Blog

AiXun CM30 Automatic Soldering Tip Cleaner: A Quick Review!

shabaz

I recently purchased an AiXun automatic soldering tip cleaner. It has a couple of spinning brushes inside, a bit like an automated car wash but for soldering tips. Here's a five-minute video demonstration and review: https://youtu.be/Fj9V0nAMmqo So,...
- 28 Nov 2024
Fast Response Light Sensing with Photodiodes: Building a DIY Radiometer!

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction Circuit Overview Building It Using It Summary Introduction Have you ever wanted to take a peek at what products that rely on light are actually doing? I have! A fast-responding light sensor can reveal the details. ...
- 16 Oct 2024
Portable Oscilloscopes will Require Upgrades to Become Widely Adopted

Catwell

Some o-scope users state they don't use portable equipment enough to warrant having one, while others feel they're limited in features. (Image credit: Flickr) Handheld oscilloscopes are compact, portable versions of their desktop counterpart...
- 4 Oct 2024
Organizing Small Tools: DIY Storage with Foam Cut-Outs!

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction Using Steel Cutters Results Summary Introduction I’ve got a set of SMA adapters that I really don’t wish to lose. They are used with a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). Some of the adapters came in a littl...
- 24 Sep 2024
Knipex Explored: What makes for Great Electronics Pliers and Electronics Wire-Cutters?

shabaz

It feels a bit weird writing a blog post where I’m merely pointing out someone else’s YouTube link (and some screenshots from the Knipex website)! But I found this video pretty interesting; it explains why, instinctively, many ...
- 9 Sep 2024
Knipex 11 82 130 Wire Stripping Shears Quick Review

shabaz

Introduction I was looking for a simple, fairly economical pair of wire strippers, and stumbled across these interesting scissor-like 11 82 130 wire strippers from Knipex. I thought I’d give them a try. They are intended for small wire dia...
- 15 Aug 2024
Low-cost Vector Network Analyzer: NanoVNA-H4 Unboxing

shabaz

I recently needed a VNA, and went with one called NanoVNA-H4. This short blog merely contains an un-boxing. If you’re interested in finding out what VNAs are used for, check out the earlier blog post: Vector Network Analyzer (VNA): A...
- 22 Jun 2024
New Functionality for Older Equipment: Adding USB and SCPI Programmability

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction What’s the Problem being Solved? What’s Inside? Solution Overview Circuit Diagram Building It Software Testing It Summary Introduction This blog post shows how I went about adding programmability to an o...
- 10 May 2024
JBC CD (CDS/CDB) Soldering Station Quick Review

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction JBC CDS / CDB 'Compact' Soldering Station Quick Tryout Negatives Summary Introduction My old JBC soldering station was purchased second-hand about a decade ago, and it recently started playing up. I thought I had fi...
- 27 Apr 2024
Electronics Parts/Storage: Labeling Parts!

shabaz

It’s sometimes handy having a label printer, but the costs for consumables can mount up. I recently needed to print a load of sticky labels for a school-related project, and I didn’t want to print them using a laser printer or handheld la...
- 5 Apr 2024
Mini Tool Vice / Flat Clamp Quick Review

shabaz

Doug mentioned vices ( PCB Holders ) , and I picked up a small tool vice recently. It’s low-cost (£15) which is good, but very small, therefore it is a niche product. It won’t hold boards greater than about 49-50mm long, ...
- 15 Mar 2024
Review and test a 0 - 1mA constant current source

Jan Cumps

shabaz designed an OpAmp based constant current source. It can deliver up to 1 mA. The current is controlled by a voltage. It's intended to be used with a DAC board for the Raspberry Pico. A constant current is a useful...
- 9 Mar 2024
Vector Network Analyzers for the General Reader, Part 3: Using a Commercial Calibration Kit

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction What’s in the Box? Interpreting and Using the Datasheet Performing the Calibration Testing the Calibration Summary Introduction In a couple of earlier blog posts ( Vector Network Analyzer (VNA): A Practic...
- 5 Mar 2024
Using a MAX2870 Frequency Synthesizer / Signal Generator

