At 03:41 PM 7/18/01 -0500, you wrote:

>If I need a million resistors, SMT transistors, bridge rectifiers and
>PIC12C508 for a production run, it's not exactly cost effective for me to
>manufacture them.  I think the original poster was looking for large
>quantities of components.  A million parts is nothing special to large
>producers.  Of course I only wish I had to source parts for a millon
>units...  8-)

A contract manufacturer will be able to tell you what the cost will be
better than trying to poke around by e-mail. As someone else said, you
need credibility before anyone is going to go to the factory and
negotiate real prices for you. A good PA will cost less than 10% of
what they purchase and will save more than that (but PA's are also the
most common employee to be taking secret commissions). A million resistors
is not many $$, really, but a million ARM chips is a big deal. Sometimes
there are structural differences between markets, semiconductors may
be cheaper in one market than another, even from the same manufacturer.

If you really have enough money to consider making even 100,000 pieces,
the pieces will fall into place when you start talking to people who
know their business.

Best regards,
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Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..."            "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com
Contributions invited->The AVR-gcc FAQ is at: http://www.bluecollarlinux.com
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