Help me choose equipment for a community electronic maker lab

[ddavidebor]

Also this look like an interesting gear for a lab of this type, so people can try the right component before buy it.

http://www.tme.eu/en/details/ex380400/decades/extech/380400/#

[ddavidebor]

We've found an hakko reseller near where i lives.... So the soldering station is definetly the hakko fx-888

[ddavidebor]

Ohohohoh

The problem now is...

What function generator?

[Dave]

Rigol waveform generators are pretty good. There are plenty of models to choose from, but I'd go for DG4062.
You can find them here for a fairly reasonable price. Bear in mind, that the prices listed there don't include VAT. You do get free shipping, though.

[ddavidebor]

Thanks, i will watch dave review

[Corporate666]

Hope you will post some pictures of this hacker space when it's all done.

When is the opening scheduled for?

Oh, and what sort of budget do you have for all this equipment?  There are lots of choices for laser/CNC router at drastically different prices.

[ddavidebor]

I really don't know.

The big dudes had not decided yet the budget for the E-lab, nor had sad the opening date.

Sure i'll post photos in a new topic.

[ddavidebor]

The real problem is the equipment to do pcb. Must be cheap, easy to use and safe.

Router are expensive, and chemicals are not easy nor safe.

[Corporate666]

I really don't know.

The big dudes had not decided yet the budget for the E-lab, nor had sad the opening date.

Sure i'll post photos in a new topic.

My advice would be to find out what sort of budget you are constrained by, because if they say "2000 Euro" that will be a lot different equipment than if they say "20 000 Euro".  There are a lot of tradeoffs you could make to stretch the budget further, or splurge on one or two important pieces of equipment where allowable.

Do you know what the location is and how big the space is?  What about the kind of projects to be done and the expected number of people who will use it?  You just want to be sure you're not spending a lot of time chasing rainbows, as we say.

[Dave]

Making your own PCBs with toner transfer and etching it with a mixture of water, hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid is very simple, cheap, reliable and relavitely safe. You just need to use common sense, work in a well ventilated area and wear protective clothing. That's it.

[ddavidebor]

Thanks, the most inreliable and insafe of all the ways to do it...

[Bored@Work]

Thanks, the most inreliable and insafe of all the ways to do it...

Look for a local board house, and cut a deal with them.


If you can't trust your users with chemicals, then all of the typical hobbyist methods are out of the question.  I am not aware of a closed chemical system for etching PCBs. Doesn't matter if toner transfer or drawing with a sharpie on a blank board.

Some companies offer laser systems. But that isn't as simple as it sounds. You e.g have to make provisions for smoke absorbing and filtering. And they are expensive.

That leaves mechanical ways, i.e. milling. But that is complicated to set up and get to work, you need dust filters and the bits can get rather expensive.

So again, cut a deal with a local board house. No own issues with the chemicals. No issues with through plating. Easy to get solder mask and silk screen. Less limitations in terms of track sizes and clearance.

[Dave]

Thanks, the most inreliable and insafe of all the ways to do it...

Whoa, way to be a cunt to a person, who tries to help.

About unreliability: Have you ever actually tried making your own PCB with the method I mentioned? I have, plenty of times. I can tell you that if you don't push the limits (keep the traces at least 0.25mm wide, holes at least 0.5mm in diameter, vias at least 0.9mm and clearance at least 0.2mm), every board comes out perfectly.

The lack of safety? Every tool can be dangerous if handled improperly. If you educate yourself about the potential risks and hazards, you can avoid them. When someone new comes, you teach them how to work with the chemicals properly and no-one gets hurt. The same damn rules apply to soldering irons, mills, lathes, drills, or just about any other tool that can be found in one of these community maker spaces. If you are afraid someone might get hurt, better avoid creating a maker space, someone might trip on the door mat and get a boo-boo.

[ddavidebor]

Was not to offend you, but really is not the best solution.

There is not a simple solution.

Maiby a alredy done bath for the chemicals...

But what, i've seen only exensive bath...

[DigiGal]

I'd recommend picking up an Electronic Design Specialists CapAnalyzer 88A Series II, it's made in the USA product link here and international distributor list here