Your workshop :)

[Samuel235]

I think we should get a tooling topic going, what major testing equipment we all have and what we wish to gather in the future (if any) and then recommended tooling for new comers to purchase to help get their hobby off to a good start. Yes, I'm in that later category.

I will get one made within the next week if no one does it before me. Too busy right now unfortunately, so would appreciate if someone else did it but if they don't I will see to it asap!

[TheoL]

@Samuel235 I almost feel ashamed. I have a relative cheap soldering iron and a cheap multi-meter. But like I always tell people, when they ask me about the best tools for woodworking. It's not about the tools, it's what you do with it

[Samuel235]

@TheoL, this is my only 'higher end tool' at the moment. But i'm looking around for a good, but used, oscilloscope so i can start to inspect whats happening on my PCBs electronically. I also need a decent multimeter, i'm currently using a £5 'thing'.

There is no need to be ashamed at all, we all have to start somewhere

[Yveaux]

@TheoL said:

It's not about the tools, it's what you do with it

That doesn't only hold for woodworking!

[Samuel235]

@Yveaux said:

@TheoL said:

It's not about the tools, it's what you do with it

That doesn't only hold for woodworking!

Lets not start getting 'saucy' here now boys and girls! There is a time and a place for that talk

[TheoL]

@Samuel235 There is a thread on a Dutch forum which is describing the best tool for hobbyists, not the most expensive. You'll have to use google translator. But I've been told it's a good list.

http://knutselblog.tweakblogs.net/blog/12398/best-buy-guide-voor-de-knutselaar

[Samuel235]

@TheoL, thank you! I will continue to get a topic moving on our community as well though for our new comers

I shall have a read through this at some point tonight though!

[Koresh]

[m26872]

@hek Perhaps this applies to your Rigol DSO ?
http://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/project-yaigol-fixing-rigol-scope-design-problems/

[scalz]

@m26872 thx for the link

[hek]

@m26872

Thanks, interesting!

[tbowmo]

just grabbed a quick image of the secret den here

and yes, it does need a bit of cleanup, so I have a space for my laptop there, but I have a couple of other higher priority projects.. So cleaning must come later (at least I have space for building pcb's whenever I have time for it..).

The following tools are in use:

• Weller dual digital soldering station
• Old digital multimeter (had it for 15+ years)
• Tektronix 60Mhz oscilloscope
• 30V/5A power supply
• Homemade vices for holding pcb's.

[Samuel235]

May I ask you guys how you generate 'stock' of components so you don't need to order parts to design and test circuitry ideas? Did you specifically order parts, if so what should i order to generate a 'versatile component library' that i can breadboard anything that pops into my head? or did you just order more than you need for each part and store them for future needs?

[bjacobse]

@Samuel235
I usually always order more than I need. And as soon as I wonder do I need this - I order from ebay or aliexpress
so I am staring to sort out stuff. I bought a box from Biltema for my electronic stuff

[AWI]

Just cleaned...

Street view

Multimeter fetish

Storage for components of my Chinese (and European) friends. I order large amounts ..

Built 35 years ago and still unbeatable..

My latest - a universal component tester 11 Euro... kudo's for the one that designed this

[Yveaux]

@AWI said:

a universal component tester 11 Euro..

And click

[AWI]

@Yveaux Looks like we occupy a very similar workshop... top of the stairs with IKEA furniture...

[Yveaux]

@AWI Are we neighbors?

[bjacobse]

@Yveaux said:

@AWI Are we neighbors?

It looks like you rare sharing same toolshop

[Yveaux]

@bjacobse More like 'all houses in The Netherlands look the same'...

[TRS-80]

@Samuel235 said:

I think we should get a tooling topic going, what major testing equipment we all have and what we wish to gather in the future (if any) and then recommended tooling for new comers to purchase to help get their hobby off to a good start. Yes, I'm in that later category.

I was actually wondering if there was enough of this type of content to justify a new "Tools" forum?

Then we could have different threads for each tool (multimeter, scope, etc.) as well as this thread of course.

