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Paul's Electronics Pit

$Paul\$

last photo ←

I have taken a few pictures of my electronics corner in my garage for your viewing pleasure. I hope you enjoy it! Pictures are presented in a basically clockwise pattern of my work area. Then I added a few projects in progress files as well.

29 comments

Feb 18, 2012. 8:25 AMMachine says:

Nice workshop. I spotted your Tektronix 2335 with DMM option, very nice super-ruggedized oscilloscope ($7000 when new, did you know?), good for high/low temp. high shock, super-tolerant power supply. Love those Wellers too, they are one of the best. I have two Hakkos (not by choice really) and two other no-name irons.

Your bench looks crowded but very well equipped. I would imagine that all kinds of magic gets created there.

Thanks for showing us.

Feb 18, 2012. 12:16 PM

pfred2 (author) says:

Thank you for the compliment. Things have gotten even more crowded recently as I've had to dedicate the larger side of my desk I do my electronics on to a project I am working on now. Space is an issue in my garage.

I wish I had more time to dedicate to my electronics too but other things constantly vie for my attention.

You are welcome for having visited.

Oct 8, 2011. 9:42 AM

Robot Lover says:

I spotted your old weller soldering station. I really like the old design. Though I'm planning on buying a hakko 888.

Oct 8, 2011. 3:26 PM

pfred2 (author) says:

I got it in a box of junk for $10 at a flea market. I used to use the same model when I worked in a PCB manufacturing house so I was already very familiar with the model. Oldies but goodies!

Oct 10, 2011. 8:51 AM

Robot Lover says:

So how is it holding up, have you had to replace any parts? I love those awesome boxes of junk you'll find in garage sales and flea markets. My dad bought a box at a garage sale for 2 bucks and it had a panavise, some old milling parts worth well over a couple hundred together, and a drill bit sharpener.

Oct 10, 2011. 9:33 AM

pfred2 (author) says:

It works perfectly. It is a Weller soldering station. I think the main reason Weller can charge what they do for their gear is that a lot of it is virtually indestructible.

I've never run into a deal that good. But I'm still looking!

Oct 10, 2011. 9:02 PM

Robot Lover says:

I have heard good things about Weller but have never used there brand of soldering equipment. My next iron will probably be a Weller. : )

Oct 10, 2011. 9:59 PM

pfred2 (author) says:

Weller is one good brand. Any tool is good to me though. I don't get hung up on names. It's all good if it works.

Oct 11, 2011. 9:44 AM

Robot Lover says:

Yeah I see what you mean. Well, thanks for the talk!

Oct 11, 2011. 10:52 AM

pfred2 (author) says:

To me soldering is a technique that once learned properly can be done with a nail heated in a fire, though electric irons are more convenient. Every bad soldering job I've ever seen was doomed to failure before the iron was even heated up.

If you clean and prep, apply heat, then flow the solder it has to work.

Feb 16, 2011. 6:18 PMrtty21 says:

that looks like heaven!

Feb 16, 2011. 9:32 PM

pfred2 (author) says:

Hey thanks! It sure beats some other setups I've had for myself in the past. We all do what we can do right? Really its mostly just a couple old milk crates with a board tossed over them. Being as I put my scope up there I strategically applied some hot glue to hold it all together.

I hope you like it all just as much not scaled:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4999/001eii.jpg

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/5092/002az.jpg

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2038/003nfl.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5382/004wdx.jpg

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/2064/005gp.jpg

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/4121/006lfu.jpg

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/920/007ib.jpg

Sep 25, 2011. 3:13 PMMROHM says:

Your Workshop is Impressive, Impressive , Impressive!!!!!!!! I don't know How many more times I have to tell You!!! Ps** I love your Tek Scope!!! Does Your Tek Scope Have 100Mhz Bandwidth??? You still have My Vote as BEST ELECTRONIC WORKSHOP in Instructables!!! Thanks pfred2

Sep 25, 2011. 5:23 PM

pfred2 (author) says:

My oscilloscope is a Tektronix 2336 Dual channel 100MHz with the Y option. The Y option is a device that allows me to measure points on the screen by time. Thank you for your support.

Sep 25, 2011. 5:44 PMMROHM says:

I Have a TEK 2225 50Mhz Scope Purchased off E/Bay for $80.00. Almost all my Test Gear Has Been Purchased from E/Bay...Thanks for Telling me Tek#,,,You Have a Mighty Fine Scope There!! Thinking Of Purchasing a Digital Scope one Day But May Get Another Tek Analog Scope!! Right Now The 2225 will just Do Me Fine!!

Feb 24, 2011. 7:41 PMMROHM says:

(removed by author or community request)

Feb 24, 2011. 8:57 PM

pfred2 (author) says:

Thanks. My thoughts now are leaning towards building my CNC machine right on the desk which will take some rearrangements. But it is my big project at the moment, so it being front and center isn't worrying me. I'm done making all of the electronics for it now anyways.

Power supply:
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/2244/pict0579s.jpg

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6909/ps230v.gif

X and Z axis motor drives (I made 3 of these):
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8343/tb6560board.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img130/2661/tb6560ahqsch.png

Y Axis motor drives (2 of these):
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/6498/stepproto1.jpg

http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/7711/pict0789w.jpg

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/646/hsoptos.png

Parallel Port Buffer (there is a 25 pin D connector hanging off the board now):
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/4185/ppbbpic1.jpg

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/1819/ppbb4sch.png

Something tells me I'll be focused on this project for a while.

Feb 28, 2011. 6:56 PMJimmy Proton says:

I am speechless at how amazing this stuff is, you seem to like your servo motors and i have one that i dont know how to use, you want it?

Feb 22, 2011. 7:22 AMMROHM says:

(removed by author or community request)

Feb 22, 2011. 8:50 AM

pfred2 (author) says:

Thanks! One of the twins (The Simpsons) is actually a 270. I picked it up at a garage sale for $3. The Model 3 - 260 I paid $20 for at a flea market. I think you may be able to see them a little better in this picture:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4999/001eii.jpg

Feb 22, 2011. 2:58 PMMROHM says:

(removed by author or community request)

Feb 22, 2011. 4:41 PM

pfred2 (author) says:

Thanks I hope I get your vote for the next contest submission I put in for with the rest of my garage. Competition looks like it has picked up some now though . There are some great shops in the running!

http://www.instructables.com/id/My-Mixed-Media-Garage/

Sep 25, 2011. 3:15 PMMROHM says:

#1 Shop all the way!!!

Feb 22, 2011. 6:48 PMJimmy Proton says:

THIS is amazing, when i get older my entire house is going to look like this!

Feb 22, 2011. 9:37 PM

pfred2 (author) says:

Sounds like too much walking to me. Really as you get older you want everything within easy reach of a comfortable seat.

Feb 23, 2011. 4:28 AMJimmy Proton says:

I'm like that now but i still have stuff everywhere.

Feb 23, 2011. 5:19 AM

pfred2 (author) says:

My real electronics "junk box" is here:

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/8214/38052548.jpg

Which is a fair walk to get to:

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/254/p1010021isw.jpg

The other side is a classic!

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3218/p1010018sx.jpg

Yeehaw, nothing quite like living in the country now is there? It's a good thing I can't even see that mess from my house! But *stuff* is an apt description for what finds its way down there.

Feb 28, 2011. 6:51 PMJimmy Proton says:

Haha thats nice, i love it! I want one just like it! (not being sarcastic)

Feb 10, 2011. 5:12 AMimakethings says:

very good!