Microchip The de-facto standard for annoying microcontroller design. Regardless, it’s up there with the 8051 and AVR in popularity. It seems like you can get their more popular <$5 microcontrollers sampled. Also, of course, are their little eeprom memory chips, mid-freq RF chips and ‘analog glue.’ According to their FAQ, you can get 3 of 4 different parts, twice a month, shipped via 3-day.

“Microchip is so sweet. They always ship without hassle and never send you spam. They don’t require a phone and have online ordering.”
Atleast in Canada, your samples are sent FedEx to the local sales office, then sent to your address.

Atmel Samples are shipped from distributors, but I’ve gotten chips successfully. I’ve even gotten engineering samples for unreleased chips!

“Seems to be hard to obtain for a hobbyist.” -jkx
“I got a good number of AVRs from a friendly distributor without a hassle.” -Eriador
“If you use the sample form on the website, you will never receive the samples. So I emailed my local sales office and asked them for samples and they sent me some in about 2 weeks. - koolkat

Analog Devices High quality analog components, from the lowly comparator to the 60Ms/s D/A converter. Almost, but not everything, is available and I’ve found that sending a friendly email or calling them will net you what you’re looking for. Unofficially, if its less than $10, it isn’t a problem. The FAQ clams that Order limits are 2 of 3 parts, but there is no limit to how many samples you can request (although more than every other week is probably pushing your luck).

Maxim/Dallas Semiconductor DC-DC converters, serial line drivers, motor control, RF...Maxim specializes in “this part does one thing and does it they way you want it” chip design. If you want something analog, they’ve probably got it in stock. You’ll need to log in first, but they’ll send 2 of 8 parts (although I’ve never been turned down when asking for more) once per 90 days. I’ve received almost everything within a week.

I order samples alot from Maxim and they never turned me down. And I order way more than once per 90 days and they have never turned me down. - koolkat

National Semiconductor National makes the analog work horses of the industry, and they also have some nice DC/DC conveter and VCO/PLL design tools that do all that Ipeak math for you. If you’re a student (or play one on TV) you can order up to 5 of almost any part, once a week. Usually arrives in a few days.

Fairchild Semiconductor The twin of National. You’ll need to register but the only time I ordered something it was sent FedEx express and they didnt mind that I wanted 10. They have some policy, perhaps when you click on it, it won’t say “updated soon.”

Fairchild limits samples to 5 line items per week per customer and requires a pay email address.

Fairchild wants you to submit a phone number when you register for free samples. They claim it is only to provide UPS with the information in case they have trouble delivering. I didn’t give them a phone number and they held my sample order until I negotiated in email with them to clarify why they needed a phone number. In the end, they nicely shipped my samples for free without getting my phone number. I was very pleased.

Fairchild now requires a Corporate e-mail address,

“Fairchild offers free samples to corporate customers with corporate email accounts we are able to validate.
The email address you are using does not pass our validation. We are unable to ship free samples to you. "

Texas Instruments Great things come from TI. More analog, of course. DSPs, some logic, battery management. You can sample anything off their big list. 8 different parts per order, with 1 each of the expensive stuff (like DSPs) and 3 each of the more common chips. I believe you can order as often as you’d like. Boy, was I wrong: they’ll put you on a blacklist if you order more than once per 90 days. eek.

Note: TI now requires you to pay the shipping costs for free samples. They require you submit a phone number. After you’ve submitted, their salesmen will annoy you with phone calls from time to time. Bleh!

Cirrus Logic Digital chips, D/A converters, Ethernet controllers, audio/video decoders, etc...Sometimes require a little encouragement/email to get their samples to you.

Linear Technologies More high quality parts, finally added ‘one click’ sampling for most of their electronics.

Packages are sent via Fedex Express

Freescale (previously Motorola) A variety of ASICs, microcontrollers, and other ‘high function’ semiconductors. Has a sample program where you can order 5 parts, 3 times per month.

Freescale also has a range of MEMS sensors. Their sample system requests basic information “what are your intentions with our parts”. Shipping is generally through FedEx or UPS.
I’ve successfully gotten samples shipped by UPS Next Day Air for free, with few questions asked. I didn’t even have to deal with a person.

Allegro Microsystems A smaller manufacturer of mostly DC/DC converters, you can sample from their website. Samples are sent via distributors, and they usually contact you before. (And sometimes refuse)

Philips Semi Lots of chips many ASICs, you have to call the regional sales office to get parts.

ST Microelectronics

“ST will happily send you up to 8 different samples for free. Quantity for each chip varies (I got anything from 3 to 5), and you have to register and provide some semi-credible excuse on what you intend to do with the goodies. If you’re into audio, you could do worse than use STM’s chips.” - Luca R.

“They ship via UPS, the way of delivery I am not sure of.” - curriegrad2004

They ship via UPS Saver.   

Cypress Cypress will send you some samples without too much issues. Don’t forget to receive the email asking you additional information (even you fill all the required forms) - Jkx The wireless USB modules are definitely worth checking out.