Or perhaps call it Tools and Methods, or Tools and Resources. For instance I just found a really good beginner's guide to the C programming language. I never understood what void main bla bla really meant, but now after only few minutes, I do! So I would like to share that.

But perhaps best to collect all these things in one place, instead of the general forum?

EDIT: I just had a look round and I don't see anything like a wiki either. Has it been decided against for "reasons" lol? Or have I just missed it (I am on mobile at the moment)?

[Samuel235]

@TRS-80, I too would like the idea of a separate forum category for tools/workshop. The trouble is, this community forum is based around home automation and 'sensoring' our lives, not becoming master electronic engineers. While most of us here are also becoming that, i'm not sure if having a separate forum category for this would be within the interest of the rest of the community, i would like to see it implemented though i must say.

I do feel that having a separate tooling forum would be helpful for us hardware guys, however i just doubt how much content would go there. I support your idea for said discussions regarding separate tools to allow reviews and suggestions. Just wondering how much the hardware category was intended for this when made by the admins.

Maybe a topic to discuss with Hek, we will see

[TRS-80]

@Samuel235

My opinion is that it would be great for community building. I think all men like to talk about tools, look at the success of Garage Journal, an entire forum about garage and tools. lol

Besides that, there are certainly all levels of ability here, but I think to use MySensors require you to be at least minimally into hacking your own things together, otherwise you would be using some other solution. And I think many of us always looking to learn more and thinking about eventually adding, upgrading related tools, methods, knowledge.

Of course it is hek decision, I am just making suggestion to collect all these in one place to keep them more organized. Those who are interested in such discussion can go to that forum, and those who aren't don't have to.

[Damme]

Hello everyone!

It's fun seeing this thread alive again!

Sorry I havn't been here for a long while, in the picture you'll see what have been keeping me occupied.. (the orange lawn mower, I'm reverse-engineering it!) and I also moved over from Arduino, atmega328p to esp8266 devices and more advanced cpu's (arm, cortex etc) and 'real' build enviroments..

If there is any interest in my project, https://hackaday.io/project/6717-landlord

The picture pretty much explains how my brain works.. I really need to clean up, might add another picture after that. Behind the mower two rigol devices are hiding, a scope and a p-psu.

[Samuel235]

@Damme, may i ask if you're planning on bringing this mower over to the MySensors world? I'm very interested in this project dude!

[Damme]

@Samuel235 It would be possible, I am planning to implement a GPS, and wireless information would be really nice, 'Hi! I'm stuck at XXXX'

There is a small problem though, not enough IO's, so we probobly need to hack and add one more CPU (atmega? that uses the 8 io to the keypad and send data serially between the cpu's (decoding keypad in atmega, send seriell, and tada 7 free io's! Plenty enough for wireless chips!

regarding GPS I think I can use the built in USB in the battery compartment, no major mod required for it.

[Samuel235]

@Damme, you're the guy with the 'Code Contributor' title. If anyone can allow the program i'm sure you can. You have worked out how to add more IO's, its all down to the software now

I would really like to see GPS implemented into this and get it working with MySensors controllers. This would be an awesome addition! Once you have it all working, who knows, we could get a board made up for it to be housed all in one. I'm following with great interest. Might be worth making a separate thread for this.

[GertSanders]

@Damme

For more IO you could use an I2C based I/O extender chip.
There is also MCP23017 (also available in DIL format) which is a 16-Bit I/O Expander with Serial Interface (exists in SPI and I2C versions). This gives an atmega328 an extra 16 digital pins with just SDA and SCL !

PCA9685 is also an I2C driven expander which has 16 channels which can be used for PWM (driving servo's) or as normal digital Input or Output pins. Each channel can be set in it's own way, independent from the other channels. There is no DIL version of this chip, but a breakout exists on Aliexpres (quite cheap).

So there are some options if an extra cpu is not desirable.

