The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components
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Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components
#2We were just having this discussion at work last week, as we are a low volume manufacturer and are starting to see many of our ICs dry up at the major distributors. We're looking at smaller unknown distributors and Chinese companies on eBay and wondering how do we know we'll get what we order. There doesn't seem much area between the two choices of ordering with our fingers crossed or telling our customers we cannot deliver for 12+ months.
Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components
#3We were just having this discussion at work last week, as we are a low volume manufacturer and are starting to see many of our ICs dry up at the major distributors. We're looking at smaller unknown distributors and Chinese companies on eBay and wondering how do we know we'll get what we order. There doesn't seem much area between the two choices of ordering with our fingers crossed or telling our customers we cannot…
Shouldn't you be able to test an IC?
Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components
#4We were just having this discussion at work last week, as we are a low volume manufacturer and are starting to see many of our ICs dry up at the major distributors. We're looking at smaller unknown distributors and Chinese companies on eBay and wondering how do we know we'll get what we order. There doesn't seem much area between the two choices of ordering with our fingers crossed or telling our customers we cannot…
Shouldn't you be able to test an IC?
For many parameters it's not practically possible once the chips are binned and packaged at factory.
Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components
#5We were just having this discussion at work last week, as we are a low volume manufacturer and are starting to see many of our ICs dry up at the major distributors. We're looking at smaller unknown distributors and Chinese companies on eBay and wondering how do we know we'll get what we order. There doesn't seem much area between the two choices of ordering with our fingers crossed or telling our customers we cannot…
Shouldn't you be able to test an IC?
Many of the fakes almost work. Some are ghost parts. Some are recycled. Some are parts that failed QC or were binned as a lower tolerance part and remarked as a higher tolerance part. Testing for all those possibilities is not economically feasible, especially if you’re outsourcing assembly.
This is much more a “how do I know the 683rd chip on this reel will meet its sleep current specifications [so our device will make its battery life specs]?” rather than “how do I know this is an IC at all and not a fancy Lego brick?”
Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components
#6We were just having this discussion at work last week, as we are a low volume manufacturer and are starting to see many of our ICs dry up at the major distributors. We're looking at smaller unknown distributors and Chinese companies on eBay and wondering how do we know we'll get what we order. There doesn't seem much area between the two choices of ordering with our fingers crossed or telling our customers we cannot…
Shouldn't you be able to test an IC?
Sure, we can test a few when they come in, but we can't necessarily send them back or get our money back if buying from unknown sources in China. If we order samples, we're not necessarily guaranteed that there will be more available to purchase after we get the samples in, or that what we get in the next order will be good even if the samples were.
Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components
#7We were just having this discussion at work last week, as we are a low volume manufacturer and are starting to see many of our ICs dry up at the major distributors. We're looking at smaller unknown distributors and Chinese companies on eBay and wondering how do we know we'll get what we order. There doesn't seem much area between the two choices of ordering with our fingers crossed or telling our customers we cannot…
For my previous employer buying from shady sources never worked out. There were many different fakes from empty enclosures to almost working similar parts. Insanely expensive brokers worked well, but buying at 50x price isn’t feasible in the long run.
Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components
#8>This has led to global shortages that have now trickled down to most industries that depend on electronic components, ranging from basic home appliances like microwaves and refrigerators to the automotive sector.
...to the semiconductor equipment sector. We can't get components to make the controllers that control the machines that make semiconductors.
Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components
#9We were quoted $40 for a $4 STM32 microcontroller, by a component broker. Due to our desperate need, we caved in and paid for the 10x price and our only hope at this point is that the parts will be genuine. Sigh.
Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components
#10Are these "fakes" mostly broken or nonfunctional chips? Or are they mostly chips produced by third party factories without the license for the chip IP?
If it's the latter, I think that would be something to welcome - the official manufacturer can't make enough, so others will. Whether that's legal or not, it's good for the chip buyer. (And chips should be open source anyway, so I don't much care about them violating copyright...)