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

[BBBbbb]

I still don't get it. I know where all my keys are. It's muscle memory. There's a layer of indirection in the brain which says in KiCad I need to whack A, P or this or that. In Vim, I know where escape is. Typing on screens is a stupid idea as well. No tactile feedback, no boundaries between controls.

Best keyboard is this:

uff, that beauty has been on my wish list for so long. One of these days...
OTOH my gf will kill me once I put it at my PC, that she likes using so much, although before she didn't see why people at this day and age would need a desktop PC and not settle for a notebook.
oh yeah, I'm getting it...

[GreyWoolfe]

[quote author=neo link=topic=187.msg1360481#msg1360481 date=1511800332
Please answer if you can,

I want a workbench that is slightly overkill, for reference i am rather large at 240 and i would like it to be able to not only survive me jumping onto it but to remain rock solid. Not that i intend to do that.
I'm thinking 44" deep with 6 4x4s with 4" spaces, these would then have a cross-brace consisting of a 4x4 every 28 inches and a top consisting of .75 inch plywood. There would be two legs, 16" spacing, with the wall being the support for the rear of the table, a set like that every 28" Total length 16'
Then i would have an upper shelf consisting of 5 2x4s running the length, 8' this time, with the same .75 inch plywood top and a 4x4 under it as a brace every 28"' with a wire pulling the front up towards the wall.

Now obviously I've gone overkill on this but the question at hand is have i gone so far overkill it no longer makes sense?

This is part of my planing for a large project still in it's infancy.

P.S. As  for what i am buying, HP, Fluke, lead bricks, generally heavy stuff etc. 
[/quote]

I can say that I weigh quite a bit more than you.  That said, my bench is 8' long and the framework is 30" deep, the 3/4" top is 33" deep.  My frame is 2X4 with 3 evenly spaced cross braces across the 8' width.  The legs, bracing and the risers for the 3 adjustable full length shelves are also 2X4.  There are no legs outside of the 4 corners.  I can sit in the middle of the bench with almost no sag.  My bench is actually on heavy duty casters so I can move it when things fall behind and I can't get to them or for simply sweeping the floor under it as I have a bottom storage shelf.  I have had a couple of hundred pounds of equipment scattered on the desktop without any sagging.  The heaviest equipment I have are 2 big UPSs that sit on the bottom storage shelf and the Tektronix 2465 o-scope that sits on a home made scope cart.

[ajb]

Re: LCD keypads, there's this: https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Stream-Deck-Controller-customizable/dp/B06XKNZT1P

I'm told by a couple people who have them that the software and configurability is quite good.  Compared to other programmable keypads, the price is pretty phenomenal considering this one has fifteen LCDs.
Apparently it was originally intended just for people who do live streams, and the wide-ranging utility of a 15-key programmable LCD keypad came as something of a surprise to the creator.

[neo]

I intend to get a shed built to my specification, obviously i would have the floor reinforced.

That's twice you've brought the walls into it. What are they made of? It's not really a good idea to hang heavy shelving loads off walls, since they apply torsional forces to the wall structural members. Which in any case will never be in the right places. Worst case, with timber frame structures the entire building might go trapezoid.

Another problem with attaching benches to walls, if the walls are not thick brickwork or concrete, is that any banging on the bench couples to the walls, like a drum. Your family & neighbors will not be happy.

Concrete floor, and all loads passing directly downwards to it, is best.

I was thinking of having 4x4s in the walls or the like, the thinking that the main weight would be on the front two legs. I suppose i could just put rear legs in plan and have the workbench loose from the wall and nix the upper shelf entirely.

As for the floor its likely that i will at least request concrete.

[kkessler]

[/quote]

That's the kind of keyboard I use at work, except mine has letters on the key caps.  I've only been typing for 40 years, so I still have trouble remembering where the keys are. 

[SeanB]

For a keyboard I use an older MS Internet keyboard pro, simply because I got 2 of them for free ( tossed out because the people wanted a black keyboard to match the new black computer), and they have a nice convenient USB hub built in there, perfect for the wired mouse and a spare port that has a small cheap USB light plugged into it for lighting the keys at night in the dark. Helps to find the key to press and turn on the snoozing monitor.

