Information Gathering

    * Ask project liaison for information specific to project.
    * Internet searching
    * Thomas Register for vendors (www.thomasnet.com)
      Vendors are often a good source of information, especially applications engineers.
    * Handbooks – Reference section of Engineering Library
      Exs.: Machinery’s Handbook (TJ151.M3)
      Standard Handbook of Machine Design (TJ230.S8235)
    * Mechanical design texts and books – Ref. sec. of Engr. Library
      Exs.:The Illustrated Science & Invention Encyclopedia (T9.I44)
      The Way Things Work (T47.W3913)
    * Patent searching (www.uspto.gov)

      Click SEARCH, then click ADVANCED SEARCH – Use word combinations with Boolean operators.
      Example: AAA and BBB and (CCC or DDD)
      Get IMAGES (text PLUS figures) if you can get plug-ins
      Alternative is to get images as PDFs from www.freepatentsonline.com.

      To search abstracts only use "ABST/keyword."

Where to find stuff

The following is a list of suppliers you will find useful. It is correct to the best of our knowledge. The list is in alphabetical order by vendor. To search for a particular item use the find command. Please report any inaccuracies to Warren Dean at dean@cdr.stanford.edu Thanks and happy hunting. (last updated 1/97)

Accent Arts 3902 Middlefield RD Palo Alto 424-1044 art supplies Open Saturdays and Sundays

Alan Steel 101 & Whipple (east) Redwood City, CA 369-2526 Aluminum sheet, Aluminum tubing, Aluminum extrusions, Brass, Stainless steel, Stainless theaded rod, threaded fasteners, some plexiglass, steel sheet, steel tube, steel angle iron, steel shapes, junk, used cutters, used big gears, used big electric motors Large yard, expensive, will cut to size for a fee. You can wander around and see what is available. On items they have but don't understand, you can get a great deal. Otherwise they are expensive and price things according to daily whim.

Alco Iron & Steel 1091 Doolittle Dr. San Leandro, CA 94577 (510) 562-1107 Probably the best all-around place for aluminum and steel. Good prices, but a bit of a drive.

Allied Iron Arts & Crafts 620 Waltermire Belmont, CA 591-6555 hot rolled steel, cold rolled steel. Excellent supply of hot and cold roll.

Aluminum REM Center 3185 De La Cruz Blvd, unit B Santa Clara, CA 95054 (408) 748-0666 Aluminum and stainless steel. Pretty good price and selection.

Applied Industrial Technologies 990 Rengstorff Ave Mountain View, CA 968-8316 Seals, O-rings, Oillite Bushings, Plastic Bushings, Snaprings, Rubber tubing, thread adhesive (locktight) Sometimes not too helpful, and frequently enforce minimum quantities.

Aura Hardwoods 210 Phelan Ave. San Jose, CA (408) 275-1990 wood - hardwood and softwood. Great selection, good prices, nice people

Barron Park Plumbing Supply 377 San Antonio Mountain View, CA 948-7160 Pipe fittings -- abs, pvc, brass, steel, pipe. Great selection

Bay Pneumatic 440 Convention Way Redwood City, CA 365-1444 Pneumatic supplies, Pneumatic tubing, valves, fixtures.

Borrmann Steel 2450 Pulgas Ave. East Palo Alto, CA 324-1654 hot rolled steel, cold rolled steel, steel sheet, common structural steel shapes $25.00 minimum, reasonable prices, close by, helpful yard staff, open 8-5, Mon-Fri. Any cuts you might need are expensive.

Britex Fabrics 147 Maiden Lane San Francisco, CA 392-2910 fabric, thread, notions, patterns Huge selection, good prices. Open 9-6 Mon-Sat. and 'til 8 p.m. Mon & Thur.

Bruce Bauer Lumber & Supply 134 San Antonio Circle Mountain View, CA 948-1089 Decent selection of woods, and wood finishing supplies (oils, sandpapers, etc.) If you're looking for hardwood, drive the extra few miles to Minton's Lumber down the street.

California Paint and Wallpaper 360 California Ave. Palo Alto, CA 326-9285 House paints, wood finishes, spray cans -- krylon Somewhat expensive, but close and complete

Cambell Precision Sheetmetal 3535 Victor Street Santa Clara, CA 95054 (408)369-8497 Complete sheet metal shop. Very friendly, tell them you are a student.

