MIL SPEC Parts Availability

[nornrich]

All,

I am working with an electronics design house on a project that might require parts to be Mil Spec. They are saying that most components are no longer Mil Spec. That the market has moved everthing to Automotive grade. What's the deal? Is this true and what is the rational for this move?

Regards,

Rich...

Richard Nornhold, PE

 

[benta]

This happened several years ago.
Background was that the reliability of commercial/industrial/automotive parts had become so good that the US DoD allowed the use of such components. This also represented a big cost saving.

Accordingly, a lot of electronic component manufacturers then closed their MIL product lines, as sales broke away.

Of the big semi manufacturers, I believe TI is the only one to still have a MIL line.

One route is to use automotive parts, which today have very high reliability.

Another is to specify aerospace parts, which still exist, but be prepared to bring the REALLY big wallet.

Best Regards,

Benta..

 

[IRstuff]

The military was lamenting the lack of 883 parts 20 yrs ago. In 1987, military electronics composed less than 5% of the electronics market. Additionally, cost pressures drove the market to COTS parts to take advantage of the cost savings.

Automotive and industrial grade is as good as it gets these days. Wev'e got systems where we're putting in heaters because we don't know whether the parts will operate correctly at less than -40ºC.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[nornrich]

So what happens to support of legacy systems, that are mission critical?

Rich....

Richard Nornhold, PE

 

[Skogsgurra]

Probably what is happeneing to lots of other systems: "Let's not talk about it. Let's hope it doesn't break down in our lifetime. And, if it does, let's hope we can find someone that has some parts hidden in his desk drawer - and knows how to use them..."

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

--------------------------------------
100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...

 

[VEBill]

There are specialist companies* that are able to supply military grade devices, even old and obsolete ones.

* For example:

http://www.rocelec.com

For new designs, it might be better to determine the actual root requirements (such as temperature) and meet those.

Amusingly, sometimes new parts often become obsolete much faster than old parts. Probably easier to find parts to restore a 60-year old radio than a 20-year old computer.

 

[IRstuff]

Depends on how deep the customer's pockets are. In some of our products, we're already one the 2nd redesign of the original obsolete processor. The customer authorized the 1st redesign about 10 yrs ago, meanwhile cannibalizing the original processors. The 1st redesign started going obsolete about 5 yrs ago, so he authorized the 2nd redesign and is cannibalizing both original and 1st redesign processors.

If it's REALLY mission critical, the customer has to cough up some money. Or find stashes of old parts But, bear in mind that most old parts have no certs.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[DHambley]

The failure of plastic at -55C is the big problem. Many automotive range ICs work at 125C just fine, but not -40C. The firm I'm working with now sends out parts for screening. If the plastic SOIC for example can pass it's data sheet spec at -55C, it gets to be used. Many of the IC's have to be expensive ceramic DIP to pass the -55C tests.

 

[VEBill]

"Many automotive range ICs work at 125C just fine, but not -40C."

If they want to sell cars in many parts of Canada, then they'd better work at -40C.