What do you use to manage your components stash ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: calin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 05:46:25 am
content: I am getting to a stage where I am literally loosing track of what components I have around. Even when using the usual drawer cabinets I find my self ordering a part just to discover that .."DOH !! i had already like 10 of these chips" Happened to me again yesterday with an I2C port expander.. and I think I am not a really disorganised person. Also may not be that "bad" to have more chips lying aroundI use Linux and try to stay away from Win unless absolutely needed. Sincerely I am starting to be really tempted to write my own as I did not saw anything decent around yet on both linux and Win .. I am not talking big money, inventory management style apps but open source ones more suitable for hobby use.I wonder what software do you use to manage your "collection" of parts ? if you use any of course

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 06:21:31 am
content: Someone on this forum was writing a website for storing your component inventory.I'm not sure what happened to it.I currently use a spreadsheet.

author: shebu18
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 06:57:29 am
content: You could try partkeepr. You need php5, mysql, apache.

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 07:05:14 am
content: Notepad.exeIt is a wonderful modern tool for the space age. It has search and everything. It even allows me to put text any place I want it to be. Amazing.

author: DrGeoff
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 09:18:00 am
content: Check this thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/electrical-parts-inventorymanagement-system/I had to write the LAMP system parts and BOM management system because I had so many parts in many bins and drawers that I was having difficulty locating them and needed an easy way to do so, and know how many I had around. It also allows me to manage my BOMs.

author: sorin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 11:29:21 am
content: http://www.freewarefiles.com/Component-Organizer_program_64613.html

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 11:56:28 am
content: Its easier to simply stash a working set of parts small enough to eyeball the entire inventory, then replace everything you use, when you use them. I have a set of boxes that must always be 50% full by appearance, anything missing gets replaced.I gave up on inventorying parts decades ago because as your supply gets bigger, you still miss and make mistakes and the effort takes up more and more of your time.Stores that have full time inventory people still makes mistakes, and once a year or so, stores close to do inventory counts to align their software with the real stock.

author: olsenn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 12:57:41 pm
content: Nothing! I wait until I need something, go to the bin that is supposed to have it, and if it is empty I cuss (very important) then order more.

author: Excavatoree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 03:10:01 pm
content: Quote from: olsenn on February 08, 2012, 12:57:41 pmMy procedure includes an additional step between cuss and order more:"Wonder where that parts is, because I know I have some."Then there's the optional last step after "order more.""Remember where they are."

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 03:57:13 pm
content: Unless you are doing JIT manufacturing at home or your lab is a component warehouse, it really is an overkill to track components.A basic level of organisation will work. A multi-bin rack with resistors arranged by value, one with capacitors arranged by value range, a couple of bins with mcus for development only, a few more bins with transistors arranged by technology, a NAND gate bin and a few XORs etc. You really dont have the time to track components when prototyping, you will end up not using the database.For special components, the hint is in the name. Special. Chances are you will not have the component you need in stock, unless you are working at Farnell as I said earlier.I dont store datasheets or appnotes, only bookmarks to those in the project folder. Elektor does a datasheet collection CDrom series - I cant understand that, its like using data books. If you want to do parametric search for component substitution you must use the manufacturer's webpage to have the latest info. There is also the search engine of distributors for a quick search.

author: calin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 05:08:19 pm
content: Wow, you guys have really dug into it.I was using a Acess like database, Base from Libre Office , for a while but I just got bored of it... read that as "too messy to work with". I like the "space age" idea of Notepad .. and yes it has search .. I like it !!I looked at Partkeepr .. wow !! that is nice. I am going to install it and give it a run. As usual, do it my self ... it is so obvious that somebody has done it before me much better that I don't even know why I am bothering to think to make one.I know, looking at the stash by eye is one thing but I usually have 10 chips of this, 15 of that, 5 of the other ... hobby work only like I said. But the thing is I have a lot of variation ... so try to find one quickly when you make a board. Think like this, I am going to use an LM317, and I know 100% that I have at least 50 LM317 in stash. Work design the board bla bla.. print on a sheet of paper the whole thing to do a "fit test" ... and lo and behold I have only TO22 LM's around an no longer SOT. Now go back and change the board layout and route again at least part of it ... damn !!!If you wonder what a "fit test" is .. I use kicad and try to use SMD parts as much as I can just because I hate drilling - yup make my own boards too. In terms of libs and components Kicad kind of suks, but I still use it as is getting better and better. So before I etch I usually print the board on a sheet of paper and just put the components on that .. "fit test" .. to see how they align etc. I have got pretty good at making boards .. I am down to LQFP-s with 0.5mm pitch and very rarely I screw up a board now. I usually do a board or two @ home before I order boards from a board house.Overkill or not I will try to organize a bit more, whatever works ...