As to the bench back shelves, I would suggest having the shelf part of the bench, making it with some of that plywood as a side, so the wide section provides a brace to hold it from tipping, but also have the heavier wood posts to take the mass.  Make the brackets to hold the shelves from some steel angle, 50mm or larger ( 2in in the USA) and with some bolts through the shelf and side holding them together, and use either a plate other side or fender washers to spread the load to a larger wood surface. Shelf itself put an angle under the length with similar bolting, so there is less bowing, though you can also add a steel rod, with a spacer in the middle providing a gap under the bench, and threaded ends to put a tensile member underneath to compensate for loading.

[neo]

It may be worth noting that the workbench question is part of a larger question still in it's planning stages, months away from anything actually being done with it.

[AF6LJ]

My workbench is in a constant state of change. Gear gets added, gear gets traded off, gear that dies gets sent to the garage sometimes for Parts Mule service.

[GreyWoolfe]

Quote from: neo on Today at 05:03:37 AM
I was thinking of having 4x4s in the walls or the like, the thinking that the main weight would be on the front two legs. I suppose i could just put rear legs in plan and have the workbench loose from the wall and nix the upper shelf entirely.
As for the floor its likely that i will at least request concrete.

You don't have to nix the shelving if the bench is free standing.  Add risers up the back, use the dual track rails and add some appropriate sized shelf brackets and shelving--3/4" plywood-- and you're good to go.  Don't forget casters.  I bought solid metal wheel casters from home depot for my bench and the bench moves fairly easy.  These will support 300 lb each so you can have 1200 pounds of bench and toys:  https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-in-Steel-Swivel-Caster-4035345EB/203672178

[nanofrog]

You don't have to nix the shelving if the bench is free standing.  Add risers up the back, use the dual track rails and add some appropriate sized shelf brackets and shelving...

Don't forget casters.

FWIW, I built mine as GreyWoolfe describes, but out 1.5" angle steel rather than wood (welded). The riser for the shelves bolts onto the back pair of rear legs (center vertical is 4" channel to accommodate 2x dual track shelving uprights as it allows me to do split height shelves). Instead of plywood, I purchased 16" wide laminated shelving. More steel angle on the shelf fronts so gear doesn't slide off the front.

Instead of wheels though, I used steel leveling mounts (1/2" thread versions can handle 5000lb). So if you don't need wheels under it, you might want to consider these instead. They come in various sizes (pad diameter, thread size, bolt height).

As mine's indoors, I covered the pad portion in magic sliders on mine so it won't damage flooring, and makes the occasional need to move it much easier to do.

[neo]

Good ideas all around but i intend to have a shed built and to have the workbench built into it.

[TerraHertz]

Good ideas all around but i intend to have a shed built and to have the workbench built into it.

So, you have oracular future-sight, and know exactly what all your future needs will be? Lucky you.

Personally, from my own experience of often discovering I forgot something, or didn't foresee a future need, I value flexibility highest of all in floor plans.

The shed is a major investment in time, money and planning approval hoop-jumping. What you get from that is floor space. Installing 'permanent' things that take up floor space actually devalues the space to investment ratio for your own use, and the resale value if you ever move.

For instance, what if you decide in future that you'd like to have a few 19" racks (on castors) for your equipment, so you can move whole equipment sets around easily?  Suddenly the long benches are not such a good idea - but you can't move or shorten them.


Edit to add: Speaking of workshop space (never being enough), four houses up the road from my place they've almost finished digging The Enormous Pit. (see pic) It's the underground parking space for a block of units. The hole takes up the entire block, minus about 1m border around the edges. The rock-hammer digger in the photo is a small one, most of the hole was dug by a machine three times that size. Nearly 5 months of heavy rock hammering, and it's nearly over, thank God.

Anyway, I'm seriously envious of all that space. Imagine having an underground workshop that big. Two stories high. Speaking to the project manager today, apparently the cost of the hole is about one million, of which 65% was spent trucking away and disposing of the rubble. Which if you are building on a country property and can dispose of the rubble on site, can be omitted.

[Cubdriver]

Yeah, that would make a sweet workshop, and even allow for a bit of elbow room.   

Want.

-Pat

[neo]

I actually have space allocated on my bench in these plans for two 30U server racks, but that is a valid point, shortened them to 8'. There is space even without the shortening for more server racks.

The reason i have it built in in these plans is not so much physically bolts down as so large it would have to be taken apart to be moved.

Since i have drug you all this far into my plans i might as well state exactly what they are. Just don't hold me to them because they may change as i think on them.