[Samuel235]

@Damme, there is also the 74HC238 IC too. I was doing some educational reading this morning and stumbled across this little fella for some reason while looking at 555 timers. I just remembered what it was when Gert mentioned the use of his suggested ICs. However it is only a 3-8 IO decoder.

[Yveaux]

@Damme Only the chair and Weller iron seem to be identical to your opening picture at the top of this thread
Everything else seems to have changed (including location of your desk)
Good to see you're back man!

[Samuel235]

And in full swing of prototyping, as promissed:

[Matt]

OK here's mine.

[Yveaux]

@Matt I like the chainsaw/oscilloscope combo

[Matt]

@Yveaux Thanks I luuurve my 660 although it still scares the begeezus out of me. 7HP in your hands is quite a buzz.
Just got a second hand weather station Im gonna fiddle around with when the mood takes me. And when I get a 433MHZ receiver.

[Damme]

@Yveaux pff, it's clean room ESD class!

[Samuel235]

@Matt, i generally keep my chainsaw downstairs away from my electronics. I can't have the oil everywhere!

[Matt]

@Samuel235 yeah the Dolmar leaks, I think its a design feature. Problem is I live with three drunken monkeys who are entropy impersonated, as such I cant keep anything inside if I want to find it again.

[AWI]

@Yveaux An updated version ... this one generates PWM, measure frequency and even measures DS18B20 / DHT..

[Jan Gatzke]

I am especially proud of my 20 years old analog soldering station.

[Yveaux]

@Jan-Gatzke said in Your workshop :

my 20 years old analog soldering station

I have the exact same one!

However, it's not in use anymore

[Jan Gatzke]

@Yveaux

I just bought a new soldering iron for it last year. Had to google for days to find spare parts.

[Yveaux]

@AWI said in Your workshop :

An updated version

Kicken!

[gohan]

Im thinking about getting this thing, do you think it may be useful ?

[dbemowsk]

@gohan That looks very much like the one that @AWI posted previously in the thread only with a nice case and a color display. The one he posted is quite a bit cheaper. I may get one myself and just 3D print a case for it. I can use your link for the 3D case design.
http://s.click.aliexpress.com/deep_link.htm?dl_target_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aliexpress.com%2Fitem%2FNew-2016-12864-LCD-Transistor-Tester-Capacitance-ESR-Meter-Diode-Triode-MOS-NPN-LCR-Mega328%2F32579390679.html&aff_short_key=e2Vzr3v

[dbemowsk]

Just looked on ebay, and here is one a bit cheaper that comes with a basic case.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LCR-T4-Mega328-Transistor-Tester-Diode-Triode-Capacitance-ESR-Meter-MOS-NPN-PNP-/222247985900?var=&hash=item33bf0322ecmLakYynk0RqdZT62qrYQfdw

[gohan]

if you want the case it costs 10$. The one I posted it seems to have pretty much the same specs, but it can detect also IR and probably some more components. It also comes with a lithium battery instead of the classic 9V, color screen and the case looks much better

[Jan Gatzke]

@gohan You are right. I just ordered the thing. With the case and the builtin battery it looks like a real tool. The price seems to be a promotion. Normal price is >30$.
You shoult by the way fix the link. Makes it easier for others to order it.

I am looking for a soldering vise. Has anyone tested this one: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00196RV9C/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2COJS1QZ6SUVJ&coliid=IQEGMI1GM2R46 ?

[gohan]

Fixed the link; anyway it is a recurring promotion because I have seen that price for quite a while

[Jan Gatzke]

@gohan Then you can safely lean back and wait for my review.

[hek]

@Jan-Gatzke

I have something similar on my workbench. Very useful.

[gohan]

nice wall decoration for a workshop

[hek]

@gohan

I didn't select the wallpaper....

[Yveaux]

@Jan-Gatzke I have this one:

It's able to hold all kinds of PCB sizes and can rotate easily.

Tip for soldering through-hole components from the back without them falling out:
Place all components on the top of the PCB and put a sponge or scotch-brite on top of them. Fix to the PCB with some rubber bands and swap the PCB to solder!