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction What Is It? Is it a Sine Wave? Using It Measurements Problems Recommended or Not? Summary Introduction I have a few simple tools for generating RF signals, and they all have benefits and disadvantages. I recently d...
- 19 Feb 2024
A JBC Soldering Station Non-Repair and Teardown

shabaz

The soldering station in the photo below (JBC DI 3000) has provided me with many years of good service! I’ve regularly used it for perhaps a decade, and I purchased it fairly cheap in used state, so it’s had a long life. It has been a ple...
- 16 Feb 2024
Vector Network Analyzers for the General Reader, Part 2: Inductance Measurement!

shabaz

Introduction In an earlier blog post, the use of a Vector Network Analyzer was introduced for the general reader. Continuing the simple no-maths approach, this short blog post walks one through how to use the VNA to perform an easy but exciting exerc...
- 31 Jan 2024
Vector Network Analyzer (VNA): A Practical Getting-Started Guide for the General Reader

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction Briefly, what is a VNA? And what is a Smith Chart? Solving a Practical Problem: Impedance Matching Open, Short, Load (OSL) Calibration Calibration Standards Building DIY OSL Calibration Standards Identifying the ...
- 23 Jan 2024
How Many Chucks Would A Woodchuck Chuck?

dougw

If a woodchuck could chuck chucks, how many chucks would a woodchuck chuck? The curious case of mini chucks galore.... https://youtu.be/nGavV6BRevI A little light tool blog - part of my new year's reorg activities ... All my mini chucks are now in a ...
- 2 Jan 2024
Low-Cost Linux: Re-purposing a Microsoft Surface Pro Tablet!

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction Buying a Surface Device What Else is Required? Surface-izing Linux Choose a Linux Distribution Install the Linux Distribution Add Sudo Capability for the User Download the Linux Surface Patch Download the Linux Kerne...
- 31 Dec 2023
PST.. Pico SCPI labTool can run multi-core on FreeRTOS SMP

Jan Cumps

The Pico SCPI labTool (PST) allows you to connect your PC to equipment to control and monitor all sorts of things. It runs on a Raspberry Pico.In this post: you can run it - with multi-core support - on FreeRTOS SMP. What's different, c...
- 20 Nov 2023
PSA.. SCPI firmware for Pico Data Acquisition Board as a plug-in module

Jan Cumps

The Data Acquisition Board for Pi Pico is an analogue front end for the Raspberry Pico. I turned the SCPI firmware for into a submodule that you can plug in your PST.. based designs. What is that module? It's a libr...
- 13 Nov 2023
PSA.. SCPI firmware for Pico Data Acquisition Board

Jan Cumps

The Data Acquisition Board for Pi Pico is an analogue front end for the Raspberry Pico. I created SCPI firmware for it. To validate shabaz 's sample code for the board. And to see if our Pico SCPI framework...
- 12 Nov 2023
Do you want to create your own Pico SCPI device, based on PST.. Pico SCPI USBTMC labLib (and labTool)?

Jan Cumps

How to: start your own Pico SCPI project, based on Pico SCPI USBTMC labLib? You can start from the example source: PST.. Have you worked with the Pico SCPI labTool? and adapt it to your needs. Git and GitHub will help you to get...
- 10 Nov 2023
Probing Signals: Sensepeek PCBite Hands-Free Probes!

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction What’s the Problem? A Possible Solution What’s Supplied? Using the Probes Storing the Probes Summary Introduction After trying to DIY a probe setup for tiny QFN parts (see here: Probing Signal...
- 10 Nov 2023
Yet Another C210 Compatible Soldering Iron: KSGER C210 Portable

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction Background Look and Feel Display, User Interface, and Menu Settings Power Source Grounding Performance Reliability Summary Introduction In the quest to find a decent low-cost soldering iron, I’ve examined quit...
- 2 Nov 2023