Free samples of Electronic Components and semiconductor chips

Hi everybody,

          Ever thought of doing your projects without involving a single rupee..? oh yes.. it is possible.. I will share my experience of ordering free samples from industries…

Just a few months before, while surfing through the internet, I came to know that most of the semiconductor industries provide free samples of their components to individuals like me.

I ordered some voltage regulators and a wifi chip from Texas Instruments (TI). While ordering I was not sure whether they will approve my request. For two weeks there wasn't any notification from TI, and I really forgot it. Then a mail came stating that the order has been shipped through FedEx.

           At first I was surprised that my order was shipped but then I was worried about the customs tax and duties charges. In TI’s website, it says like “TI will pay the customs and duties only if the destination countries rules allow that”. I am staying in TamilNadu, India and I calculated the approximate customs and duty taxes to pay when the order arrives. When the shipment arrived to my home, to my surprise I wasn’t charged any taxes.  Hence I got my order without a single rupee, all the way from US to my home.

Not only Texas Instruments, but also many other industries provide free samples to individuals. You can even order free samples of resistors from industries. But the thing is not to exploit the opportunity. Order only the quantity that you need and make good use of it.

I will just provide the names of semiconductor industries here… just go through their website and find whether they provide free samples to individuals (because mostly they provide free samples only to corporate people and not to individuals).

Texas Instruments - www.ti.com
Maxim - Dallas Semiconductors -- http://www.maxim-ic.com/
Microchip -- http://www.microchip.com/
Sensirion -- http://www.sensirion.com/
ATMEL -- http://www.atmel.com/
Fairchild -- http://www.fairchildsemi.com/
Ramtron -- http://www.ramtron.com/
Analog Devices -

 http://www.analog.com/productSelection/orderSamples/index.html

Bourns -- http://www.bourns.com/
National Semiconductor -- http://www.national.com/
Clare -- http://www.clare.com
RF Microwaves -- http://www.rfmd.com
FTD -- http://www.FTDIchip.com (USB Chips)
Allegro -- http://www.allegromicro.com
VLSI Solution -- http://www.vlsi.fi (mp3 chips)
MicroSemi -- http://www.microsemi.com
Princeton -- http://www.princeton.com.tw/index-e.htm
AVX (only passive components) -

- http://www.avxcorp.com/RequestSample.asp
California Micro Devices -

- http://www.calmicro.com/contact_us/samples_request.html
Catalyst Semiconductor -- http://www.catsemi.com/iko_bld_page.cfm?id=47
Cypress semiconductor -- http://www.cypress.com/support/mysupport.cfm
Infenion -- http://www.infineon.com/cgi/ecrm.dll/jsp/showfrontend.do?lang=EN&channel_oid=-11224
Ramtron -- http://www.ramtron.com/products/productsOptInEmail.asp
Sipex -- http://www.sipex.com/support/samples_literature.cfm
Steward (ferrites, inductive products etc.) -

- http://www.steward.com/Sample_Request.asp
Supertex -- http://www.supertex.com
Reptron -- http://www.reptron.com/di/Sample.asp
Bivar -- http://www.bivar.com/html/contact.html http://www.larsenassociates.com/cac.html
Ria Electronic -- http://www.riaelectronic.com/samples.asp
SunLED -- http://www.sunled.com/RequestInfo/SamplesRequest.htm
Above Board Electronics -- http://www.aboveboardelectronics.com
Mill-Max -- http://www.mill-max.com/home/index.html
Chesrep -- http://www.chesrep.com/page2.htm
Raltron -- http://www.raltron.com/products/request.asp
Meritek USA -- http://www.meritekusa.com/sample.php
Murata Europe -- http://www.murata-europe.com/contact/samples.html
Clarostat -- http://www.clarostat.com/SampleRe.nsf/SampReq?OpenForm
Molex -- http://www.molex.com
Kycon --  http://www.kycon.com/Form_Samples.html
AZ Microtek -- http://www.azmicrotek.com/samples.html
Astrorep -- http://www.astrorep.com/NYsubweb/orderform.htm
Xicor -- http://www.xicor.com/form_sample_requests.php
FMG Electronics -- http://www.fmgelectronics.ie/sample.htm
ElecTec -- http://www.electec.com/samples.html
BHEL Electronics -- http://www.bhelectronics.com/transformer-qtrpak-request.html
Sager -- http://www.sager.com/
Marshall -- http://www.marshall.com/
Lambind -- http://www.lambind.com/request.shtml
Edgecards -- https://www.edgecards.com/ordersamples.php
Onsemi -- http://www.onsemi.com
Tamweb -- http://www.tamweb.com/Samples,%20Literature.htm
Promor -- http://www.promor.com/requesta.htm
Crystal -- http://www.crystal.com/design/products/samples/
Burr-Brown -- http://www.burr-brown.com/
Philips Logic -- http://www.philipslogic.com/order/sample/
CentralSemi -- http://www.centralsemi.com
Cirrus -- http://www.cirrus.com/design/products/samples/
LittelFuse -- http://www.littelfuse.com/Products/samplesElect.asp
Fox Online -- http://www.foxonline.com/forms/noncryqu_4X.asp
Vitelel Electronics -- http://www.vitelelectronics.com/ulinear.htm
SemTech -- http://www.semtech.com/press/pa_082401.html
OKW -- http://www.okw.co.uk/catalogue/sample/sample_form.htm
CarlingTech -- http://www.carlingtech.com/contact/quote.asp
MXCom -- http://www.mxcom.com
Allegro -- http://www.allegromicro.com/control/prodline.htm
Agere -- http://www.agere.com/pmap/requests.html
Heyco -- http://www.heyco.com/sample.htm
Elantec -- http://www.elantec.com/pages/samples.html
TekNational -- http://www.teknational.com/form_response.html
FCI Connect -

