bid. Hello! This is a job you can make money on without fighting the shortages!!!

They aren't constrained on how much they mark up the assembly if they want more profit. While I might turn them down if they are too expensive, I can't accept their bid if they don't offer it!!! WTF???!!! Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I had two companies who responded, so I'm fine. The company I had been working with seems to be laying off people because of parts availability.

My most amusing experience of landing as a passenger was on a return to London on a charter flight to the Paris Air Show. We were on a 737, and had just turned off to a taxiway after landing. From there it was possible to see that another 737 that landed next had pulled off at an earlier taxiway.

The resulting sound from the passengers was probably one that the cabin crew had never previously heard.

Sylvia.

I'm sorry you didn't do your top posting thing. I love it when Edward kicks you in the nuts. I just find it so funny when you then respond with your flaccid replies. :^P

Lol. People like you don't understand much about most topics. That's why they look foolish when posting on things outside their tiny area of expertise.

On a sunny day (Tue, 29 Mar 2022 06:03:30 -0700 (PDT)) it happened Rickster snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote in snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

Then stop posting that way! Iahve seen West Side Story, tehre is a song Puerto RIco ..

From

Rico, My heart's devotion Let it sink back in the ocean. Always the hurricanes blowing, Always the population growing, And the money owing, And the sunlight streaming, And the natives steaming.

Yes, that's exactly what it's like in Puerto Rico, an American musical movie. I see them dancing in the streets here just like that, every day!

Actually, Rita Moreno is a huge star here.

Don't know what your problem is, but I'm done with you. Bye.

On a sunny day (Tue, 29 Mar 2022 21:55:02 -0700 (PDT)) it happened Rickster snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote in snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

You could not take it I have the West Side Story on DVD. When I went to see the movie when it came out long ago I *knew* it was for me, and when in NY much later I was prepared. Been there, lived that.

It is probably right about Rico too.

It is a great introduction to the US

removed your tesla code, the only reason you post here it seems.

Now ricky will save for a waterproof 'lectric car to travel to and from Puerto R.

Love this humor. Thanks RC. If the recent SED posts are any indication, you've done well for yourself about P.R.!

"Pour me another cuban breeze, Gretchen" cheers, RS

They serve Mojitos here, but I haven't tried ordering other tropical drinks. Back in the mainland you ask for a Mojito and you get one. Here you always have to say what flavor. Seems they don't just put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up. In fact, they don't know what you mean by lemon. You have to specify amarillo (yellow), a lemon, or verde (green) which is the lime. They are both limón. This seems to be a Caribbean thing, rather than Spanish.

Most of my drinking has been by the pool, rather than in restaurants lately. So the recipe is to mix whatever alcohol with whatever mixer is at hand. Mostly that's rum.

I need to pickup some limes so I can make a Cuban Libre.