I love the idea of open source hardware, but one issue I struggle with is - what happens when one or more components go out of production?
I suppose one solution is that the maintainers could update their component list (which might involve more than one component because of compatibility issues?). But what if I'm in the middle of purchasing the components only to discover I can't get them all? Maybe the maintainers could sell component kits? That might be a nice way to fund their work. Not sure if that would run into issues with IP laws, though.
Yep, that’s definitely a concern with hardware projects. I guess mass produced hardware doesn’t run into the problem as much because there’s funding for upfront bulk component purchases.
At least with open source hardware you could theoretically modify the hardware to use an alternative component, even if it’s no longer commercially viable.
For a lot of open source projects you can pretty much just source everything from DigiKey or Mouser, so you can buy them all atomically.
"mass produced hardware doesn’t run into the problem"
Happens all the time, as a production model may take a long time to make it through development and lab certification.
In general, large firms will try to warehouse spools for some bespoke design, but the 3 year contact-oxidation garbage-clock starts the second the component spool/tray leaves the manufacturer.
Thus, one may try to mitigate supply chain instability, but in the end you are still just better off avoiding unicorn parts in your work to begin with... Longer chip lot runs with multiple suppliers having identical packages is usually safer. YMMV =3
I suppose one solution is that the maintainers could update their component list (which might involve more than one component because of compatibility issues?). But what if I'm in the middle of purchasing the components only to discover I can't get them all? Maybe the maintainers could sell component kits? That might be a nice way to fund their work. Not sure if that would run into issues with IP laws, though.