- http://www.fciconnect.com/basics/basics_america/basics_america_01.asp
BPT Fittings -- http://www.bptfittings.com/Cust_Service/SamplesForm12.html
FTDI Chip (Might not be free) -- http://www.ftdichip.com/FTSalesNetwork.htm
Sensirion -- http://www.sensirion.com/
ITW/Fastex -- http://www.itw-fastex.com/catalog.html
RIA Connect -- http://www.riaconnect.com/samples.html
PacTec Enclosures -- http://www.pactecenclosures.com/free_sample.lfml
Cirrus Logic -- http://www.cirrus.com/en/request/smp/sreq.jsp
Linear Technologies -- http://www.linear.com/
Freescale (previously Motorola) -

- http://www.freescale.com/files/abstract/help_page/SAMPLES_FAQS.htm
Philips Semi -- http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/
ST Microelectronics -- http://www.st.com/
Cypress -- http://www.cypress.com/
Vishay -- http://www.vishay.com/
Intersil -- http://www.intersil.com/
New Age Enclosures -- http://www.newageenclosures.com/purchase.htm
Hammond Manufacturing -- http://www.hammfg.com/
Micro Metals -- http://www.micrometals.com/samples_index.html
Marktech Optoelectronics -- http://www.marktechopto.com/
Philips LumiLED's -- http://www.lumileds.com/
Purdy Electronics -- http://www.purdyelectronics.com/
RichCo Inc -- http://www.richco-inc.com/sampleframes.asp/
Agilent -- http://www.semiconductor.agilent.com
AVX -- http://www.avxcorp.com/RequestSample.asp
California Micro Devices -

- http://www.calmicro.com/contact_us/samples_request.html
Catalyst Semiconductor -- http://www.catsemi.com/need_a_sample/index.html
Sipex -- http://www.sipex.com/products/samples.aspx
Supertex -- http://www.supertex.com/contact_form/sample_request
Clare -- http://www.clare.com
Zilog -- http://www.zilog.com
Coilcraft -- http://www.coilcraft.com/
Hittie -- http://www.hittite.com/index.cfm
CML Micro -- http://www.cmlmicro.com
Holtek -- http://www.holtek.com/english/contact/contact.htm
System General -- http://www.sg.com.tw/semiGP/sample_E.asp
Bivar http://www.bivar.com/
MillMax -- http://www.mill-max.com
Chesrep -- http://www.chesrep.com
Avnet -- http://www.avnet.com
Promor -- http://www.promor.com
TAM -- http://www.tamweb.com
Central Semiconductors -- http://www.centralsemi.com
SMD INC. -- http://www.smdinc.com
Pericom -- http://www.pericom.com
Elesta -- http://www.elestarelays.com
Pacentec -- http://www.pactecenclosures.com
Sensitron -- http://www.sensitron.com
Bergquist -- http://www.bergquistcompany.com
Cooperet -- http://www.cooperet.com
NorthWest Components -- http://www.northwestcomponents.com
ERG -- http://www.ergpower.com
EM Microelectronics -- http://www.emmarin.com
Eswitch -- http://www.e-switch.com
ON Shore -- http://www.on-shore.com
AAVID Thermal Alloy -- http://www.aavidthermalloy.com
Epcos -- http://www.epcos.com
Fordata -- http://www.fordata.cn
TRA CON -- http://www.tra-con.com
WJ Communications -- http://www.wjcommunications.com
NJR -- http://www.njr.com
Wurth Elektronix -- http://www.we-online.com
Spectra Symbol -- http://www.spectrasymbol.com
Cirrus Logic -- http://www.cirrus.com
FreeScale -- http://www.freescale.com
Tyco -- http://www.amp.com
Elfa (Not sure they give samples) -- http://www.elfa.se/en/

Comment here about your experience on free requests...

See this link for a detailed info on industries free samples - http://www.ladyada.net/library/procure/samples.html