What tool or technology do you reach for most often as an engineer?

Being very literal about it I suppose the most commonly used tool is the bench power supply, I have at least 10 but the one I use most is Thurlby TS3021S - 0-30V, 2A, lcd digital meters for current and volts, when the output switch is in the off position the current meter shows the current limit setting.

I don't count the notebook as  a tool but I use one all the time, I use the PC a lot as well but that's pretty much universal so not interesting.

Between scope and DMM  - hard to say but if I had to give up one it would be the DMM because the scope can stand in better for it than it can for the scope (mind you the scope is useless as a continuity tester).

How about changing the power supply picture for a bench supply and then I'll vote for that

MK

Being very literal about it I suppose the most commonly used tool is the bench power supply, I have at least 10 but the one I use most is Thurlby TS3021S - 0-30V, 2A, lcd digital meters for current and volts, when the output switch is in the off position the current meter shows the current limit setting.

I don't count the notebook as  a tool but I use one all the time, I use the PC a lot as well but that's pretty much universal so not interesting.

Between scope and DMM  - hard to say but if I had to give up one it would be the DMM because the scope can stand in better for it than it can for the scope (mind you the scope is useless as a continuity tester).

How about changing the power supply picture for a bench supply and then I'll vote for that

MK

Add glasses and a magnifying glass for us ... these are becoming necessary tools.

Mark

I never realized how true this was. I'm only 32, and I cannot see small things easily anymore.

The power supply image is indeed a mockery to all more or less serious power supplies..

The tools I use most often are power supply, scope, DMM. Where the DMM is most used at the start of a project, migrating smoothly to more scope usage.

Pen and paper make up the first 20% of each project; writing down ideas, doing rough calculations, writing down intermediate results.

Eyeballs are something I couldn't do without.

Connectors are a necessary evil, and when chosen right they are the icing on the cake, but they're not tools.

I never use breadboard, I do airwire soldering, and use copper tape to get good planes.

This poll is a bit weird, actually.

With you new engineering project, it will be interesting what is used more.....

Michael Wylie wrote:

 

I never realized how true this was. I'm only 32, and I cannot see small things easily anymore.

I can still see the small things, I've just got to the point that by the time they're at the right distance to be able to read the markings I can't focus on them. Large illuminated magnifier is the best thing I've ever bought

You know you need glasses when you have to put the menu on the ground to read it.

Problem is the font is now too small to read.

We have issues with monitors and the distance they are, sometimes it suits, sometimes it doesn't, and since there are 22 mostly in a line, it's hard to move all of them.

And no you can't just make the picture bigger, most are fixed size due to the application.

Mark