[Jan Gatzke]

@Yveaux I saw that thing on Amazon. There was a review saying the brackets would melt easily when using hot air. Did you use this with hot air?

[Yveaux]

@Jan-Gatzke said in Your workshop :

There was a review saying the brackets would melt easily when using hot air.

When you clamp a PCB in it only the edges are held by the plastic brackets.
Unless you are blowing directly on the edge of the PCB where it is held I can imagine this could be a problem, but then, why don't you shift or rotate the PCB to get away from the brackets?

Did you use this with hot air?

Yes

[AWI]

@gohan Be aware that there are quite a few different versions around. The one I posted has a rotary encoder to select and operate the pwm and frequency functions. The perspex casing fits well with the rest of the nerdy testboxes I own (dummy load, power supply, a few function generators, frequencycounter ) All a lot of functionality for very little..

[gohan]

Aren't these devices basically Arduinos? It's written on the title atmega328. If so if we could get our hands on the code, we could make our own

[core_c]

Nice to see in what environment others spend their time.
There are a lot of electronic hobbyists out there! They have more (and more) stuff than coders.
I hope that bjornhallberg has a nice desk by now..

[Jan Gatzke]

I noticed the many of you have an oscilloscope on their desk. What exactly do you use these for? There seems to be nothing under 200$ and I wonder if it is worth it.

[gohan]

There is also a cheap portable one under 100$, but it all depends how far you want to push yourself into electronics.

[AWI]

@Jan-Gatzke For MySensor I use it mostly for measuring response times and get a general idea of what is happening timewise. Especially if you have multiple event happening at the same time. Also for getting a grip on low power

it gives a lot of information which would be very hard to measure with any other instrument. (for my other hobby, analog audio design, I couldn't live without it. ;-))

A few considerations:

1. It can be rather complicated using a scope in first instance. (a steep learning curve)
2. Unless you are just curious and want to educate yourself I would strongly disencourage buying a cheap instrument. Better to study a few manuals of serious > €300 instruments, save a little and buy the thing you need (or can't resist). 10 years ago you had to put down > €1000 for something reasonable.

[Jan Gatzke]

@AWI Troubleshooting power probolems with the nrf24 is a good example, thx. I think at the beginning it is more a nice to have than a must have. I am always curios for such things. Still I don't want to buy trash. I will read a bit and watch ebay for good offers. Thx for your explanation.

[scalz]

As i'm actually tidying up thing, i can show some pics where i spend some tinkering time.

I'm planning to renovate it, because i'm also missing place for my 3d printer and some others stuff.
There is a lathe and a drill but it's for quick hurry work, there is another room for more dirty mechanical stuff.. but i can't show you, it's dirty

My favorite tools :

• my super mini TS100 solder iron. But if you ask me, for tiny SMD like DFN for instance, i prefer my Weller Magnastat with a 0.2mm tip. The tip is thinner even if i've bought the thinnest tip for the TS100.
• hacked Rigol Ds1054Z. Really worth the price!
• hacked T962 reflow oven. Very cool too (better for leaded solder though)
• smd books
• my magnifier of course!

for the rest, there are also great tools like power supply, a spectrum analyzer, generators..

My 1st 3d printer, i like it, works very well. I'm planning to build a new, bigger and enclosed one.

Talking about soldering vise, i have this old tool i don't use it often, but when i need it, i'm happy to have it.

I'm pretty sure this is not hard to reproduce with some T-Slots and so on

When you have a 3d printer, this thingiverse design can be helpful, for debugging stuff, or can be used for soldering but with care else plastic would melt.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:801279

[Koresh]

I've been using new induction solderind gun for the last month. It is fantastiс. It has 120W power and warms up to 330С during 6-8s

[gohan]

I am thinking to move to a soldering station, I looked at a hakko that looks quite decent for the price. What do you think?

[Jan Gatzke]

I've got the feeling this thread is going to be extreme expensive for me.

