Supply Base - Who is good? Where do you go?

[cmass]

Ok, This has probably been asked before and I DID search before posting ...

Where do you get your non-KOP bits and pieces.

We used the following suppliers, I'd like to know who is better, cheaper, faster:

transmissions, aluminum sprockets, wheels - AndyMark


pneumatic fittings, timing belts and sprockets, lead screws, couplings, bearings, conveyor belting treads - McMaster-Carr


controls components - digiKey

PWM cables - crimp connectors - Hansen Hobbies

cylinders - straight from Bimba

Aluminum stock - Metal Mart

All plastics - Laird Plastics

Where'd you go? Need a good source for gearboxes or buy BB transmissions now for future use 'cause you cannot wait until the season starts.

[gyroscopeRaptor]

Local suppliers only. Albert Lea Glass and Lock and Albert Lea Steel gave us lexan and aluminum and plywood.

We recieved donated solenoids and actuators from our local sponsor.

[Vermeulen]

We get about 75% of our stuff from menards. A lot of stuff comes from McMaster, and the rest comes from either AndyMark or 80/20.

[ajlapp]

Clinton aluminum for stock....much cheaper on average than metalmart.

We use clinton for all of our production runs.

Alro is also competitive, so I usually check both.

Mcmaster for specialty small quantity orders.

[Grim Tuesday]

Almost everything we get for mechanical stuff (pulleys, screws, etc...) is from McmasterCarr


Electrical stuff is always from DigiKey.

[DonRotolo]

Lots of stuff - even metals and hardware - from McMaster. Convenience over price.
Electronics from DigiKey, Mouser and Jameco. Depends on what we need.
PWM stuff from ServoCity. Good price.
Chain and most bearings from Thebigbearingstore. Again, price.
Sprinkles for our ice cream from Marshall's Creek Spices (http://www.pureandnaturalspices.com/). Gotta have sprinkles (aka jimmies) for ice cream. :D

[ebarker]

Don't forget automationdirect.com

[MrForbes]

This year we ordered spiffy wheels from AndyMark. most everything else came from the local hardware/building supplies...Ace, Lowe's, Sutherlands, and Home Depot. I was amazed that we didn't get anything from McMaster-Carr.

[cmass]

Lots of stuff - even metals and hardware - from McMaster. Convenience over price.
Electronics from DigiKey, Mouser and Jameco. Depends on what we need.
PWM stuff from ServoCity. Good price.
Chain and most bearings from Thebigbearingstore. Again, price.
Sprinkles for our ice cream from Marshall's Creek Spices (http://www.pureandnaturalspices.com/). Gotta have sprinkles (aka jimmies) for ice cream. :D

Now I know what we did wrong ... no sprinkles for our ICE CREAM!

[Billfred]

Most of our aluminum was purchased from Lowe's. Yes, we probably could've found cheaper places, but we couldn't beat their convenience (especially when it's 8:00 at night and you absolutely need that stick of box tubing that night!)

Lowe's, McMaster-Carr, AndyMark. If you can't build a robot from that, you may possibly be overcomplicating it.

[David Doerr]

For sensors and other electronic thingies:
SparkFun Electronics (http://www.sparkfun.com/)
Acroname Robotics (http://acroname.com/)
Powerwerx (http://www.powerwerx.com/)

Deviating a little from FIRST:
DIYdrones (http://store.diydrones.com/)

And my very favorite:
Massive Dynamic (http://www.massivedynamic.com/index.php), founded by William Bell and run by CEO Nina Sharp. ;) :D

[Chris Fultz]

For quick runs - Menards, Lowes, Home Depot.

McMaster Carr - great for overnight / next day needs
AndyMark

[Chris_Elston]

For Team THRUST 1501:

Pulleys & Chain 100ft rolls - Surplus Center (http://www.surpluscenter.com/)
Servo Connectors - Hansen Hobbies (http://www.hansenhobbies.com/products/)
Metal - Metal SuperMarket (http://www.metalsupermarkets.com/)
Chromoly Steel (4130) - Air Craft Spruce (http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/me/index.html)
Clecos - Air Craft Spruce (http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/topages/clecosheetholder.php)
Chrome, Gold, Colored Sheet Metal - Sherman Racing (http://teamse.com/)
Electrical Terminals - Fastenal (http://www.fastenal.com/web/search/products/electrical/terminals-and-wire-connectors/_/N-gj4xc3&Nty=0)
Extra SMC Valves Doubles - Fastenal (http://www.fastenal.com/web/products.ex?N=0&Ntk=Search+All&Ntt=SY3140&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&searchBox=1)
Industrial Buttons and Pneumatic Fittings - Automation Direct (http://www.automationdirect.com)
Pneumatics Cylinders - PHD, Inc. (http://www.phdinc.com/)
Encoders - US Digital (http://usdigital.com/support/models) - We get some secret sauce ones...
Additional cRIOs - NI (http://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-2823)
Of course AndyMark (http://www.andymark.com/) for us, we drive and pick it up.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head right now.

[Taylor]

Drivetrain: AndyMark
Lift: Neff Engineering (local distributor of 8020; it's important to know that 8020 gives FIRST teams a fantastic discount during the build season)
PWMs/Electronics: IFI (VEX Pro)
Nuts & Bolts: Fastenal
Last-minute needs: Lowe's
Sheet metal fabrication: Fab2Order and L&S EDM - two local shops that do international work
Specialty needs: McMaster-Carr

[Bob Steele]

Don't forget MSC...
Great service and FIRST teams can get set up to receive a discount. You have to ask....
The BIG BLUE BOOK...

We also get aluminum from Online Metals... also great service..

[JesseK]

Adding to the lists

http://www.pneuaire.com/ for pneumatic storage tanks + some other stuff.
http://us.misumi-ec.com/ Similar to McMaster but may also have some things McMaster doesn't (and vice-versa). Misumi is also metric from what I can see.