Razen, a new PCB CAD tool
rng has been working on a new PCB CAD tool called Razen: Razen is a collaborative, scriptable schematic and PCB layout tool. Currently in development, a first alpha release will be available by April. Via the forum.
Tag Archives: tool
PCB a Week 9: MrRef voltage and current reference
Mats continues his challenge of designing one PCB every week. This tool helps check the accuracy of your multimeter: The design might be interesting anyways since it has remote sensing for compensating for voltage drop in the cables. But if … Read more
PCB a Week 8: NU-FitHole hole size helper
Mats continues his challenge of designing one PCB every week. This tool helps to determine exact hole dimensions for screws and other parts. This weeks PAW will be extremely simple – it’s not even a breakout board, but it might … Read more
DIY vacuum part pickup tool
Geir shared his idea on how to convert the AOYUE 968 fume extraction tube into a DIY vacuum part pickup tool. All you need is a cheap manual pickup tool, a small valve, and lots of tape (the universal tool). … Read more
Weller WX 2021 soldering station teardown
Presslab tears down the Weller WX 2021 soldering station. He is hunting for the pinout of the front panel serial connector. He was able to identify the serial IC used, and with it the pinout. Via the forum.
High speed passive component pick and place machine for $3600
Mats tipped us to this high speed pick and place machine that’s currently about $3600 on Taobao. It features 15 automatic reel feeders, and the top speed of the machine is 6000 parts per hour. The placement head can handle … Read more
Precision 1V reference
Need a precision reference to make sure your measurements are on the nose? Here is a simple breakout Dolabra designed for just that purpose. It’s a ADR510 based battery powered 1V reference, with +0.35% tolerance and 70 ppm/C temperature stability. … Read more
A simple EMF probe
Always wanted to look at the electro-magnetic soup of signals sloshing around you. Tuomas made a device that let’s you watch these signals on your scope. It consists of an inductor that picks up the signals, and an amplifier that well … Read more
Guest Review: Chipquik smd291nl no-clean tack flux
Sheldon has been using the Chipquik SMD291NL no clean tack flux, here is his review of it: Very tacky, can hold qfn and dfn by itself, once heated it becomes very sticky and is hard to clean even with 91% … Read more
Guest review: Atten PPS3203T 3 channel 3A programmable power supply
JuKu wrote about his latest purchase, the Atten PPS3203T 3 channel 3A programmable power supply. It features 2 0-32v channels and a single 0-6V channel, as well asRS-232 and GPIB (IEEE 488.2) interfaces. I wanted an economical three output power … Read more
Measuring power with INA219 and an MSP430 Launchpad
INA219 is a cool IC that measures voltage and current trough a shunt resistor, and relays the information over I2C. It provides the multiple of the two values, thus enabling easy power measurement. Opossum used it along with a Nokia … Read more
3D printed wire stripper with a wire contact indicator
Bjbsquared designed a wire stripper tool with a LED indicator that flashes when contact with the wires is made. To built it you’ll need to get the model laser cut from acrylic or 3D printed. This is one of the … Read more
Kendal 852D hot-air rework station teardown
Schazamp bought a cheap Kendal 852D+ 2+1 hot-air and soldering iron rework tool. He opened it up and took some pictures. Most of the 852-whatever clones look pretty similar inside, there’s probably one factory churning out clones under a bunch … Read more
Tool and equipment shops at Akihibara Electric Town tour
Akihibara has a great selection of tools and equipment too. Our favorite PCB drill press was widely available. More photos below the fold.
Oldest working Weller soldering tool contest
All-Spec Industries anounced the oldest working Weller soldering tool contest. All that is needed to enter is to send a picture of your tool to them, along with your name and shipping adress. First prize is a Weller WD1002T soldering station, … Read more
TOOLS: Flatbed scanner for PCBs, sketches, bookkeeping
Our favorite tools have a new home on the wiki. Each week we’ll muse about one of them. Have your own tool review? We’ll post that too! A cheap flatbed scanner is super useful in the shop. We use it … Read more
TOOL: Aoyue 968 3-in-1 rework station
Our favorite tools have a new home on the wiki. Each week we’ll muse a bit about one of them. Have your own tool review? We’ll post that too! Our trusty Aoyue 968 was the first real electronics tool we … Read more
TOOL: Aoyue 852 hot air station
Our favorite tools have a new home on the wiki. Each week we’ll muse a bit about one of them. Have your own tool review? We’ll post that too! The Aoyue 852 is a dedicated hot air rework station. Hot … Read more
A look inside an OBD2 tool
Any car newer than 1995 has a fairly sophisticated computer used to monitor various systems ranging from accelerator pedal position to catalyst efficiency. This is a brief introduction to one example of the hardware used to diagnose automotive systems.
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