By ‘better’, what do you need? More bandwidth? Storage? More channels? Multi time base? Smaller? Other features like DMM, frequency counter, logic analysis?
I wouldn’t mind a stronger magnifying glass, or even better, some sort of stereo scope hooked up to a projector
How about a spectrophotometer for testing the output of LEDs?
Two Rigol DS1054Z digital oscilloscopes.
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[quote=“schrodinger123, post:3, topic:548”]
Ideas for Additional Equipment that I had:
Logic analyzer[/quote]
Welcome! It’s great that we are accumulating interested hardware hackers.
We have an Intronix LogicPort, which should be adequate for almost any project at the Maker Space. We researched the available USB-based offerings, and this was the best in its class at the time, and I believe it remains so.
However, I do have a fully functioning Agilent 16700B analyzer with sampling and pattern generator cards that I would be happy to donate, if anybody things that it would be used.
We do have an Agilent 8505A VNA available. The only issue is that there is noise on Channel B, which limits certain kinds of 2-port measurements, but the VNA is still quite usable for lots of applications. I believe the channel B issue is repairable, but have not had the time to dig in.
We also have a logic analyzer, albeit not a new one. It’s a 7L13 plugin for the 7000 series mainframes, of which we have at least one working specimen. Bulky, but works fine for most hobbyist applications. However, the 7L13 may need some repair. For $1-2k, we could have a mid-range HP 859xE series analyzer, or a low-end new rigol analyzer. I think there would have to be some real projects going on in order to justify the expense. I do have an 8591E 1.8 GHz SA I could loan to the space, but haven’t seen any demand.
It would be great if someone were sufficiently interested and motivated to set up an RF station. I would be willing to help as much as I can.
Dave
Bio has been discussing purchasing a spectrophotometer for LED testing so that we could build our own LED grow lamps. If it could benefit Electronics as well, maybe the two groups could pitch in together? I bet it would be used sparingly enough to be shared.
Thread discussing this:
I hope to be up there for the wood shop orientation at 6:30. Would be happy to talk about things we could use.
Low end rigols would be one option. However, the 1074/1104z have the MSO option, which is a plus. Alternatively, we could come up with funds for a better scope, since we already have a low end scope.
Daniel said on Saturday that he is ordering one of these now.
@SRichardson3D That would be great to have the meter shared between the two committees. I started the threads hoping to create enough interest. Can you and the electronics chair chime in on the discussion? I’ll also be at Woodshop 101 if anyone wants to discuss it in person.
My interest is having the ability to order cheap high power LEDs and then have the ability to test and send back if they are not what they claim to be. Or, be able to purchase the cheap LEDs and have peace of mind that we truly received what we paid for.
So we have some options. So I read the original question to be what are sorts of things that would be helpful in equipping electronics lab. At present, I don’t have projects requiring RF equipment or logic analyzer. I could see a need happening in the future, and maybe there are others who do have present need. I’m happy to assist with RF equipmenting, as it just seems like any good electronics lab should have some options available when you need them.
Here is another thought: What about EMI? In order to sell anything electronic, you must be able to pass EMI testing. I would think that a measurement wand connected to instrument capable of measuring radiated noise across frequency and low emissions barrier may be a good idea for anyone who wants to quickly get some circuit to market. Otherwise, you have to pay for such testing, and pay to test again when you are about acceptable radiation levels, and yet again until its fixed. Why not be able to root these issues out right here at makerspace?
Oh and one last thought: What about shock testing? …the capability of putting controlled electric shock to your completed unit to make sure that it does not fail due to static or other usual stresses a customer may place on your product. For this we would need a wand and controlled capacitive discharge system. Might even be possible to make a jig for this, and useful for anyone trying to take something electronic to market.
Low end is relative. 4 channel with protocol decodes is pretty useful.
I went down to techshop to see what they have been doing they have 4-5 of these.
