2.1 MM Boss style panel mount switching power jacks are now available in the GetLoFi.com/shop.
Category Archives: Part Stores Online
Makers Market Closing Down
The folks at Make Magazine decided to stop their support and operation of the Makers Market. However there is nothing to worry about. Because all your favorite GetLoFi products will be available from the GetLoFi.com/Shop and most other sellers already have their respective Etsy Store pages.
So what went wrong? Sad announcement simply states that the curated Market did not generate enough revenue to stay open;
However, our model was predicated on a highly cooperative premise: that a marketplace of indie makers actively engaged in their respective communities would quickly begin to draw its own critical mass. In spite of our best effort, this dynamic simply hasn’t evolved. Too many sellers have confided in us that they are heavily committed to other projects or too pre-occupied promoting their own sites or preexisting stores to effectively tend to their Makers Market/Boing Boing Bazaar storefront. Which means that on any given day, the only product(s) that sell well are those that Boing Boing and Make have blogged that day. This doesn’t bode well for the remaining sellers.
Cheap parts, tools, and kits from MPJA
I’ve been hanging on to the catalog from Maplin P. Jones and Associates for quite while, however no time is a bad time for a post about cheap parts from a US vendor in Florida. It is usually the case that a single supplier does not have all the best deals on everything. Fortunately for us their switches are very reasonably priced if purchased in quantities of 100 for $32 US plus $8 shipping. Soldering stations are not bad either only $15 for temp controlled. For those who are just starting in DIY electronics this OP-Amp kit is highly recommended, simply replace the pot with a photo resistor and you have an instant optical theremin system with sine, square, and triangle waves for only $4.95 on a PCB that is ready to mount in a case of your choice.
Custom membrane switches and potentiometers
Google Ads in it’s infinite wisdom suggested to me the Spectra Symbol company, which lets design custom membrane switches and potentiometers. DIY synth and Circuit bending implications of these pads and switches are countless, especially when used with a microcontroller. No costs are mentioned on the website, my guess is that it can be expensive, but they do offer free samples. I ordered some so we’ll see what happens.
GetBent Circuit Bending oriented shop
Circuit Bending stores seem to be popping up like mushrooms here and there. In the free trade economy it can only mean one thing for the consumer, lower prices. The guys from Get Bent Circuit Bending Supply store emailed me to say that their doors are now open. There are some nice deals on switches and other parts, however better deals are of course on eBay. As a nice bonus, limited prints of various circuit bent instruments are also sold as well as some one-off deals on interesting looking cases and toys. What impressed me the most however was the actual eCommerse site that is hosting this store. Its called www.ecrater.com and anyone can open a store there to sell what ever they wish for free. Brilliant! The interface is simple, clean, supports paypal, and does Froogle Listings.