EEVblog #585 - Lab Bench ESD Matting Upgrade + Tagarno HD Microscope

[VK3DRB]

mektronics.com.au will sell you this exact mat in custom length, I got 3 metres for $145.50 + gst for my bench, just have to email them.

Nice setup. The lighting is excellent!

Regarding the speakers, you would only get the stereo effect when at the computer is being used, but not when you are at the electronics desk. That might be OK for bubblegum pop music from Kylie Minogue, but not if you like the full stereo effect in Dark Side of the Moon. Maybe a third speaker and a switch would be a simple solution, ie: the stereo across the workbench OR stereo across the computer desk.

[BravoV]

Dave, please, if you had a chance, take a macro close up shots of both mat's cross section whether they're similar. Also I'm curious how many layers does that new one have.

[SeanB]

Just leave it as a bump stop. If he really was bothered he would cut some notches in the back side by the supports and pull it back on the top to clear.

[ChrisKiwi]

If you use a box cutter from the edge of the mat (not the top surface), runing down the length of the mat using the bench as a guide leaves a nice clean edge on the mat.  If you get the angle of the box cutter right, it will cut through the mat quite easily if the blade is new.

[EEVblog]

A mate invested in an electronically height adjustable work bench with a remote control. It is brilliant. He bought the mechanism and added a new low cost solid door as the bench top. So he often stands at his workbench. Also depending upon the height of what he is working on, he just adjusts the bench. BRILLIANT.

Infinitely easier (and cheaper) to build the bench to standing height, and just get a proper height stool.

[Steffen]

I have 60 mains outlets spread out under the bench.

All powered by one 16 amps fuse from one wall socket or do you use at least 3 eaqual groups (20 outlets per phase) in a 3 phase AC system (TNCS)? Sometimes you may want to have seperate systems.

[FrankBuss]

I have the same kind of ESD mat, only the black rubber on the back looks a bit thinner on my mat, with the same overhanging problem. I solved it with some nails, it looks a bit like a tablecloth now:

That looks like PVC type? (shiny)

I don't know, but it is pretty resistant. Solder drops are no problem, and I just touched it with a 320°C solder iron. It starts to get dark after 5 seconds, but no flames or smelling.

[robrenz]

If you use a box cutter from the edge of the mat (not the top surface), runing down the length of the mat using the bench as a guide leaves a nice clean edge on the mat.  If you get the angle of the box cutter right, it will cut through the mat quite easily if the blade is new.

True but just be careful of the lateral angle of the blade. If the mat is free to slide on the bench the blade angle can suck the mat slowly off the bench giving a ever widening strip being cut off. Its easy to get tunnel vision on the blade mat interface and not notice the problem occurring.  Just speaking from experience

[Deepak]

Just watched this video. Looks like Sagan is an HP Agilent Keysight man

[Rory]

If you don't like the mat overhanging the front of the bench, how about pulling the bench out a bit so the overhang is in the rear?

Or he could just trim the edge off.

If he does, it would be a smart idea to cut the edge off the side facing the wall. Unless Dave's a professional linoleum cutter, no edge he can produce will match the straightness of the factory cut. But why take the risk?

[zapta]

If you spend 8 hour a day in bed, you need a good bed. If you spend 8 hours a day at the electronics workbench you need a good desk.

A mate invested in an electronically height adjustable work bench with a remote control. It is brilliant. He bought the mechanism and added a new low cost solid door as the bench top. So he often stands at his workbench. Also depending upon the height of what he is working on, he just adjusts the bench. BRILLIANT.

"Sitting is the new smoking"

There are several types of height adjustable. Mechanical (with a spring to oppose gravity), electric (with up/down switches) and electronic (with a few height memories).  Make sure you have enough clearance for your cables (e.g. a monitor cable connected to a computer on the floor). Very popular around here.

[lewis]

That Tagarno scope is just pure porn, can't wait to have a look at it.

[Dave Turner]

I bought grey rather than blue because I find it easier on the eye. It is grey not light blue as Dave's new mat appears to be. Hey, each to their own! I did, however, pay for the same type of mat that Dave uses as I wanted something more resistant to damage than my previous mat used in computer field repair.

I can understand widths of 914.4 and 900; but why 910? There has to be some logic.

As far as cutting Dave's new mat I would have advised double sided tape at the back of the bench and cutting there leaving the front visible edge factory cut; doubtless, this is way too late now.

[SeanB]

Has anyone tried anti-static neoprene as a cheaper alternative?

http://www.par-group.co.uk/sealing-jointing/Neoprene-Flame-Retardant-ISO340-Rubber-Sheeting.aspx

I just used black rubber belt matting that is slightly conductive. Around 100k per square, and happily survives soldering directly on it. Was an offcut from getting a conveyor belt made, out of the scrap bin. At 6mm thick it makes nice bump stops as well, and is machinable to an extent, but is scuff resistant and resists most things short of a sharp knife.

As for width they generally rounded down the old imperial measures to metric. Never up , always down. That is why you get all those odd sized metric dimensions like planed finished battens being 40x40mm, and 15mm copper pipe which almost fits the old half inch copper compression fitting.

[Dave Turner]

Apologies, slightly off topic - but a typical UK classic was 8 foot x 4 foot x 5mm for sheet material.

[Dr. Frank]

You really got muscles, Dave.

Big thumbs up for your son and your wife.

Both really have a feeling and understanding for your electronics passion.

Frank

[JackOfVA]

Question for Dave ... your wife has - to my ears - a different accent than you do. Is this my imagination or are there regional Australian accents?

[zapta]

Stumbled upon this picture when searched google for 'Tagarno'.  Apparently it brings peace and love to the workplace.  Two thumbs up!

[SeanB]

He is a certified fitness instructor as well........

[EEVblog]

Question for Dave ... your wife has - to my ears - a different accent than you do. Is this my imagination or are there regional Australian accents?

There are many different Australian accents, hers is pretty normal. Although in that video I teased her that she spoke with a rather posh English accent at the end of the sentence. She was probably trying to "act".

[EEVblog]

You really got muscles, Dave.

It's only 19kg or so.
This is muscle Dave:

[EEVblog]

Stumbled upon this picture when searched google for 'Tagarno'.  Apparently it brings peace and love to the workplace.

They look so happy together!

[Dingo]

Hi Dave - So with this ESD mat did you actually ground the conductive side somewhere?  If so how - to mains earth?

Does grounding it really matter? I figure that 6 metres times 50k ohms/cm means a resistance around 30 Mega ohms end to end - wood can be a good insulator if dried so your ESD mat itself could store some charge. Damp wood can have a resistance as low as a few kilo ohms/metre, but in your lab I'd guess its dry and dehumidified so could be as high as many Giga ohms...

Thoughts?  What's best practice and practical experience?

Richard

[lewis]

ESD mats are grounded to mains earth, usually through a 1M resistor. A little stud like this http://pcvalet.co.uk/UsedImages/ThickBox_pcvalet-anti-static-mat-stud-connectors.jpg is usually crimped into the mat, and is connected to mains earth though a specialised wall plug.

[GiskardReventlov]

The bench looks great!  Send out a photo or get a video shot of it once in a while as you tweak it.

That tagarno looks well made. Probably lots of $$$.