Some serious workspace

[syn08]

Originally Posted by pocket change

what camera did you use? great photo?

A Canon PowerShot SD870 soapbox, flash off.

[c2cthomas]

Originally Posted by Hearinspace

A clean and dedicated work space is a seriously wonderful thing. It's tough to pull off for a high-rise small apartment dweller. I've been trying for a long time to find ways to have something that works well as a shop soldering/test bench when I want to work and yet could be closed up and out of the way when I'm not building, leaving the place looking like a total chick magnet.

Anybody found good solutions? Post pics? It would probably interest more than a few people.

Here is an idea Hobby Hideaway - Exclusive Level Desk System: Full Armoire Showcase
Not cheap - but hey we are DIY'ers so let's make a version that suits our needs and budgets. In my case that would be some cement cinder blocks and scrap lumber used as book cases and side tables (for stereo gear) back in university days.

Also will require use of lighting products - standard lava lamp

[gain-wire]

Oh my God

You have too many spectrum analyzers, what the hell, this is like a surveillance lab! But where do you build yout stuff, on the little table in the middle?

[syn08]

Originally Posted by gain-wire

Oh my God

You have too many spectrum analyzers, what the hell, this is like a surveillance lab! But where do you build yout stuff, on the little table in the middle?

No, only two, 0-100KHz HP3562A and 0-10MHz HP87410A. The rest is scopes (analog 400MHz Tek 2465, digital HP54720D 8Gb/sec with 2GHz plugins), network analyzer HP8702A up to 6GHz, 2 x Amber 5500 distortion meters, PM5192 function generator to 20MHz, 7 1/2 multimeter HP3457A, power supplies (3 x Sorensen DLM 60-10 and a HP6627A), and a few other things. Everything is HPIB connected, so I can do automated measuments, data aquisition and data processing. Specialized software is by myself.

The table is for measurements and final touches only, building happens in another area of the basement. There is another table on the left side, with computers and digital stuff (MCU development kits, etc...).

In the back is the listening setup, photo is on my web site.

What I am dearly missing is a CNC machine to get rid of most of the hand metal work (hate doing that). To expensive for a hobbyst, and EBay is not helping

[Hearinspace]

Originally Posted by syn08

What I am dearly missing is a CNC machine to get rid of most of the hand metal work (hate doing that). To expensive for a hobbyst, and EBay is not helping

Yeah , maybe, but if you build your own then it's part of the hobby right?
My local electronics supply place has had a little CNC kit set up on the display counter that I've always liked the look of, though it's obviously not powerful enough to handle more than light materials. However, your post got me to wondering about it, "where there's smoke . . ." etc. so I did a one minute search and in the results I found this Hack A Day link to a Lumen Labs kit as well as numerous other hits on diy CNC stuff from the ground up (some also linked through Hack A Day), forums etc. The kit link is from last year and I'd guess things have progressed since then.

[canca87]

Wow thats a sweet setup. I only got my first CRO a year ago, up until then I have been using the ones at Uni. Spectrum analyser and signal generator are defiantly next on my list.

[anatech]

Hi syn08,
My gosh! That is just lovely!!!

Sir, you have an amazing collection of really good instrumentation! 488 bus anywhere in there?

I'm just hoping for a real bench to work on where my gear can all be used comfortably. I've actually started cleaning up to go in that direction. So I can use your workspace as a reference, or goal to keep me working in that direction.

In case you haven't guessed, I am impressed.

-Chris

[syn08]

Originally Posted by anatech

488 bus anywhere in there?

HPIB is the HP implementation of the IEEE-488 bus specification. Quoting myself from above:

Originally Posted by syn08

Everything is HPIB connected, so I can do automated measuments, data aquisition and data processing. Specialized software is by myself.

[Spirtos]

Omg when i see such things I feel bad for my poor home test equipment .

Gratz Syn you have a great setup!!

[syn08]

Originally Posted by Hearinspace

Yeah , maybe, but if you build your own then it's part of the hobby right?
My local electronics supply place has had a little CNC kit set up on the display counter that I've always liked the look of, though it's obviously not powerful enough to handle more than light materials. However, your post got me to wondering about it, "where there's smoke . . ." etc. so I did a one minute search and in the results I found this Hack A Day link to a Lumen Labs kit as well as numerous other hits on diy CNC stuff from the ground up (some also linked through Hack A Day), forums etc. The kit link is from last year and I'd guess things have progressed since then.

Thanks, very interesting. Has anybody purchased a CNC tool from Lumenelabs? The website doesn't seem to be very rich in information about their products.

I don't think I'm qualified to DIY a CNC tool ( except for the required software ). In fact, I'm pretty lost at any mechanical stuff beyond basic drilling and filing, so I would like to get a complete kit to assembly and test.