Lab setup: Parts and tools cabinets

Phil Hobbs · 2009-04-24T13:47:56+00:00

Okay, now that the digital scope issue is apparently settled, there are a couple more things. First off, I need some nice drawer cabinets to keep parts in. At IBM, I had a whole bunch of nice Lista drawer cabinets, but they apparently don't make the 28 x 30 inch size anymore. Stanley Vidmar has them, apparently identical to the old Listas.But wow, do those cabinets hold their value! Really mangy-looking dinged-up old ones are going for $950 on eBay, when shiny brand new ones from the factory are (by actual quote) $1400. Mind-boggling.So I'm looking at something like this for optical and less-used electronics parts: 15-drawer one at the bottom of the page), about $1400 with no drawer dividers,and two of these with an 8 foot laminate countertop for a workbench: (one each of the two at the bottom, also with no drawer dividers) (probably $2k altogether).The top 5 drawers or so are full of parts in neatly labelled plastic trays, which makes it really easy to slap things together to try out. Unfortunately neither Lista nor Vidmar makes the 1-1/4 inch high drawers anymore--they were really great for small things.I'd be very interested in what the assembled multitude here uses for parts storage and workbenches.CheersPhil Hobbs

Apr 24, 2009 45 Replies

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Nico Coesel 17 years ago

I actually have a similar system right now, but it is too cumbersome when assembling circuits and it takes a lot of space. The parts supplier usually delivers parts in small anti-static zip-lock bags. I have these bags in 3 drawers (holding over 7200 components according to my inventory database). About half the space in those 3 drawers is used by SMD components. I can reduce the required space to 1 drawer using the boxes I bought and have room for many more components values. One drawer in my cabinet can hold 150 square boxes.

Failure does not prove something is impossible, failure simply indicates you are not using the right tools... "If it doesn\'t fit, use a bigger hammer!" --------------------------------------------------------------

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miso 17 years ago

s old.

The stereozoom shown is designed for electronics assembly. It was meant for working all day. The large arm and heavy based is so it can be positioned over equipment to repair the guts insitu. Basically, it is an industry workhorse. Lots of working room. I can't find one on the net, but it is the scope they used in the dark ages when core memories were assembled by hand.

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is the local guy (well for me) for spareparts or stuff you didn't get with your used scope.

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Phil Hobbs 17 years ago

I'm probably just being fussy then.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

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miso 17 years ago

Note that if you are soldering under the microscope, you need one that holds a filter over the optics. Again, since the B&L stereozoom is built for such use, it is threaded for a filter. Multicoated optics is good, but a coating of flux fumes is not.

Working distance is about 2.25 inches. It's plenty to get a soldering iron into position.

Of course, you could buy a Zeiss then get it all gunked up. It's a free country. But there is something to be said for buying the proper tool for the application.

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Phil Hobbs 17 years ago

I used the same Zeiss for 20 years and never had to clean the objective lens once, because its working distance was about a foot. I also didn't have to bend down, which was great.

I usually just use the magic bifocals for soldering, and adjust my chair height, but when I'm doing something hard, e.g. a gigahertz dead-bug project with SOT-23s and 0805s in mid air, the Zeiss was a great help.

For now I'll probably just stick with bifocals and whip out my Hastings Triplet or Emoscope for closer stuff. Once I have a few more gigs bringing in money, I can unbelt a bit more. (All this stuff is now tax-deductible, which helps a lot, especially in NY.)

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

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JosephKK 17 years ago

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Just speaking for myself i like waffle packs. They combine well with vacuum handling tools. The intermediate level of organization is where the issues lives. Then good drawers win. Partitioning area and volume can be challenging. When there is a significant range of object size (3 to 6 magnitudes in volume) it can be really challenging. {

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