Color Vu 2245 Old Middlefield Mountain View, CA 969-5291 Custom transfer lettering and logos (INT's)

Commercial Plastics 3261 Kellar St. San Jose, CA (408) 988-6500 Variety of plastics, delrin, styrene, lexan, polycarbonate, abs. sheet and tube. Great prices

Consumer Scientific 1411 W. El Camino Rl. Mountain View, CA 94040 (415) 967-5515 Science products, nature products.

D & J Hobby 96 San Tomas Aquino Campbell, CA (408) 379-1696 Hobby and craft supplies. Best hobby store in the area -- like San Antonio but bigger

Dan-Mar 907 American San Carlos, CA 591-2651 endmills, drills, machine shop supplies, slitting saws, O1 tool steel, reamers, measuring tools, ball endmills, centerdrills, dowel pins nice folks, good selection of tool steel.

Eco Timber 1020 Heintz Berkeley, CA (510) 549-3000 Lots of hardwood and softwood. Will cut to limited sizes.

Gems Galore 982 El Monte Mountain View, CA 968-8707 jewelry making supplies, rocks, foredom and dremel bits, lapidary supplies Off El Camino Real (right side if you are going south) near Office Depot and McDonalds.

Goodwill 4085 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA 494-1416 clothing, appliances, household goods

Halted 3500 Ryder Street Santa Clara, CA 95051 408- 732- 1573 Electronic components, Electronics. Very good prices.

Haltek 1062 Linda Vista Ave Mountain View, CA 969-0510 Just like Halted. Lots of electronic surplus, and other wacky stuff.

Harrington Plastics Fremont, Ca. (510) 490-8620 Large diameter PVC. 20' lengths only, $2.00 to $3.00 / cut

HDB Electronics 2860 Spring Street Redwood City, CA 368-1388 new and surplus equipment,NiCad batteries, gel cells,chargers, Excellent selection.

Herzog Engraving 910 S. Amphlett Blvd. San Mateo, CA 340-1622 Produce raised graphic and lettering plates for embossing and stamping. Quick turn-around

House of Fabrics 1295 Veterans Blvd. Redwood City, CA 367- 0600 fabric, thread, sewing supplies, notions, buttons

Jameco 1355 Shoreway Road Belmont, CA 592-8097 electronics, electronic components, integrated circuits, board level computers, computer accesories, memory chips, switches, electronics tools, electronics enclosures, fans, cables, heat sinks, Call in your order from their catalog. You cannot browse through their stock. http://www.jameco.com

Jordan International 1303 Elmer Belmont, CA 94002 592-7725 Domestic Hardwood, Exotic Hardwood, Hardwood plywoods, Edge banding, Veneers, Hardwood flooring, Staircase materials, Wood finish oils, Large, exotic selection of hardwoods and veneers. Don't miss the veneer room... Will not cut any wood - buy it as you find it.

Kilsby-Roberts 31100 Wiegman Rd. Hayward, CA 510-487-2700 Tubing - Alloy, Carbon, Stainless, Aluminum Tubing - Alloy, Carbon, Stainless, Aluminum

L & M Tool and Die 1071 McCue San Carlos, CA 591- 5701 compression springs, belleville springs, wavy washers, curved spring washers, thread inserts, mold springs Very sensitive to uninformed students wasting their time. Know the stock number of what you want before you call!

Laird Plastics 3380 Keller Santa Clara, CA (408) 988-6611 plastic, ABS, Acrylic, Plexiglass, Polycarbonate, delrin, styrene, formica, PVC.

Lusk REM Center 3433 De La Cruz Blvd Santa Clara, CA (408) 980-9598 Aluminum remnants. No minimum order.

Madco Welding 1988 Old Middlefield Mountain View, CA 969-8665 Welding supplies, Brazing supplies, compressed gases, leather gloves, over center clamps Knowledgable, friendly staff. Complete, professional store.

McMaster-Carr P.O. Box 54960 Los Angeles, CA 310-692-5911 misc. hardware, hand tools, electric motors This is a mail-order vender. They will give good service if the part is in stock. Their time estimates on backordered items are unreliable. The catalog is in the shop, it is 2000+ pages and unbelievable.

Menlo Hardware 700 Santa Cruz Menlo Park,CA 322-8844 Power cords, paint, appliances, plumbing supplies Well stocked general hardware store

Metal Supermarkets 2301 Industrial Parkway West Hayward, CA U.S.A., 94545 Phone: (510)259-1005 Toll Free: (800)700-2839 Fax: (510)259-1958 Email: terry_moody@compuserve.com Franchisee: Terry Moody All metals, no minimum, delivered.

