MCU supply issue tips? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mbjvfx
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 13, 2022, 04:41:52 pm
content: Hi There. I know this is a loaded question and there are so many moving parts, that there is not one size fits all answer. I have been burned with some designs getting the MFG and the MCUs no longer being available - big surprise I know. But, with I am wondering if you guys have any tips/tricks for doing any safety catches, recommending any known better suppliers than others, etc?I have been using siliconlabs gecko parts and been very happy with there parts over the years. I have used all the other vendors in the past and am fine with using any of them if they are known to have better stability in this current market. Most of my work uses best bang for buck M0/M+ MCUs. I know that microchip has been known to hold pretty good pin compatibility between part variants in the past which might help with supply of particular shortages, but there new software development infrastructure is pretty horrific with their required use of HARMONY and the code/bug generation it produces (maybe it's gotten better). I'm currently limited to looking at digikey/mouser current stock and hoping for the best as to whether it will be available down the road (I know that this is not a good method, but all I've got at the moment). Hoping for any further suggestions that you guys might have to safe-guard against the supply/cost insanity that is happening.I'm know that there is a limited amount of pin compatible parts within each vendor. What is your recommendation for best pin compatible portfolios of the vendors?Do you currently recommend one vendor over another based upon their forecasted availability of parts?Any other recommendations for safe-guarding against future shortages?Thanks for any insights you might have. PS I found this thread that generally talks about the supply saga, but hoping to hone in specifically on MCUs in this thread.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/how-is-chipageddon-affecting-you/

author: woofy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2022, 07:30:52 pm
content: The situation is starting to ease. We use a lot of Microchip parts and we're seeing supplies beginning to come in. Microchip have a system where they guarantee delivery in return for a commitment to purchase, orders cannot be cancelled. In return Microchip will give you a 2 month window for your delivery. It is to give priority over people who place multiple speculative orders all over the place and cancel the remainder when they get the first one. Whilst we are still not getting as much product as we need, it is at least giving us some measure of forward planning.Forget the catalogue sites. Try contacting siliconlabs directly, they may have a similar scheme to Microchip.

author: mbjvfx
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 14, 2022, 03:11:53 pm
content: Good points. Thanks for sharing! Glad to hear that things seem to be easing up! I read that a lot of electronic supply will take until 2024 to stabilize.https://www.supplychain247.com/article/global_electronic_component_shortage_may_updateI know it's dynamic so hoping for the best. Best to you guys!