Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!sgiblab!sdd.hp.com!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!csc.ti.com!tilde.csc.ti.com!mksol!strohm
From: strohm@mksol.dseg.ti.com (john r strohm)
Subject: Re: [DC Motor Driver Chip - Toronto]
Message-ID: <1994Mar10.182559.22881@mksol.dseg.ti.com>
Organization: Texas Instruments, Inc
References: <2lne7k$1bh0@hermes.acs.ryerson.ca>
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 1994 18:25:59 GMT
Lines: 26

In article <2lne7k$1bh0@hermes.acs.ryerson.ca> lwilliam@ee.ryerson.ca (LAUREL WILLIAMS) writes:
>I have been trying to hunt down a DC Motor Driver Chip, DIP package,
>that would be appropriate for a mobile robot I am building.
>SGS Thompson's L293D is very popular, but I can't find a
>source here.  Anyone have any ideas where I can get one fast and
>cheap (no shipping from the states!) or else another chip that
>I could use that I can get hold of easily.

Two very stupid suggestions:

1.  Call the nearest SGS Thomson rep and ask them for the name of a
    "stocking distributor that handles the L293D".  Explain that you
    are working on a prototype.  (If you are a university student,
    SAY SO.  Reps usually have a lot of latitude to support students
    who might very well metamorphose into customers.)

2.  Call the nearest Texas Instruments rep and ask them for the name of
    a "stocking distributor that handles the 754410 motor driver IC."
    Same comments apply.

It is frequently the case that a rep can ship samples to a student with
no delay and no charges.  Reps listen for the word "prototype", because
that suggests that you might down the road be looking for "production
quantities".

Hope this helps.