Metals Heat Treating 1061 Douglas Ave. Redwood City, CA 368-4131 Case hardening, Aluminum heat treating quick, good, and mildly expensive

Minton's Lumber 455 W. Evelyn Ave. Mountain View, CA 968-9201 lumber, plywood, hardware, hardwood, masonite, nails, threaded fasteners, glue Slightly overpriced, but well stocked lumber yard. Good selection of hardwoods. Good service and will cut hardwood to any requested size. Reasonable prices.

New York Fabrics 435 San Antonio Ave. Mountain View, CA 948-5300 fabric, sewing supplies, thread, notions, buttons Huge.

Olander Supply Co. 144 Commercial Ave. Sunnyvale, CA 408-735-1850 threaded fasteners, screws, nuts, washers, bolts, press-on plastic thumb screw caps, heli-coils, allen wrenches, metric fasteners, allthread, dowel pins, shoulder screws Well stocked and willing to sell small quantities. Expect to wait for up to 15 min. in line.

Oliveri and Sons 1985 University Ave. Palo Alto, CA 322-1995 Paint - Automotive lacquers, fillers, sandpaper Located where Hubbard Paint used to be (for the old timers). Amazing selection of colors and supplies.

Orchard Supply 2110 Middlefield Rd. Redwood City, CA 365-7373 Hand tools, Plumbing supplies, House paint, screws, nuts, bolts, threaded rod, misc. hardware, electrical supplies, lamp parts, sandpaper, rope, tubing Middlefield store is near Woodside Rd. Sunnyvale-Saratoga store is best. 777 Sunnyvale-Saratoga Rd. Sunnyvale, CA 408-732-7734

Peninsula Building Materials 109 Seaport Redwood City, CA 365-8500 Sand, Plaster, Chicken wire, Fire clay, Portland cement, Yard tools

Peninsula Hardware 2676 Middlefield Rd. Palo Alto, CA 325-3491 Springs, Hand tools, House paint, misc. hardware, rope, yard tools. Hardware - general

PIC 6842 Van Nuys Blvd. Van Nuys, CA 91405 1-800-243-6125 misc. hardware, small gears, miter gear differentials, shafting, metric threaded fasteners, threaded fasteners This is a mail-order vender. They will give good service if the part is in stock. Their time estimates on backordered items are unreliable. The catalog is in the shop, it is worth looking through just to see what is available.

PK Selective Metal Plating Inc. 415 Mathew Street Santa Clara, CA 95050 (408) 988-1910 Hard and soft anodizing. Good selection of colors.

Plastics SRT 2626 E. Bayshore Prkwy. Mountain View, CA 94043 (415) 968-0100 ABS, acrylic, Plastic sheet, Plastic rod, Plastic tube SRT = Sheet, Rod, and Tube Small pieces only. High prices but will cut small pieces to order and has plenty of hard to find stock on hand. No minimum order and will accept credit cards .

Polymer Plastics Corp. 645 National Ave. Mtn. View, CA 94043 (415) 968-2212 Plastic sheet, Plastic rod, Plastic tubing, Plastic film, Plastic fabrication, Delrin, Nylon, Teflon, ABS, Tygon, Acrylic, Polycarbonate, Noryl, PET, Phenolics, G-10, Glastic, Polyethylene, UHMW, Mylar, Polyurethane, Fishpaper Have available a wide selection of fabrication processes. (415) 968 - 2218

Port Plastics 1047 N. Fairoaks Sunnyvale, CA 408-744-1111 plastic, ABS, Acrylic, Plexiglass, Polycarbonate, delrin, styrene, formica- plastic

Quement 1000 S. Bascom Ave. San Jose, CA 408- 998- 5900 Electronic components, Electronics. Best full line store.

Quilting Bee & Fabric 221 Main St. Los Altos, CA 948-8077 Check out the "sale" room.

R. S. Hughes 1162 Sonora Ct. Sunnyvale, CA 408-739-3211 Adhesives, Abrasives, Safety supplies, Double stick tape, 3M products Good stock on hand.

Radio Shack 248 Hamilton Ave. Palo Alto, CA 329-8081 electronics, electronic components, clocks, radios, electronic kits, integrated circuits, computers, computer software. Like 7-11 is to food. They always ask your address, so think ahead and be creative.

