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Component availability has improved a lot over the past couple of years, but sourcing is still tight for certain parts. When a part is hard to find, it's tempting to grab whatever stock turns up. That's exactly where counterfeit and gray-market components get into the supply chain.
What counterfeit parts actually look like
Counterfeits aren't always obvious fakes. Common ones include:
Used parts pulled from scrapped boards, cleaned up, and remarked as newLower grade parts relabeled as higher spec (commercial sold as industrial, for example)Parts with the right markings but the wrong die inside, or no die at all Genuine parts that were stored or handled badly and are past their usable life
A lot of these pass a quick visual check and even power up on the bench. The problems show up later as intermittent failures, reduced lifespan, or field returns that are hard to trace.
Gray market isn't always counterfeit, but it's a gamble
Gray market parts come from outside the manufacturer's authorized channel. Some are perfectly fine. The issue is you lose traceability, so you can't confirm where the part has been, how it was stored, or whether it's genuine. That uncertainty is the risk.
How a trusted assembly partner protects you
This is where your pcb assembly partner matters. Screaming Circuits will:
Only buy components from our approved vendor listSend traceability records, certificates of origin and conformance to the customer (Only done upon request)Use your alternate part numbers, when provided, instead of swapping them out without your approvalFlag customer-supplied parts that look questionable before they go on your board
Pair that with ASC Sunstone boards built to your spec, and you've got a supply chain you can trust from bare board through assembly.
What you can do on your end
Build a little lead time into orders for hard-to-find parts, so there's less pressure to buy from unknown sourcesList approved alternates on your BOM up front If you're supplying your own parts, buy from authorized distributors and keep the paperworkIf using your internal part numbers on your BOM, also include manufacturer part numbers to prevent delays
No process eliminates every risk, but working with partners like ASC Sunstone and Screaming Circuits, who take sourcing seriously, dramatically reduces it.
If you have a build coming up with parts that are hard to source, reach out and we'll help you think through options.
Contact Sunstone Support
1-800-228-8198 ( 1-800-228-8198 )
email ( support@sunstone.com?subject=Support%20Inquiry ) & chat ( https://marketing.sunstone.com/c/AQix0RUQj7c8GOf3qZABIJDKnA8o6oSfGOEdx_99H7Ta6QToszZnxybjQiiIADRZNdxoCKPLUzCD )
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