[dbemowsk]

@scalz Your 3D printer looks like some of the CoreXY rebuilds I have seen some people do. I have an open frame Anet A8 that is doing fairly well. These are the ones that I have seen the CoreXY mods done on.

[sundberg84]

@scalz - that might be the most equipped workshop I have ever seen! So cool!

[scalz]

@gohan
clone soldering station? I have no xp about clones, but i know genuine Hakko have great reviews.
Problem with clones is they often have a bad temperature regulation, meaning you set to a temperature, and you get something too low or too high at the tip. Not so cool.
This youtube video is interesting to see the difference (not about hakko though)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEEaLMv6dog
It confirmed to me to buy the TS100 but that's also because i wanted something mobile.
Not so easy to advice a solder station depends on what you need, perhaps hakko clone are reasonable choice but one sure thing, is clones or not, the tip quality is very important, and better to choose genuine for this.

@dbemowsk yep this is corexy. i choosed corexy system for its advantages. My next one will be another corexy (was tempted by delta) but this time 35x35cmx30 and with V-Slots and V-Wheels..

@sundberg84 yes very geek workshop, for maker, i enjoy it sure

[bjacobse]

@scalz said in Your workshop :

corexy

I think many guys envy your 2 lab:-)

[gohan]

I am one of those, but honestly I don't know if I'll ever have the time to use all that stuff

[hek]

It's not who's got the most stuff that wins. It's what you actually end up building.

[Yveaux]

@hek I'm afraid @scalz is hard to beat on that too

[Koresh]

@scalz your workshop is really profesional. It is golden opportunity for infinitely creativity. And of course it is extremely clear. I am impressed

[Samuel235]

@scalz - I would love to have your setup dude! Your coreXY printer looks a little bulky underneath and taking up some build volume but i'm guessing you never hit a problem with that anyway so no issues. I too like the CoreXY designs. I think my next one will be a D-Bot as i've printed about 6 sets of parts for that printer for people and it seems a very solid printer. My current one is a Wilson 2 design (will upload some more photos here soon of my equipment), but would like a second one. However, as i still live at home with my parent, having an area like you have is just not available for me right now

I'm a Hakko user, and i would like to ask you to not purchase a fake. Not only are they bad at temperature regulation, they are also very unsafe from what i have read. Purchase at your own risk! I use a FX888D, i would prefer the analogue version with the knob on the front but this does the same but with a slightly more awkward temperature adjustment. Heat-up time is very quick and that is the huge added bonus for me.

[scalz]

@Samuel235 i know the d-bot, it's a nice printer (mine is older). but i'm planning to use as much as possible aluminium on my next one. I think it's too bad to use aluminium slots, with printed parts for the corners etc.. So i've picked ideas from multiple designs to make a new custom one.

There are still a few tools i'm missing though

[Samuel235]

@scalz - I love to see custom hybrids of solid printers! If you make a blog post or something on your new build at any point please drop me a link to it so i can have a look

What could you possibly be missing when you're doing this at a hobby level? o.O

[Yveaux]

@Samuel235 said in Your workshop :

What could you possibly be missing when you're doing this at a hobby level? o.O

Laser cutter?

[Samuel235]

@Yveaux - He doesn't need any more encoraging!

[dbemowsk]

I have to say, my slightly modded Anet A8 printer that I bought recently has been doing pretty good. I had been looking at some point to migrating the electronics to a coreXY frame, but that probably won't be any time soon.Besides, it does what I need for now..

[Samuel235]

@dbemowsk - If you only want it to do what you need it to do then you're all good. I'm a little bit of a perfectionist and whether or not i need it to have a feature, i tend to attempt to get the printer to have that feature anyway. But at the end of the day if you're only using it for personal things and it does everything you want it to, then there is no need to change

What i will say though is: I thought that i would be okay with just a RAMPS and arduino board, but i pushed the boat out and went for a DUET WIFI board, and damn these things are beautiful to use!

[dbemowsk]

@Samuel235 So do you have dual extruders?

