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Top 6 Tools

dougw

All makers are into tools but which tools are their go-to tools. I tried to analyze which half dozen tools I use most often and came up with a slightly surprising list. Obviously it varies from project to project, but some tools get used consistently more than others. I think it will be interesting to discover what others use.

Which half dozen tools do you use the most?

Here are the ones I came up as my top 6 most used tools - they hint at how much time I spend on 3D printing:

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Some notables didn't quite make the list - soldering iron, stereo microscope and power supply (mostly because I don't always use the same supply).

  • in reply to shabaz

    Nice tool - if I had a ratcheting crimper, I would use more crimps.

  • in reply to colporteur

    I’ve never used it for such a purpose, only measuring a dimension.  Perhaps the inner dimension wings might do that.

  • Probably based on the type of projects that I do, but I use my 3D printer a lot.  Much more than a DMM or soldering iron, but less than my calipers or phone.  It seems like I always need a case or mounting bracket - and I use a lot of different camera boards, so I’m always printing tripod mounts.  Recently I’ve been printing adapters for GoPro mounts.

    Of course, as Frank pointed out - I can’t do any projects without the computer.

  • in reply to shabaz

    I use the same darn tool for db-25 etc pins. And I hate the darn thing. They are a pain in tush to use one hand holds the pin, the other hand the wire, and you need another hand to crimp it. Disappointed

  • in reply to phoenixcomm

    That is a problem : ) My current method is to use side of body/chest or leg to push it. I wonder how it's really supposed to be used though.

    I put heatshrink sleeve on the handles to make it slightly softer for this method : ) 

  • in reply to ralphjy

    The 3D printer is definitely one of my most used tools, especially if you consider operating time. Relaxed

  • in reply to phoenixcomm

    I use a finiky little insertion tool for DB25 (solder cup pins) or insulation displacement ribbon connectors.

    image

  • in reply to dougw

    I also use it to document how something looks like when taking it appart, for personal refference. And to zoom into details that the eyes don't see (anymore)

  • in reply to dougw

    I find myself in a position for wiring quite a few Sub-D connectors with solder cups.  How does this tool work Doug?

  • My most used tools are  a bit different, excluding the brain extensions (Computer, calculator, notebook) it's scope, power supply, DMM and logic analyser.

    image

    Current preferred scope (Picoscope 6424E, a Roadtest subject) and power supply (TTi QL564TP). The Picoscope is a good all rounder and it's so much more convenient for writing reports and notes that it's live on the computer. Keysight and R & S both offer PC apps to talk to their scopes but not a patch on the convenience of the Pico. It's front end analogue hardware is not in the same class as a decent Keysight or R & S which can bite from time to time.

    image

    As soon as I pick up something to work on I switch on the power supply and the DMM (the Pico comes on with the computer). I have other DMMs but the Keysight is much the nicest to use.

    image

    The Joker in the pack !

    Logic analysers have rather fallen out of favour since scopes started building them in - or so they claim. I realise now that I have wasted a lot of time over the last 10 years using scope based logic analysers. This one cost about £1250 - a bit more than the option on cheaper scopes, but it comes with 32 channels, over 100 protocol decoders and the software runs on a PC so has access to a huge screen and a keyboard. It's just so much better to use ! The advantage of the scope based LA having synch with the usual scope channels is overplayed - it is handy sometimes but I've not yet hit a situation where it was crucial. (These comments don't apply to the really cheap logic analysers - a scope based one is certainly competetive with those.)

    MK