Engineer searching for electronic components online.
One of the biggest challenges when designing PCBs is consistently finding the right components and accurate CAD models for them. Many designers begin each design with a new search using electronic search tools to find components on the internet. Online component listing sites are a tremendous asset for circuit board designers. However, these resources vary in capabilities and often do not provide essential functionality that enables you to innovate most efficiently. A better solution is Ultra Librarian’s comprehensive component library environment customized to your design needs.
Ultra Librarian’s Electronic Components Online Service
Electronic components online search tools are essential for PCB design. Navigating the numbers and types of components–from passives to semiconductors to electromechanical devices–can be a daunting task, even for seasoned engineers. With UL’s custom component library service, you have access to the world’s largest repository of electronic component CAD models online and additional tools and attributes, as listed below, to help you optimize your PCB and electronic system design process.
| UL Electronic Components Online Service | |
| Tools and Attributes | Description |
| Electronic components search tool | Engineer-friendly electronic component search tool that allows for preferred manufacturer searching and cost comparisons. |
| Manufacturer-vetted CAD models | Schematic symbols, board footprints, and 3D models are strenuously vetted to adhere to industry standards and manufacturer specifications. |
| Custom component-CAD library | Virtual Librarian Service (VLS) that includes custom component CAD model builds according to your design requirements. |
| EDA tool integrated CAD library | Seamless CAD library integration with your EDA tool. |
| Intelligent reference design search | Customizable search for reference designs from leading electronics manufacturers. |
| Distributor-integrated BOM | UltraBOM integrates components search, CAD model creation, and parts procurement with trusted industry distributor Digikey. |
| Design data, information and expert tips |
In-depth articles, detailed datasheets, and information on best practices, industry standards, and design tools to help expedite your workflow. |
As the list above illustrates, UL’s electronic component online service includes a suite of tools and capabilities that allow engineers to customize their component-based design activities. With these capabilities at your disposal, optimizing your design process is an achievable goal. To best appreciate this service, it is informative to understand the how, why, and importance of data to online electronic component access.
How Can Designers Find Electronic Components Online?
Designers must navigate two major hurdles when searching for electronic components online. First, they must find components and other resources, which is extremely daunting for exotic and/or obsolete components. Second, they must find components and resources composed of high-quality information. It is a persistent problem—components that are easy to access are often low-quality. Predatory suppliers rely on a designer’s need for easy access to remain in business, and that can scare off some designers from using easily accessible resources. This leads to the false belief that one can only get high-quality components if they have a complicated acquisition process, forcing designers to pay high prices or maneuver through many unnecessary steps to get the components they need. While it is natural for a designer to seek to balance quality with cost, high-quality components don’t always require sacrificing one to achieve the other.
Why Accessibility is Critical to Project Success
A major advantage of easy access to electronic components and resources is the ability for cross-referencing. Cross-referencing helps designers avoid costly mistakes in their designs, such as using outdated components, ordering the wrong sizes, or missing incompatibilities that would prevent an electronics project from working properly. A single search for electronic components online can find many variants of the same component, updates to components that may do slightly different things or lines of similar components that seem identical on the surface. Cross-referencing is an invaluable asset; however, accurate, real-time data is necessary to fully realize its benefits.
Data Analysis: The Key to Efficient Component Selection
Data analysis during searches for electronic components online is crucial. From sourcing components to ensuring components function properly, data keeps a component search moving progressively toward the best parts for a project. It’s important to remember an electronics component search powered by data is not always linear—new data may completely change a design into something different. It can be difficult for designers to balance their expectations of what a design should be with the direction the data is telling them to follow.
Computer selection is not only the first task of PCB design, it is the most critical. Consequently, it is important to employ the best search capabilities, which is UL’s custom electronic components online service.
If you’re looking for CAD models for common components or important information on essentials for the best electronic components online service, Ultra Librarian helps by compiling all your sourcing and CAD information in one place.
Working with Ultra Librarian sets up your team for success to ensure streamlined and error-free design, production, and sourcing. Register today for free.
If you’re looking for any of our component footprints or models, we have readily available and free options for you and your design team. Search our library for the solution you’ve been looking for.
