Low Cost Electronics DIY Work Bench ===UDER CONSTRUCTION===
Below is a list of pages for each project, They should be self contained including any references outside of the site. I have been thinking about this for years but the stimulus was a letter I sent to Nuts & Volts Magazine. So with that in mind, we need to define what we want to do and how we want to do it.
To do simple electronics experiments for learning and tinkering around the house or even workshop, we do not need as elaborate a setup as if we want to be CalTech or MIT Electronics Researchers. And it so happens we can work ourselves up to as high a level as we want (given the limits of budget and brain). I rather think I will peter out a bit before we reach MIT level, but it is nice to set a goal high enough to challenge us. So what do we need for the beginner Lab.
You can look at the ads below from Google, they are what makes this site possible. ads here... then continue...
To do simple electronics experiments for learning and tinkering around the house or even workshop, we do not need as elaborate a setup as if we want to be CalTech or MIT Electronics Researchers. And it so happens we can work ourselves up to as high a level as we want (given the limits of budget and brain). I rather think I will peter out a bit before we reach MIT level, but it is nice to set a goal high enough to challenge us. So what do we need for the beginner Lab.
You can look at the ads below from Google, they are what makes this site possible. ads here... then continue...
Where to StartI would say the first place to start on your own Electronics Laboratory is a place to set it up. You need a decent work table or bench. power sockets for plugging in the many things a lab will have. You need good lighting and lots of storage areas too. OK, as for the worktable. Anything will do to start. One possibility is the Briefcase workbench I will be presenting in another of these pages. For those who have almost no room. But here we will assume you have a table that can be dedicated to your lab work. A desk works well as it has drawers for parts and tool storage. If you have a whole room you can dedicate, or a shared room (sewing room and electronics lab anyone?), you can set up many shelves and bins. Look at the pictures under the Electronics page of my recent lab set up. It covers 3 walls and the 3rd is a closet full of priceless junk (depending on who is looking at it). What kind of a bench do we want and what needs to be on it for sure? Well, that is largely determined by what you are interested in. An audio enthusiast will need different things than an RF (Radio Frequency) guy who needs other gear than a computer or home automation person. There are some things in common though and we will try to start there. A major common point is the need for non-conductive table top. Electrons like metal and so will flow through a metal top to anyplace they like. IE, a short circuit. Wood, plastic or anti-static rubber is good (be sure the wood does not splinter!). Be careful of things that can build up static. OK, lets make a short list of tools in roughly priority order. In the right column is my short list and it really is basic. it will also suffice for the Briefcase work bench too. The tools can mostly be of any decent quality, though later you should upgrade them all to the quality you need to do your projects. As you get more experience and deeper into electronics, you will soon outgrow these simple tools. You will add drills and heat guns and maybe even an oscilloscope (Wiki it if you dont know). A crimp on tool with an assortment of terminals is some times good enough for cars and household repairs but it is not that useful for many projects. Get one if you need it. |
List of Projects and productsDrill and set of bitsKicad, this is a free PCB and Schematic drawing program(not tried yet)
http://www.lis.inpg.fr/realise_au_lis/kicad/ TinyCAD is a free schematic drawing program I just got and seems nice. http://tinycad.sourceforge.net PIC Serial Test gear you can make Zero cost Function Generator PicAxe Serial Tester PicAxe Temperature Logger. Tools (as good as you can afford) 1. Needle nosed pliers with side cutter built in. 2. Screw driver set of various sizes. 3. Box knife (pocket knife, etc) 4. Wire strippers if you can afford them. 5. Multi-meter (volt-ohm-current/AC and DC) 6. Soldering iron, 25-30Watt. most versatile OR 7. Solder-less breadboard. easiest to use. 8. |