“They may not send all requested parts”

Vishay Optoelectronics and Diodes

Find the deal on sampling at: Products A-ZHow to Get Samples You need to register first ( free ). Will let you know if my non-profit request for 10 led’s is sucessful.

Intersil

I just got 10 HIP4081AIP chips from Intersil as samples.

ON Semiconductor The other half of Motorola’s semiconductor business (see Freescale) they manufacture a broad selection of logic, passive, and interface ICs. Samples incur a $15-20USD handling charge but nearly everything is samplable and they’re happy to ship 10 each of 8 items or more. Samples come 2 days FedEx express, although some samples are shipped “at market lead time” and take up to a month before shipping.

An excellent source for weird and special transistors.

Sensirion Manufacturer of a selection of sensors; occasionally, they offer them for sampling.

Silicon Laboratories They allow you to sample their 8051 MCU’s but not other ICs. 4 different parts per order, with 8 parts total, and 3 orders in a 30 day period.

Central Semi Apparently also does samples, but I have no myself with it.

Molex A full-range supplier of interconnects, sockets, cables, etc. They’ll send you 3 or so of almost all their parts, usually very quickly, but sometimes not at all.

I requested samples and they shipped them the next day via USPS First Class(fancy way to say “standard”) - koolkat

Tyco / AMP A similar range as to Molex’s. You can request samples by sending mail to the “Ask A Question” link.

ITW/Fastex Sells hardware, some of which may be useful for electronics projects (connectors, clips, etc). Looks like you can sample up to 15 pieces of any part they offer.

http://www.riaconnect.com/samples.html Sell various connectors. I’ve not yet ordered from them but it seams pretty straight forward. The order form has a spot for 6 different samples.

Keystone electronics Connectors of all kinds, USB, serial, battery holders (coin cell, AA, N, SMD and through-hole) and more No questions asked, FedEx 2-day for free.

SamTec “They ship samples quite quickly, and I’ve never been pestered with followup calls.”

Mill-Max Connectors and IC sockets. They seem to ship quickly with no hassle and at no charge.

PacTec Enclosures Has a large line of nice enclosures for your electronics project, many with battery cases and clips. Will send you 2 of their new designs for free. You can buy many of their cases from Mouser or directly from their site.

“Ships via FedEx Ground” - curriegrad2004

New Age Enclosures Has three different but kinda nice enclosures. They’ll send you one of each if you ask.

I recently emailed them to request a sample of just 1 of their enclosures, and they turned me down. - Logan Williams

Due to the number of inquires we are no longer able to send samples for free. There is a $40 minimum order policy to cover order processing. Please increase your order amount to proceed to checkout. - Copy from their site, 6-21-2008 - Seth

Hammond Manufacturing I don’t particularly like their enclosures, but they are high quality, inexpensive and apparently they’ll send you free parts if you call them up.

Serpac - Offers many different project enclosures, from heavy toolboxes to tiny remote control style cases. Many cases offer clear or IR transparent front plates as well as AA and 9V battery holders. Just send them an email and they’ll ship right away.

MicroMetals Sells nice toroids for RF and power filtering and line conversion. Nice bunch of people, will send you 2 x 5 toroids for free.

Marktech Optoelectronics LED and LED-related electronics products. Will apparently send you 2 of any of their products. They aren’t that friendly anymore, will only send samples to those doing business with them.

Fox Electronics Sells crystals, oscillators, etc. Apparently will ship up to 9 samples of a crystal.

Philips Lumileds Apparenly if you call their distributors you can get free samples of their very popular Luxeon superbright (1W+) LEDs (not anymore)

Purdy Electronics You can sample LCD displays (free for alpha-numeric modules but will cost you for graphic displays) and LEDs from them, but they check every order and will call you to confirm, and they do not send to students or hobbyists.

These people are very helpful in their e-mail support however it is quite hard to get samples from them and they dont like to sample multiple products for free. Just talk to them and I am quite sure they will be able to hook you up. Also have a good excuse to have parts such as an electronics company as you will have to answer quite a few questions before they will ship you samples!!! –Ollee

It was very easy to get an alphanumeric display from these people. They are very friendly. It only took me one day to set up and finalize the sample order. Ships via UPS Ground. EDIT: I forgot to mention that I have a corporate email address, maybe that’s why they were so nice...they even offered to send me more. - koolkat

GIL Technologies – A GML1000 and other RF PCB-laminate manufacturer. (When FR-4 just wont cut it.) They’ll send you a 12”x18” sheet of their product for free. Their website is down as of March 12th, 2007

RichCo Inc Various plastic hardware, fan mounting stuff, lots of wire ties and wire tie accessories, cable management, circuit board mounting and supports

Coilcraft Sells RF chip inductor, power inductor, power magnetics, and other inductors. You can sample from their website. They ship the samples by USPS-Xpress. On their website, they say they may restrict samples for non-OEM activities but they have a student policy which allow them to send me some inductors, you have to send them an e-mail with the name and the phone number of the teacher and the nature of the project.

Parallax You may be able to get a sample Basic Stamp 1 (or other parallax products) from them if you politely contact the sales dept.