Part Sourcing and Supply Chain
Flux is an AI hardware engineer. It helps source electrical and mechanical parts for your product and compare availability, cost, and suppliers.
Estimate BOM cost at a production quantity
Ask Flux to calculate the BOM cost and stock for the quantity you plan to build.
Flux uses the Manufacturing Quantity Target project property to calculate price and availability. It checks the manufacturer part number (MPN) for each BOM line and reports the pricing and stock for the target quantity.
Open the Pricing & Availability panel to review part pricing and stock. See Pricing and Availability for the panel and its BOM workflow.
Find high-cost and low-stock parts
Ask Flux to identify BOM lines that need a sourcing review.
Flux compares the BOM's part price, stock, and supplier details. Use the results to review high-cost parts, parts with low stock, and items that need an alternate source.
Set preferred suppliers and quantity targets
Ask Flux to update the sourcing properties for a project or part.
Set Manufacturing Quantity Target on the project to define the board quantity for pricing. Set Preferred Suppliers on the project or a part to choose where Flux gets price and availability data.
To set a part property in the UI, select the part, open the Inspector menu, and scroll to Properties.
Source electronic parts
Ask Flux to source electronic components for the board.
Flux can check electrical part pricing and stock from Digi-Key, Mouser, LCSC, and Arrow.
Open the Library tab to find parts by MPN, name, or properties.
Source mechanical hardware
Ask Flux to source fasteners and mechanical parts for the board and assembly.
Flux can find mechanical hardware from McMaster-Carr, MISUMI, and JLCMC. Ask it to compare hardware by type, dimensions, fit, price, and stock for the target quantity.
Open the Library tab to search for fasteners, bearings, motors, and other mechanical parts. Add the selected hardware to the project and ask Flux to place it in the assembly.
Use your distributor accounts
Ask Flux to use your distributor account to check your pricing and stock.
When Flux needs a key, it asks for it in chat. Flux can use your Digi-Key, Mouser, or Arrow account to get your pricing and stock data.
Replace end-of-life parts and add second sources
Ask Flux to replace an end-of-life part or add another source for production.
Flux's part search leaves end-of-life parts out of its results. Ask Flux to compare available replacements with the MPN, package, and design requirements, then add a second source to parts that need one.
In the Library tab, search by part function, MPN, package, or supplier to review replacement candidates.
See Keep Your Part Library Current for end-of-life replacements and second-source workflows.
Consolidate passive components
Ask Flux to find similar passives that can use fewer MPNs.
Flux analyzes similar resistors, capacitors, and inductors and compares possible MPNs, specifications, price, and availability.
To run the analysis in the UI, right-click the schematic and select Flux → Passive Components Consolidation. Review the recommendations in chat.
Invite vendors and suppliers to your library
Ask Flux to prepare part records for supplier review.
Share the part or project by email and choose view, comment, or edit access. Vendors and suppliers can share parts with you, and you can invite them to review the parts in your library.
Open the part or project share menu to invite a supplier by email and set access.
See Part Library for sharing parts and supplier access.