A 12x40 shed, I'm hoping thats the interior dimensions, built to specification.

EDIT: I may no be omniscient nor am i oracular but based on experience i can predict the right arrangement that will provide me the raw materials needed to grow comfortably.

[Mr. Scram]

The fun part is that ground, dirt or rubble often gets sold elsewhere. You're basically paying someone to take raw materials away.

[German_EE]

I built all my workbenches about four years ago when we moved into this apartment and over the years I've learned an important lesson:

After you've built the benches and shelves put everything on the way you think you want it BUT make nothing permanent, not even the power points. Only after four years and a few equipment purchases and sales am I happy with the layout. Power points have been moved, the PC screen is 1m to the left, the power supplies and frequency reference have moved to the opposite corner and the workbench which used to be against one wall is now by the window.

You don't do all this by drilling holes in the wall for shelves and permanently mounting equipment,

[ez24]

.. BUT make nothing permanent, not even the power points.

I also have learned this.  My latest bench and favorite is a Costco 6 ft folding table with two Costco shelves placed at the ends at 90 degrees.  Then I have some 8 foot boards resting on the shelves over the table.  I have a 2x2 at the top to which I used plastic ties to tie a Costco LED work light.  So my whole setup is held together with two plastic ties.  This has worked well for years now.  At my point I am glad if I can a tie vs a screw.

[GreyWoolfe]

I built all my workbenches about four years ago when we moved into this apartment and over the years I've learned an important lesson:

After you've built the benches and shelves put everything on the way you think you want it BUT make nothing permanent, not even the power points. Only after four years and a few equipment purchases and sales am I happy with the layout. Power points have been moved, the PC screen is 1m to the left, the power supplies and frequency reference have moved to the opposite corner and the workbench which used to be against one wall is now by the window.

You don't do all this by drilling holes in the wall for shelves and permanently mounting equipment,

For me, actually, the only things that didn't change are the power points and the desk top.  Gear/computers/monitor location, shelf material/thickness and the bench location has changed.  I got the power points right the first time.

[rdl]

These kind of shelves are easy to rearrange. I've added more since this photo (above the pegboard).



I now have the 10 way outlet box plugged in to a wall socket out of sight to the left and have APC 6-way plug in outlets on the two wall sockets in the picture. There are only a few left that are not in use, so I'm thinking of adding more somehow.

Nothing is permanently placed on the work table.

[neo]

With my planning of a shed/workbench this is my thinking.

For scale the little square at the end is a 48" deep and 57" wide, it would be the main workbench with a 43.5 x 48 square on either side either for server racks or just literally whatever.

This leaving about half the shed open to be anything i want it to be.

_{all in planning nothing concrete yet all pictures are of digital model}

[ferdieCX]

Hi, I have been reading with delight this topic the last few days.
I have seen very good ideas and very well equipped labs.
I have built my bench myself to the maximal allowable space. We have to move every few years, so it had to be easy to dismantle.
To save space, I keep in shelves and drawers the instruments and tools that are not in use.

[HighVoltage]

Hi, I have been reading with delight this topic the last few days.
I have seen very good ideas and very well equipped labs.
I have built my bench myself to the maximal allowable space. We have to move every few years, so it had to be easy to dismantle.
To save space, I keep in shelves and drawers the instruments and tools that are not in use.

Nice LEADER generator and very nice PHILIPS power supply (PE1542 I think ?).
These Leader generators had a large dial, machined out of aluminum.
I have good memories, using these two items.

[ferdieCX]

Yes, the power supply is a PE1542, built like a tank 
Some years ago, I was looking for a Leader LAG-120A and found this LFG-1300

[rdl]

Nice, neat, and compact set up you have there.

 

Hi, I have been reading with delight this topic the last few days.
I have seen very good ideas and very well equipped labs.
I have built my bench myself to the maximal allowable space. We have to move every few years, so it had to be easy to dismantle.
To save space, I keep in shelves and drawers the instruments and tools that are not in use.

[SeanB]

If going for wheels, and if you value the floor use nylon wheels, or polyurethane though these do degrade with time. Then use some levelling feet to take the load off the wheels in use, so the wheels do not get flat spots.  In not using levelling feet use locking wheels on at least the front, so it does not wander around if you knock it, or if the floor is not perfectly level. the wheels and levelling feet are cheap enough, and if using the levelling feet you can undersize the wheels as they will have less of a loading in static use.