[Samuel235]

@dbemowsk - I don't. And right now i'm not even thinking about it as i've done my far share of detailed printing and i do not wish to print anything slow and small scale that requires 0.08 mm layer heights and support everywhere. My printer has been on solid for the last 88 hours on 4 prints doing exactly that.

I'm trying to slowly approach my maximum speed, printing comfortably at 60mm/s at the moment but would like a little more. My printer is pretty basic still, i'm still a student living at home so i'm saving money everywhere i can right not but as soon as i have no income issues, dual extruder, advanced bed probing, enclosure, quick change hotends with a tornado extruder maybe.

[AWI]

@gohan said in Your workshop :

Aren't these devices basically Arduinos? It's written on the title atmega328. If so if we could get our hands on the code, we could make our own

I finally found the place where the Chinese get their code and design for the "Transistortester". It comes from a german site
a very extensive project. I doubt if I will ever be able to match or even comprehend what they accomplished.

[Yveaux]

@AWI great digging!
The specs and list of functions are impressive.
Do you think the Chinese hardware is an identical copy of this design?

[gohan]

@Yveaux said in Your workshop :

Do you think the Chinese hardware is an identical copy of this design?

Why not? Chinese are great at copying stuff

[Yveaux]

@gohan said in Your workshop :

Why not? Chinese are great at copying stuff

Yes, and they're great in optimizing for cost; as long as any signal comes out, all components will be removed/replaced by cheaper ones...

[AWI]

@Yveaux I soldered the thing myself so build quality is .... The board I received looks to be solid as well as the components.
Accuracy in resistor/ capacitor meaurement is fine (~5% which is also the toleration of the components tested) Semiconductor analysis is enough for me with Fet / Junction transistors as I can determine the most important characteristics (including the pin layout!) which are within 10% of the datasheet. (pins are 100% correct :-))

[gohan]

@AWI did you order the parts or did you make the tester on your own with the parts you had?

[AWI]

@gohan I used a kit. There is also a description and suggestions on improvement of the "Chinese clones" in the documentation of the project.

[core_c]

@AWI "I soldered the thing myself so build quality is ...."
I guess the missing word is: "top", and the last dot is just interpunction.

[AWI]

@core_c Thanks, I missed that

[gohan]

I got my 2017 transistor tester and since the cost for the pre-assembled was not far off from the kit, I did go the lazy way and I have to say the soldering quality seems OK.

[gohan]

I need little advice: is it worth buying the Ts100 soldering iron for 50€ + some accessories (holder and one extra tip, I already have a laptop power supply I can use) or go for a Hakko FX-888D for 120€ (you get holder in the price and extra tips cost significantly lower but I don't know if I ever need many different sizes)?

[Koresh]

@gohan Imho - TS100 is beautiful toy, nice gadget, but not really useful tool. TS100 iron has much less ergonomics in comparation with others soldering stations. I recommend buy it only as extra tool, not main tool

[sundberg84]

After changing my HA and network to new location I made some changes to my workshop. Still some work in progress.

[Yveaux]

@sundberg84 said in Your workshop :

Still some work in progress.

And some big spider to kill...

[Nca78]

@sundberg84 we have the same model of soldering iron, hot air gun, and multimeter. And we might end up having a similar power supply too, as I'll build one sooner or later.
But my stack of unused EasyPCBs is a bit smaller

[sundberg84]

@yveaux said in Your workshop :

@sundberg84 said in Your workshop :

Still some work in progress.

And some big spider to kill...

That is Hugo. He has been around since I was a kid. Hard to kill since he is made of plastic but loves to scare new people.

[sundberg84]

@nca78 - haha, thats nice I been thinking about changing my power supply though. Posting to much images isnt good for you On my swedish blog I had a guy explaining about relative ground. When I probe around with my oscilloscope and power the electronics with my PSU they are not the same ground and this can apparently create some magic smoke. So far so good and I have been to lazy to learn more about the theory (Im sure there are people here with great knowledge about this) but the advice was to change my PSU to a "real" one.