Help Me Spend US$10K

[Sal Ammoniac]

I just finished some consulting work recently with the intent to use the money to buy some test equipment for my lab. I've got around $10K U.S. to spend and don't know where to start.

I bought an Agilent DSOX3000 series scope and a LeCroy logic analyzer recently, so I've got that covered. So what to get? Programmable power supplies?  DMM(s)? I2C/SPI/CAN analyzer?

Do do mainly robotics and general hobby projects (mostly digital and microcontrollers).

[tom66]

How about saving it "just in case"? 

[KTP]

Maybe an ARB (the one in our 3000x is a bit limited and also can't do sweeps).

A cnc milling machine could be loads of fun for your robotics.  I have a 7000 pound Shizuoka bedmill I have retrofitted with modern computer controls ($500 total in the whole mill after selling the Fanuc stuff on ebay several years ago) but you can get a Taig fully cnc'd for fairly cheap.   It will do a lot more than those hot melt glue gun 3D printers too!

[aluck]

A nice trip to Thailand will do. 

[Sal Ammoniac]

tom66: No need to save it--already have plenty of what Dave calls "Screw you" money in the bank.

KTP: Already have a Bridgeport mill and Southbend lathe, so machine tools are covered, but nice suggestion.

aluck: I'm not into heat and humidity (or young girls).

[poorchava]

If you want to advence in robotics... Maybe some mid-end FPGA devboard? Or other devboard? there are some pretty pimped-out devboards in $1k range.

[_Sin]

Equipment seen in the EEVBlog lab: Seems you can never have a shortage of power supplies, DMMs, and loads. Also: 3D printers, stereo viewing scope, signal generator, spectrum analyser, breast pump...

[olsenn]

The best use for your ten thousand dollars is to buy an omnigizmometer.

To order one, just send a cheque for US $10,000 to the following address:
           42 George St
           Elmsdale, NS
           Canada
           B1A 2E6
Please make the cheque payable to "Nicholas Olsen"
           

[mikeselectricstuff]

You should think about what you find lacking in your current setup, which may give a clue as to what might be useful.

If you don't already have one I'd highly recommend a used Herman Miller Aeron chair.

Also a Metcal MX-5000, with soldering and desoldering handpieces, small compressor for the latter,  and selection of tips.

[fcb]

Buy several sets of Lego Mindstorms for your local school and pay for them to enter a team into the First Lego League robotics contest, even better - give them some of your time to help mentor a team.

Spend the rest on whatever you want, guilt free.

[Sal Ammoniac]

The best use for your ten thousand dollars is to buy an omnigizmometer.

To order one, just send a cheque for US $10,000 to the following address:
           42 George St
           Elmsdale, NS
           Canada
           B1A 2E6
Please make the cheque payable to "Nicholas Olsen"
         

Sorry, I already have a half dozen of those..

[johnboxall]

I just finished some consulting work recently with the intent to use the money to buy some test equipment for my lab. I've got around $10K U.S. to spend and don't know where to start.

I bought an Agilent DSOX3000 series scope and a LeCroy logic analyzer recently, so I've got that covered. So what to get? Programmable power supplies?  DMM(s)? I2C/SPI/CAN analyzer?

Do do mainly robotics and general hobby projects (mostly digital and microcontrollers).

Why don't you run through with us what you have first, then everyone can argue about/suggest new items?

[KTP]

IIRC he has a son in college studying EE, so I have no idea how he has a spare 10K 

[EEVblog]

That's a lot of dosh for a home lab!
A 3D printer might be worthwhile, and a cool toy.
A good stereo micoscope. The Mantis Elite is very expensive, but the rolls royce.
Spectrum analyser?

Dave.

[T4P]

DSA1030A-TG3 
DM3068 
DG4162 
2 Agilent U1252B 

Sorry, rigol's too good on the high end to be believed ...

[nukie]

Nitrogen generator, makes soldering lead free easyyyy.

[Sal Ammoniac]

Here's what I've got so far (that I remember):

Agilent scope (200 MHz version (can't remember the model number))
LeCroy LogicStudio Analyzer
Saleae Logic (8 channel)
Fluke 8808A bench DMM
Fluke 87V DMM
A crappy lab SMPS (0-30v, 0-3A)
Metcal MX-5000 soldering iron
Aoyue hot air station

Microchip ICD-3
Atmel AVR ONE!
various J-TAGs for ARM
Too many ARM, PIC32, and AVR32 development boards to count


KTP: Yes, I do have a son at university studying EE (good memory). I specifically took this recent consulting job to raise the funds for my lab equipment budget, so that money is not going anywhere else. :-)

nukie: I don't do lead-free. I have at least 20 pounds of 63/37 Kester solder stockpiled in case the U.S. government decides to ban lead at some point.

I've always wanted a spectrum analyzer, but don't know how I'd use it, so probably can't justify buying one.

A stereo microscope is certainly high on my wish list as it's getting harder and harder to work on surface mount stuff with my 50 year-old eyes.

One big gap in my current setup is a good lab power supply. I've been wanting a good two or three output supply for some time now, but haven't decided to go for something like a Rigol DP1308A or fork out the extra dosh for an Agilent.

[T4P]

If you have extra cash the agilent's are really good 
Otherwise a good and otherwise not shitty one would be the Rigol
But you should look into the Sanwa PC5000 and the Agilent U1252A ( Or 1253 if you so desire the oled screen ... )

[Psi]

I'm going to agree with Dave about getting a stereo microscope.

It's the kind of thing you never get around to buying because it's expensive and when you do have a little money there's always some other piece of test equipment you need more.

Since you have a decent amount of cash available now you can afford to get a proper microscope while still having plenty of cash left for other things.

[george graves]

I wouldn't think that if I spent 10k on equipment, I would be any better at electronics.  I'd just have a bunch of equipment with more bells-and-whistles than I'd know what to do with.  For myself, the limiting factor of what I "need" for a home/hobby lab is my time it takes to learn to that level.

Besides a decent scope, 2-3 nice power supplies, a function gen, solder station, hot air reflow,...not much I really need. But something I think everyone could put to use right away, with out much of a learning curve is a laser cutter.

[KTP]

But something I think everyone could put to use right away, with out much of a learning curve is a laser cutter.

One would think that, but I find I use my cnc mill a lot more than the laser cutter head I made for it.  It does have uses, but there are only so many things you need made out of cloth/paper/balsa/acrylic/rubber. 

I 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) the recommendation for a good stereo microscope...invaluable!

[deephaven]

I'd go for a Thurlby Thandar lab power supply and decent PCB design software.

[mikeselectricstuff]

A stereo microscope is certainly high on my wish list as it's getting harder and harder to work on surface mount stuff with my 50 year-old eyes.

In which case, on your budget, a Mantis is a no-brainer.

[baljemmett]

Saleae Logic (8 channel)

The Logic 16 looks like a worthwhile upgrade in several respects, although there may be cheaper alternatives.

A stereo microscope is certainly high on my wish list as it's getting harder and harder to work on surface mount stuff with my 50 year-old eyes.

Sounds like you've got at least part of your answer right there, then

One big gap in my current setup is a good lab power supply. I've been wanting a good two or three output supply for some time now, but haven't decided to go for something like a Rigol DP1308A or fork out the extra dosh for an Agilent.

If I were seriously considering a new power supply I'd be very tempted by the offer Agilent are/were recently running -- buy a PSU, get one of their DMMs thrown in for no extra cost.  I see you have two Flukes already but, hey, if it's free and might come in useful when they're both busy...

[nitro2k01]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the obvious EEVBlog episode on the topic yet.