REN Plastics 3001 S. Shannon Santa Ana, CA Ciba-Geigy 4917 Dawn Ave. E. Lansing, MI 48823 800-367-8793 Red Stuff,REN Shape 450 also rencothane castable polyurethanes and epoxy molding materials. Full boxes of three 16" x 60" x 2" planks only. Price for 1 box = $693.00 10/7/91

San Antonio Hobby San Antonio Shop. Ctr. Palo Alto, CA 941-1278 Model building supplies, Model airplane engines, balse wood, dremel accesories, music wire, small wheels, living hinges, Model railroad supplies, small plastic sheets, Brass tube Hardware - mechanical

San Carlos Paint 1664 Industrial Way San Carlos, CA 595-2210 automotive lacquers, fillers, sandpaper, tools. Great selection, will mix colors.

Santa Clara Color 211 S. Whisman Mountain View, CA 965-4040 Paint, Automotive paint, painting supplies, lacquer Surface Treatment - supplies

Scandic Springs, Inc. 901 Montague Ave. San Leandro, CA 94577 (415) 352-3700 Precision mechanical springs, in house fab. of springs, leaf spring, torsion spring Very friendly and helpful staff. They will give you free samples if you sound like you know what you are talking about.

Sequoia Brass and Copper 2289 Industrial Pkwy West Hayward, CA 94545 (510) 887-5525 or (800) 362-5255 Good selection of brass, copper, aluminum, stainless, and bronze.

Sherry's Western Ceramic Supply 948 Washington San Carlos, CA, 592-2333 ceramic clay and supplies supplies for kiln wash (kaolin and flint)

Sherwin Williams 696 Broadway Redwood City, CA 366 - 5786 Polane polyurethane primer, texture paint.

Shop Tools, Inc. 892 Commercial Palo Alto, CA 494-8331 endmills, drills, machine shop supplies, slitting saws, O1 tool steel, reamers, measuring tools, ball endmills, centerdrills, taps, wet or dry sandpaper, scotch brite sheets, cutting oil, tool cabinets, grinding wheels Catalog in the shop. Full line of cutters and shop tools. directions: 101 South exit San Antonio toward el Camino, left on Charleston ; left on Commercial Shop Tools is on the right

Small Parts, Inc. P.O. Box 381736 Miami, FL33238-1736 305-751-0850 Rod ends, small threaded fasteners, hobby supplies, misc. hardware, small plastic stock, balls and spheres of different materials This is a mail-order vender. They will give good service if the part is in stock. Their time estimates on backordered items are unreliable. The catalog is in the shop, it is worth looking through just to see what is available.

Southern Lumber 1402 S. 1st. St. San Jose, CA (408) 294-1487 wood - hardwood and softwood Best all-around lumberyard in the area.

Specific Plating 936 Industrial Palo Alto, CA 494-6995 Plating, Anodizing, no hard anodizing. Minimum charge is $35.

Spectrum Powder Coating Company 2694 Middlefield Rd. Unit A Redwood City, CA 94063 367-4940 Powder Coating. Open M -F 8 am - 5:30 pm

Tallman's House of Foam 150 Hamilton Ave. Palo Alto, CA 327-4300 foam, sponge rubber, foam mattress material Friendly folks. You might check out their dumpster if you don't mind getting dirty.

Tap Plastics 312 Castro St. Mountain View, CA 962-8430 Acrylic, plexiglass, glazing ploycarbonate, colored plexiglass, plexiglass tubing, solvent cement, fiberglass supplies, latex, resin, plastic buffing compounds, textured plastic lighting panels, plastic letters High retail pricing. Willing to cut plastic to size.

Tools & Gages 960 Terminal Way San Carlos, CA 591-5383 endmills, drills, machine shop supplies, slitting saws, O1 tool steel, reamers, measuring tools, ball endmills, centerdrills full line of tools and cutters.

Triangle Machinery & Tool 1051 Commercial Ct. San Jose, CA 95112 (408) 452-8666 Metal cutting tools, Endmills, Taps, Reamers, Drills, Motors (ac/dc), Gears, Pulleys, Ball Bearings, Casters, Specialty hardware, Pneumatics (valves, solenoids, cylinders), Muffin fans, Blowers, High vacuum equipment, Springs, Hose fittings, Pipe fittings, Control devices Hours: Mon. thru Sat. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (408) 452-8667

University Art 267 Hamilton Ave. Palo Alto, CA 328-3500 Art supplies, drafting equipment, press-on letters, markers, framing supplies. 10% Stanford Discount

Zack Electronics 348 Montague Expr. Milpitas, CA 95035 408- 942- 5432 electronic components, electronics, meters, heat shrink tubing, integrated circuits, cables. Slow service, full line.