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Registered Member #1497
Joined: Thu May 22 2008, 05:24AM
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 801
So I recently put in a sample request which was a stretch, with a legitimate reason (ie: develop an induction heater for use in solid state chemistry). The only bit that still bothers me about it is even though I only requested 8 parts, those 8 parts surprisingly totaled almost $100......
What I'm wondering is if anyone else feels oddly unsettled, or if its 'wrong'? I ask because one of my friends has been laying on the guilt because she thinks that I should pay for every single part...
Registered Member #902
Joined: Sun Jul 15 2007, 08:17PM
Location: Pacific Northwest USA
Posts: 1042
I think it depends, like do you already know how these parts will work? Then if you get more of them (if they hold up to or exceed your expectations) will you pay for those like normal? f it is for developing a device from these parts, and you intend to try them against other things, I think it is fine: it is when you only intend to use those parts, and not try anything else or after the parts have proved themselves and you use samples again that it is bad (in which case, I don't think they would send anymore anyways)...
Registered Member #690
Joined: Tue May 08 2007, 03:47AM
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 616
This topic was debated to death here^. And this thread is likely to be locked.
<soapbox> Assuming sampling is for finding out whether or not a certain part will work in your application, NOBODY here should be sampling 942Cs. Its extremely well documented what kind of miracles those caps can work. Judging by price, I don't think that's what you are sampling, though. So sample away; it won't put the amateur community farther in the hole for sampling the same capacitor over and over again. </soapbox>
Registered Member #1497
Joined: Thu May 22 2008, 05:24AM
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 801
I'm not sure these parts would 'work', work being able to withstand some accidental removal of the workpiece from the coil (which typically causes the semiconductors to go 'poof'). I suppose if I ever made more of the design I would pay for them....
The parts were 4 MOSFETs, 2 IGBTs and 2 SOT227 diodes that *should* be able to withstand some numpty undergrad pulling out a metal crucible from the work coil before powering down.... I was skeptical that I would ever have the samples approved and was awestruck when I got a email reply with the package tracking number...
Registered Member #540
Joined: Mon Feb 19 2007, 07:49PM
Location: MIT
Posts: 969
I personally would only sample a max of 10 of the same item then buy the rest. If you know the part works for your application, I think you should spend the money.
Registered Member #538
Joined: Sun Feb 18 2007, 08:33PM
Location: Finland
Posts: 181
In my opinion the companies are giving out free samples to advertise their products and even if I'm not using them for a commercial product it still raises my awareness about the products (for possible future commercial use) and makes me think positively about the company ie. the advertising has succeeded.
Registered Member #95
Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:57PM
Location: Norway
Posts: 1308
aonomus wrote ...
I'm not sure these parts would 'work', work being able to withstand some accidental removal of the workpiece from the coil (which typically causes the semiconductors to go 'poof').
Dude, that's what electronic control systems are for! If you're building a device worth 100 bucks just in silicon at least spend a toonie on some op-amps and discretes for the protecting the thing.
Registered Member #30
Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706
Yes, being able to withstand a loss of workpiece is a control problem. Your solution is like designing car engines to rev to 18,000rpm to protect them against accidental flooring of the gas with the transmission in neutral, when what you really need is an electronic "rev limiter".
If you really wanted a solution in the power domain, then I could think of plenty worse solutions than just connecting a toaster oven or ballast choke in series with the mains supply.
As for sampling ethics, if the company thought you were being unethical, surely they'd just refuse to send the samples I think Dago's comment more or less sums it up, and they'll send the samples if they think you're the sort of person whose awareness is worth raising, ie, somebody who might go on to work in the electronics industry, such as an EE student.
Registered Member #15
Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068
Regarding sampling, those $100.00 worth of parts are just a drop in the bucket. The shelf cost for the general public might be $100.00, but the actual cost is probably on the order of a few bucks, and the development and gross profits only come from the biggest OEM users who end up buying 10's to 100's of millions worth of parts.
Where i work in the defense industry, our production quantities might be between 5-10 units over 10 years and use only about $100.00 total of a particular IC. You think they are making money from us? Think again. Most military programs are similarily like this. Most the money is made in the commercial world.
Also, almost any rep will send you free samples, even if you tell them its for an educational project. Just be honest and you'll be surprised how responsive they are.
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Ethics of sampling parts?
If you're building a device worth 100 bucks just in silicon at least spend a toonie on some op-amps and discretes for the protecting the thing.
I think Dago's comment more or less sums it up, and they'll send the samples if they think you're the sort of person whose awareness is worth raising, ie, somebody who might go on to work in the electronics industry, such as an EE student.
