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  • Author Author: jw0752
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A Meeting with Make Electronics Author Charles Platt

jw0752

In my wanderings today I had the honor of spending an hour and a half visiting with the Author of the wonderful Make Electronics and Encyclopedia of Electronics Books Series. These are some of the best entry level books available for those who want to learn the basics of electronics or for those like myself who want to have some enthusiastic materials with which to inspire children and grandchildren. I have been a promoter of the Authors books for some time now and we have had a couple email exchanges over the last couple years. When my travels took me near his home he kindly invited me to visit.

 

Charles understands that there is more to teaching electronics than just putting the ideas and some parts on the table and he does an excellent job of teaching through the use of color and clear pictures and drawings as well as fun builds in his books.

 

We had the chance to visit some time and compare our different approaches and special focuses. I was pleased to find out that Charles also likes to label things just like I do. His electronics bench was well organized and very functional for the experiments and demonstrations that are necessary to produce the lessons and builds which he illustrates in his books. It is very rewarding to visit and share ideas with other people who share an interest in electronics. Since my  level of electronics ability isn't that great it seems that I always come away with more knowledge than I leave behind.

 

In case anyone is interested here are links to some sites where you can get Make Electronics, Make More Electronics, The Encyclopedia of Electronics Volume 1, 2, and 3 as well as the newest beginners book, Make: Easy Electronics.

 

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=make+electronics&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=241605544532&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6800277607575309026&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030317&hvtargid=kwd-13613260243&ref=pd_sl_479ao4hbx4_e_p20

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=make+encyclopedia+of+electronic+components&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjg_u_Z5_nYAhXnhlQKHVodC6cQsxgIKA&biw=1366&bih=637

 

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=637&tbm=shop&ei=plBtWvvwNdKkzwKhuau4AQ&q=easy+electronics+charles+platt&oq=easy+electronics+charles+platt&gs_l=psy-ab.3...7718.11086.0.11812.14.12.0.0.0.0.450.1886.0j3j1j2j1.7.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..7.1.162...0.0.N1pfGHB8XTY

 

My next stop if I can catch up with him will be . I tried to meet him 4 years ago but the fates didn't cooperate that time. I hope I have better luck this year.

 

John

 

Parents

  • I was pleased to find out that Charles also likes to label things just like I do.

     

    Hi John,

     

    Just wondering if you label any of your pre-terminated cables and if so, what technique you find works best ?

     

    I tend to find that the Dymo Rhino nylon type labels still tend to unpeel when used on cables around 6mm diameter or less. The 3M style write-on labels with clear plastic window tend to stay on ok but the ink tends to bleed into the adhesive after 6-12months. Cable tie solutions tend to snag when coiling the cable up after use. Heatshrink is not suitable as the shrink ratios are not great enough to get over larger connectors such as XLR and IEC.

     

    Dave

  • in reply to beacon_dave

    Hi Dave,

    Yes I do label some of my cables.

     

    Here is a blog from a number of years ago that shows how I do it.

     

    https://www.element14.com/community/people/jw0752/blog/2015/05/25/shop-tips--storing-hookup-wires

     

    I like to use the plastic from cheap dollar store report binders or from the plastic of milk bottles. I then cut out rectangular pieces and put a Brother Label on the plastic. I punch a hole at each end of the rectangle and thread the wire through the holes. If the wire already has ends I cut a slot to the hole and just slip the tag holes over the wire.

     

    John

  • in reply to jw0752

    Thanks John,

     

    Creative use of recycling materials there.

     

    I tried some of these a while back with partial success:

    LAM - Marking System | Texit

    but tend to snag easily and are too easy to remove by people who want to pinch your cables.

     

    A long time ago (talking around 25years ago) I recall seeing a handheld dot-matrix printer that could print directly onto cables of varying diameter, but I've never seen one since.

     

    Dave

Comment Children
  • in reply to beacon_dave

    Hi Dave,

    This looks like a niche that has been over looked where someone could invent a small printer that could label wires and cables. If one could be created that would label wires with a choice of black or white ink for a reasonable price I know I would buy one.

    John

  • in reply to jw0752

    Hi John,

     

    Most of the hard work has probably already been done as most data cables have been dot matrix printed along their entire length at 1m intervals during manufacture. That is likely to be a high speed printing operation as well. Just a case of scaling it down and repackaging it for handheld type use.

     

    As I mentioned earlier, I recall seeing one advertised about 25 years ago. It was around the same time as Epson were doing a dot-matrix printing wand that allowed you to print on random surfaces - the advert showed it printing directly onto packaging and onto skin.

     

    Perhaps one for at the Ben Heck Show once they finish that super glue gun  image

     

    Dave

  • in reply to beacon_dave

    Hmmm. Given the printer troubles we had at the Game Crafter(and we just used paper), I'm skeptical of how well printing directly onto variable diameter and material cable would work. I believe the type of ink or printing process that would actually stick to wire coating would require a larger than handheld device. Maybe trying by hand with various inks first to see if any stick and don't smudge well enough, then trying to devise a printer that could make it work on wire...

  • in reply to beacon_dave

    At work we use the Brady labeller Brady labeller   for cables.

    Obviously these are far too expensive for the hobbyist.

     

    For test and Tagging we now have a thermal printer that you can custom print and is a plastic based product, so the image remains.

    As with most of these labels they wrap around the cable and then join together (see example below), which can be an issue, but they remain stuck for 5 years.

     

    Image result for test and tag labels nz

    Mark