[sdiy] 16 Bit, 32 channel D/A converter from Maxim

[Paul Schreiber]

RE: [sdiy] 16 Bit, 32 channel D/A converter from Maxim
And even broadly speaking about Maxim: Beware.  What you see is not always what you get.  I think
they announce "new" products to test the market and see who bites.
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NOT TRUE AT ALL.

I am on the review committee for ADC/DAC/digital pots new products. The process from 'idea' to
these flyers is very methodical. If anything, Maxim is the EXACT opposite: they won't make a part
until they KNOW they can sell 100,000 or get a MINIMUM of 10,000 at very high margin. Our group,
which is about 42% of sales, reviews about 400 product proposals a year. Only about 25 die types
get approved to go to design/layout/fab. They won't put anything in the flyers unless the part is
100% qualified. As a rule, a new part had better make $1 million profit in 16 months or it's not
started. Also, Maxim is the ONLY IC company I know of that has NEVER obsoleted a SINGLE PART.


When the big customer gets on board, they produce them.  When the big customers jumps ship, they
stop producing leaving the little guys empty handed.  Our buyers told engineering to avoid Maxim
parts because of this practice.

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NOT TRUE AT ALL (AS STATED).

Now, like all IC companies, the things which are shipping NOW are what was in the forcast 12-15
weeks ago. The fab process/off-shore packaging/testing/into stock cycle is 8-10 weeks. We always
have 'sample stock' of a couple 100 pieces, but let's say you need 1200 parts, you don't do a
'blanket' (order in advance by 4 months). Yes, then you are probably screwed if you pick up the
phone and want 1200 pieces shipped THIS WEEK. Because we have 1800 DIFFERENT part numbers,
NOTHING is 'pre-stocked'. It's all 'built-to-order'. So, if you are a small company, can only buy
out 4-6 weeks, you will have issues. I myself buy MXL1013 op amps for MOTM. I buy ONE YEAR'S
supply. When I get low, I make sure there is 10 WEEKS supply left.

There are some big distributors like FAI/Future, Arrow, and Nu Horizons that will carry some
stock. But it is VERY FRUSTRATING for small companies, like me! Ask me about ordering Spectrol
pots someday :(

Paul S.