National Instruments Virtual Bench
http://www.ni.com/virtualbench/
It’s pretty Sweet!
it’s a Software Defined
Mixed-Signal Oscilloscope
Bandwidth 100 MHz
Channels 2 analog, 34 digital
Sampling Rate 1 GS/s (single channel), 500 MS/s/ch (dual channel)
Waveform Measurements cursors, 22 automatic measurements
Waveform Math add, subtract, multiply, FFT
Record Length 1 million samples
Function Generator
Max Frequency 20 MHz (sine), 5 MHz (square)
Channels 1
Waveform Types sine, square, ramp, triangle, DC
Digital Mulitimeter
Resolution 5 ½ digits
Measurement Functions VDC, VAC, IDC, IAC, continuity, resistance, diode
Max Voltage 300 V max input voltage
Max Current 10 A max input current
Basic Accuracy up to 0.015% VDC
Programmable DC Power Supply
Channels 3
Voltage/Current (Ch1) 0 to +6 V/0 to 1 A
Voltage/Current (Ch2) 0 to +25 V/0 to 0.5 A
Voltage/Current (Ch3) 0 to -25 V/0 to 0.5 A
Digital I/O
Channels 8 (input or output)
Logic Level 5 V compatible LVTTL input, 3.3 V LVTTL output
Robert, does that mean you’re giving us $2k to buy it?
$400 for 1054Z
$259 for signal gen
$150 for Salae logic16
$200 for bench power supply
So for about $1000, I can replicate and exceed that things specs.
But can it record all the outputs into one unified view?
Also what is the learning curve?
They tell me I can run Voltage directly into the Digital In Pins or the Function Generator and it just throws an error and does not kill itself.
That is pretty cool
National Instruments seems to be getting behind the Maker Movement so I am confident I can get it cheaper than MSRP.
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Having everything rolled into one instrument makes it so that only one person can use all of those instruments at one time. It really looks like it was intended for an educational setting. While I understand that there is a large emphesis on education, we would be better served by getting stand alone tools that each do one thing and do it well.
Guys, the NI tools are industry standard. IMO NI’s approach of ‘virtual instrumentation’ is a superior approach.
Virtual Instrumentation is the idea that you don’t need a computer in each instrument–you just need one computer which would be a PC, and all the instruments hooked into it. So not only can you use NI toolset to do the actual instrument acquisition and control (even programmatically), but now the data is in the PC…a very convenient place for it to be since you may need to operate upon it or log the data in, say, database or text files.
The real power of NI toolset is the software, hence NI’s old slogan,‘the software is the instrument’. What I think makes sense for makerspace is windows PC, old school box with PCI slots, and a copy of LabVIEW running upon it. You see, LabVIEW is the flagship data acquisition software product that allows users to easily acquire data from instruments and such, and perform whatever operations upon it that they so desire. Its a graphical programming language, and all the big players in the industry are using it, which is why I said it is industry standard.
With the PC and LabVIEW instrumentation setup, you can hook the PC up to just about any instrument. Most lab instruments have GPIB or USB or ethernet on them and there is already a LabVIEW driver available for free out there. These drivers will allow you to programmatically initiate measurement, calibration, settings operations on the device, and move acquired data into PC, even display on screen with dials, graphs, charts, 3D plots, excel dumps, SQL database dumps, really anything you can think of to do with the data. So now you can simply use the setup to take measurements -OR- you can set up complex measurement and control systems where you use the PC to automate such measurements between many devices.
I’m gonna have to force myself not to write a book here, and my little post does not do the topic justice, but the primary takeaway is that mentioned ‘data aquisition devices’ in my first post are exactly what virtual bench is. But we are not limited to just NI data acquisision devices. Traditional instrumentation ALSO can function as data acquisition devices. I think the Tek scope in the lab has GPIB interface. Most digital power supplies have some system for programmatic control for cycling voltages, current limits and such.
You can get cheap ($99) usb cards to get a bunch of general purpose DIO lines. Many vendors sell ‘analog input’ and ‘analog output’ and ‘counter timer’ and ‘digital I/O’ hybrid devices for not very much. All you need to really use all this stuff is a PC running LabVIEW (and maybe a GPIB interface for lab instruments). I think the PC with LabVIEW is where to start with something like this. Then it will become obvious that we need to ensure programmatic control capability on future electronic equipment acquisitions, which is not at all hard to do these days.
With much respect to the commenters @Robert_Davidson, @Carpman, @Clayton this is meant as a comical interjection with a serious intent. @schrodinger123 have you been to the space? 
We cannot get the members to keep the benches clean or replace the toilet paper in the bathrooms.
This is a great piece of gear and we should have it on our radar but we do need some basics covered first. Keep in mind that very few members need this level of equipment when we could use many more of basic tools.
As Robert was saying, if we could get a great deal and it is a limited offer then we should pursue it. Otherwise DMS is better served with multiples of good basic gear.