In this post, I’ll talk about the online GDS File Viewer/Editor I made(or I’m making as it’s still a work in progress). For now, I will make the development version of the app available online so people can find it and test it. Eventually, I will post the code on Github but first I want to add some more features, refactor the code and maybe write some unit tests.
In this post, I’ll show you how to program the Attiny microcontrollers via the Arduino IDE using an Arduino board as an ISP programmer.
In this post, I’ll show you a Raspberry Pi microscope I made for soldering and inspecting PCBs. The great thing about it is that it has a long working distance. This enables the microscope to be mounted on the shelf above my workbench so it doesn’t get in the way. An additional benefit is that the image doesn’t shake if you bump the table when working.
In this post, I’ll show you how to measure the length or find a break in a coaxial cable with the help of your oscilloscope and waveform generator. We can do this using signal reflection that occurs when a transmission line is not terminated correctly.
In this post, I’ll show you how to measure the value of capacitors and inductors with your oscilloscope and waveform generator. To measure the capacitor we’ll simply which will charge(periodically with a square wave) it through a resistor and measure how much time it takes the capacitor to charge to 63% we can then calculate its value according to the RC time constant formula which is t = RC. We’ll rearrange it to C = t/R to get out the capacitance.
In this post, I’ll show you how to make a cheap portable spectrum analyzer from a TV receiver dongle. The dongle gets sold as a TV (DVB-T) however its an SDR(software defined radio) which means that it can be used to receive pretty much any RF signal(depending on the chip used up to 1-2 GHz) and turn it into a digital one to be later processed by software.
In this post, I’ll show you a handheld induction heater I made. I bought the ZVS driver circuit board and coil quite some time ago but I just recently saw someone made a very neat 3d printed case for it on thingiverse and decided to make a handheld induction heater out of it. This one is smaller and much less bulky than the other one I made wrote about in this post.
In this post, I’ll show you the induction heater I made. I bought board and coil as it’s easier and quicker than making it on your own. It’s rated for 2000W but the maximum power I can get out of it is 1200W because that’s as much as the power supply I’m using can supply.
In this post, I’ll show you how to make a signal generator and oscilloscope from a PC soundcard. I used a cheap USB soundcard so in case the input voltage gets too high, I don’t damage my PC. This signal generator and oscilloscope obviously don’t have the best specs and are very limited. They can produce/measure a very narrow range of voltages and frequencies(0-20KHz).
In this post, I’ll show my DIY SMD vacuum pickup tool. I bought this vacuum pump SMD pickup but it had no way to be turned on/off. There is only a hole on the vacuum “pen” that you can cover with your finger to make or release the vacuum. I decided I would mod it and make it operable with a footswitch. When pressed the vacuum pump is turned on and when you let go the vacuum pump is turned off while the valve is opened at the same time to release the vacuum and instantly drop the SMD part from the nozzle.
