Whats your Work-Bench/lab look like? Post some pictures of your Lab.

[W9GFO]

Wonderful thread, but guys, do you realize that many of you are giving away their GPS position when they post pictures with original Exif data?

I posted a picture in another thread recently that originally had location info, but when I download it from the forum the location information is no longer there. It seems that the forum software stripped that information.

Not that I care, anyone with half a brain can find out my address.

[AF6LJ]

Wonderful thread, but guys, do you realize that many of you are giving away their GPS position when they post pictures with original Exif data?

I posted a picture in another thread recently that originally had location info, but when I download it from the forum the location information is no longer there. It seems that the forum software stripped that information.

Not that I care, anyone with half a brain can find out my address.

Indeed. But that's okay.

[baoshi]

Staging current 1.5meter square lab/workbench. Preparing major upgrade later this year

[con-f-use]

Thinking of buying the same keyboard. How well does the solar stuff work with this logitech?

[baoshi]

Thinking of buying the same keyboard. How well does the solar stuff work with this logitech?

The feeling of the keyboard is great. Comparable to old Thinkpad series. Solar is ok for first 3 years, then starting to develop problem if you don't light it up for several days. Battery gone dead. It is a ML2032 rechargeable coin cell. Replace and everything works again.

[Radio Tech]

My work bench is always a project in progress itself. Constantly changing. 
Yes a lot of it would be considered as old junk to the new guys but it works for me.  Most of it is outdated many years ago. But so am I  Here is just a small area of the shop and radio room. Always changing equipment around and added more vintage pieces.

Not as fancy and neat as most pics in the thread.

[xrunner]

^^^ Nice collection. 

[Tony_G]

That's a great layout - Looks outstanding!

TonyG

[Radio Tech]

Thanks guys. Many years of junk collecting. Finding old gear and repairing it is fun. Finding places to put it is always a challenge though.

[med6753]

Thanks guys. Many years of junk collecting. Finding old gear and repairing it is fun. Finding places to put it is always a challenge though.

I see some old EICO's and Heathkit's as well as appears to be some RCA VTVM's. 

[Radio Tech]

Thanks guys. Many years of junk collecting. Finding old gear and repairing it is fun. Finding places to put it is always a challenge though.

I see some old EICO's and Heathkit's as well as appears to be some RCA VTVM's. 

That is correct. I restored all of those Eico units. Since I work on a lot of vintage gear I want one bench dedicated for period correct gear. It is fun working on a piece from the 60's with the same gear that was available from that time period. It is almost like having a time machine 
Thanks

[Gary350z]

My work bench is always a project in progress itself...

I spot a Heathkit IP-2718 Triple Power Supply
I've got one of those. Still works after 40 years.
My other Heathkits have all died due to crappy components that keep failing.

[med6753]

Thanks guys. Many years of junk collecting. Finding old gear and repairing it is fun. Finding places to put it is always a challenge though.

I see some old EICO's and Heathkit's as well as appears to be some RCA VTVM's. 

That is correct. I restored all of those Eico units. Since I work on a lot of vintage gear I want one bench dedicated for period correct gear. It is fun working on a piece from the 60's with the same gear that was available from that time period. It is almost like having a time machine 
Thanks

Definitely! But sometimes there's vintage equipment that shouldn't be restored. Case in point. This used to be an EICO 1060 6/12 volt Battery Eliminator / Charger. Powerstat transformer secondary plus 2 HUGE selenium rectifiers. Lewd, crude, and totally unsuitable for any serious work. And I'm sure you're aware selenium rectifiers have a fixed lifespan and will release toxic magic smoke. So this one was totally gutted and rebuilt as a variable 10 amp supply utilizing a LM396K regulator.

[Radio Tech]

My work bench is always a project in progress itself...

I spot a Heathkit IP-2718 Triple Power Supply
I've got one of those. Still works after 40 years.
My other Heathkits have all died due to crappy components that keep failing.

Yes, I love that supply. I did a mail time video not long ago on that one. Was rebuilt by Mikes radio repair and sent in.  Along wit ha pace desoldering system, frequency counter bench mutimeter and a 600 watt RF dummy load.  But that supply is awesome.

[Radio Tech]

Definitely! But sometimes there's vintage equipment that shouldn't be restored. Case in point. This used to be an EICO 1060 6/12 volt Battery Eliminator / Charger. Powerstat transformer secondary plus 2 HUGE selenium rectifiers. Lewd, crude, and totally unsuitable for any serious work. And I'm sure you're aware selenium rectifiers have a fixed lifespan and will release toxic magic smoke. So this one was totally gutted and rebuilt as a variable 10 amp supply utilizing a LM396K regulator.

I agree. And like you instead of a restore I do a repurpose.
Plus anything I work on the selenium rectifiers get pulled.

[gsmicro]

Here is my new electronics workbench.The table and the rack design has been done without using the wall support.

I need a speed way of doing my work, The arrangement I have placed my items are giving best results for me.I hope every hobbiest needs a descent place to work.

Here is a video of mine


Here is some more pictures.
https://gsmicro.blogspot.com/2017/03/electronics-workbench.html

[McBryce]

Are plastic chairs a good idea regarding ESD?

McBryce.

[razberik]

Here is my new electronics workbench.The table and the rack design has been done without using the wall support

I really like this idea. You have it done in similar way I did:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/whats-your-work-benchlab-look-like-post-some-pictures-of-your-lab/msg1045858/#msg1045858

[dimkasta]

I really need to build a bigger bench... Not having your own house is a real pain...

By the way, what do you guys use for parts storage?

I initially used a few plastic cases with small compartments, but things got out of control fast since I like to order more parts than what I currently need, for future projects.
Right now I have most parts on carton boxes marked vaguely for resistors/active/caps/pcbs etc

[moz]

By the way, what do you guys use for parts storage?

Tackle boxes for bigger stuff, with fixed dividers because things always escape under the removable dividers.

Drawers full of ziplock bags for the smaller stuff, with rolls of through-hole parts in them. Get blocks of drawers that can attach firmly to each other, and also to the wall behind them. I like transparent ones, and I print on transparent labels with one of those label-printing machines (work provides that )

It really pays to find a tackle box that works for you and buy only that exact one. Otherwise you end up with small variations in size, or compartment size, and that will annoy you more over time (when what fits in one box will almost fit in another, so rearranging them takes much longer). Also, the lids must clamp firmly in place and seal. One day a tackle box will fall off the bench. It is inevitable. Some people will insist on ESD protection but I prefer to rely on the grey metallic bags and pink foam, saving a few dollars on the tackle boxes and greatly increasing the selection I have to choose from.

I use Fischer boxes, they're an Australian company and you almost certainly have something like that local to you. Two of those go into one drawer of my toolbox with a gap of about 2cm in the middle and 7cm at the back (just wide enough to fit strips of thru-hole resistors). Admittedly part of the reason I use those ones is that my woodwork and metalwork and Lego already use them.

The ESD version from Walmart is smaller, more expensive, and the lid is held closed by the power of positive thinking.

[VE7FIM]

I purchased a heavy-duty monitor arm so I could suspend a widescreen monitor in front of my main equipment bench. It worked out great: I can swivel it around or raise it up to get it out of the way when I need to access the equipment behind it, and it doesn't take up any bench space.



This is my main RF/Microwave bench, with, from left to right, bottom to top:

Rack 1:
* HP 83480A Comm analyzer, with 83483A and 83418A modules
* Agilent 70843B Error Performance Analyzer, for high-speed BERT
* HP 70004A with a 70820A MTA
* HP 70004A with a 70340A signal generator to drive the 70843B

Rack 2:
* HP 70004A with a 70951A Optical Spectrum Analyzer
* HP 70001A with a 70300A & 70301A Tracking generators & 70908A RF Section (+ Freq ref)
* HP 7653C + 85046A VSA
* HP 70004A rounding out the spectrum analyzer, with a 70900B, 70902A & 70903A

Rack 3:
* Agilent E4406A Transmitter Tester
* 3x NI PXI/PXIe shelves with various RF test cards
* KVM

The monitor is an LG 92UM58. I quite like it.

The monitor arm is a Tyke Supply #96 http://www.tykesupply.com/Wall_Ceiling_Mounts-LCD_Wall_Arm.html

[bitseeker]

That's quite an arm you've got there!

[1Ghz]

My small lab. 

[Johnny10]

VE7FIM
Nice Bench!

[VE7FIM]

Nice Bench!

Thanks!

The only problem with all that 25 year old HP equipment is that it weighs a ton. Literally. Had to put a new support beam in downstairs, since the racks ended up putting most of their weight in the middle of the joist span, and I'm so glad that I doubled up the 2x4s when I built the desk.

That and I can't have them all running at the same time on a 15 amp circuit. Currently in the process of installing a 30 amp/240 volt circuit to the lab.

Still got a few pieces on the "to purchase" list... HP 83xxx family sweepers are incredibly expensive!