New EEVblog Lab Tour (Incomplete Edition) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 09:24:28 pm
content: A tour of the new (totally incomplete) EEVblog lab space.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 09:41:07 pm
content: Replace the matting and old ESD matting to David's proposed new soldering/inspection bench.Why, well it's gunna be just inside your entrance door and you know what they say about first impressions.

author: MT
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 09:56:03 pm
content: Dave! not broodaar, you say it with sorta short vocals "broder", translated to Austranglish it means brother!Anyone handy with a welder could probably build something similar to broodaar with Ikeas ALGOT system.https://www.ikea.com/se/sv/catalog/categories/departments/bedroom/11468/Shelf holders.https://www.ikea.com/se/sv/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/10398/

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 09:56:56 pm
content: The ESD mat is manky, get rid of it.

author: bsudbrink
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 09:59:21 pm
content: Ooh, glass walls. Put up a surveillance camera to catch people walking into them. EEVBlog blooper reel!

author: johnlsenchak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 10:21:14 pm
content: You should set up your benches like Shahriar Shahramian over at the"Signal Path"where all the equipment is neatly placed in the back shelvingThe mailbag table looks terrible on a angle with the shelving in back Just my opinion hereA big table in the middle of the room is where the mailbag should be done !

author: kcozens
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 10:34:34 pm
content: Dave mentioned that some people have been talking about those freestanding shelves he has behind the workbenches and wondering where you can buy something like it. I did a search and found something that looks promising. It is the Elfa Freestanding system from The Container Store. If you want to have a look, check outhttps://www.containerstore.com/s/elfa/components/elfa-freestanding/. Some of those units would be useful at my workbench. I just hope the shipping cost isn't as much as the total cost of all the pieces I would need.Disclaimer: I have no connection whatsoever with this company and know nothing about them or the product I linked to other than what is on the website.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 10:39:23 pm
content: Quote from: johnlsenchak on November 06, 2018, 10:21:14 pmIf that ever happens we shall know Dave's been taken over by aliens. Dave and Shahriar are literally the definition of polar opposites in terms of neatness. As long as there's Dave there is at least one person arguably less neat than me.Yes, to new ESD matting.No, to the corner mailbag.Yes, to full length shelves. Unless you intend removing stuff that used to live there.If you want to keep the place tidy you have to schedule time to do it little bits often. Or so i've been told. I'd suggest trying to develop a habit of starting AND finishing things so you can get the materials right off the benches.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 10:43:34 pm
content: Leave dirty bench mats to shitposters like AvE, get a new one to maintain caring EE image.

author: Dr. Frank
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 11:41:26 pm
content: Hi Dave,the problem with crammed shelves originates from your personal habit, and probably (you) won't change any more.Therefore, less shelf space will as well be crammed, as will happen with even more shelf space.Therefore I'd recommend to still use all the existing shelves you had in the old lab, because there's nothing more valuable in a lab than storing space.Anyhow, where do you want to store all that stuff from the old lab? Time to bring a lot of unneeded things to the dumpster room by yourself.I don't like at all this intended Mailbag Monday corner, the background is really disturbing, in terms of light / shadow, but also to these skewed angles of the shelves.Just imagine having to look on instruments or other things in an inclined perspective.In the end, that's a nice place to work, a real improvement for your eevblog, room for new ideas.And I hope that Dave II has some smart ideas how to use that additional space cleverly.Frank

author: boffin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 11:54:44 pm
content: My commentsOne big bench in the middle, that's where mailbag should be as wellThe shelves on the back wall, at 90 to the wall, should go shelf, gap, shelf, shelf, gap, shelf, and put one at 90 degrees to the middle of the back to back ones, which you can use for mailbag backdrop. That layout gives you wider access to the shelves, and the same density, plus if you have a really big item that's more than a shelf deep you can still store it.(see attach). Also the shelves are easily painted with some metal paint. Make them a fun colour (EEVBlog Blue?)On the shelves, standard cardboard bin-boxes are your friend. They're available in nice 2, 4, 6" widths, cheap as dirt, and great for holding parts, and have the shelves the minimum distance apartI think you'll probably need 2 sets of equipment shelves behind the benches, but not all three.Put power strips (ziptied) to the bottom of the Ikea bench shelves at the backDavid II is right, the soldering/camera room is likely a good idea, and you can place all of your microscope, soldering and SMT oven stuff in there.The area inside the door to the right (your proposed mailbag area) is a good 3D printer area if that's going to become a bigger thing.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 06:50:29 am
content: I like the idea of the island. Any stuff on the ground can go so no tip toeing.The lightening looks good and I like the daylight through the blinds.The triangular mailbag desk does look a bit strange to me.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 07:18:25 am
content: I have but one suggestion with the shelves: Don't put one in front of the breaker panel like that. You will, one day, kick yourself. Especially when it's the lights.

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 08:30:23 am
content: Hi Dave,Have you looked into the lack of RCD protection and if different Phases are supplying different sockets?

author: mairo
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 08:55:48 am
content: Dave, do you think mounting castor wheels (with breaks) on your benches could benefit in the day to day work, specially for the island bench.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 09:14:18 am
content: Quote from: mairo on November 07, 2018, 08:55:48 amMaybe multiple wheeled tables that can be locked together or used individually.And you'll need a power drop from the ceiling.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 09:23:04 am
content: Quote from: Towger on November 06, 2018, 09:56:56 pmReplacements seems to be in the 4 digit price category.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 09:24:06 am
content: Quote from: mairo on November 07, 2018, 08:55:48 amNot for the benches, no. Island bench, yes, possible.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 09:24:39 am
content: Quote from: Towger on November 07, 2018, 08:30:23 amStrata have organised someone to come fix it.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 09:25:07 am
content: Quote from: Monkeh on November 07, 2018, 07:18:25 amI know, that's not the final setup.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 09:33:27 am
content: It's looking great Dave! Also great to see David getting his own office. The guy has certainly earned it!It sure beats that small(ish) bench he was working at previously surrounded by your stock of multimeters. ;-)

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 09:46:42 am
content: I'm tending to agree with several of the comments here...The triangular mailbag area doesn't feel right. Certainly I would not locate such a spot right near the main door/corridor. Could be distracting if people are walking down there while you're shooting.Also thought of this arrangement for the side wall shelving:.... unless you were thinking of the two middle shelves holding things that only took half the shelf depth and were set back to back (like component drawers, for example).I, too was concerned at your intention to reduce shelving on the long benches to reduce junk accumulation. It's going to accumulate anyway, so having shelving will give it a place to live that isn't all over the floor. Being forced to organise the accumulation due to not having the storage space to put it is going to mean throwing potentially useful stuff out (there's an ominously familiar tone in that thought) and/or spending time you don't have to perform the organisation when you need to.Either way, there will be greater discipline in how you act - so I suggest you work on a storage scheme which can achieve that. I have found "containerising" stuff to be very effective - utilising containers of consistent sizes which enable stacking. Put labels on the visible side to give anindicationof contents (I often don't need to know that "A" and "B" are in a given container as I can usually remember that they were with "X" or "Y" - and so long as I can quickly find the containers holding "X" and "Y", I will usually find the object of my search.)Colour coding - YEP!You have expressed an ideal approach (IMO) so follow through with that.ESD mat ... yeah it does look daggy. But but the budget might overrule replacement.I like this idea, too:Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on November 07, 2018, 09:14:18 amNo doubt you would have a storage shelf beneath the multiple tables and if they are on wheels, you could unlock one and move it out to gain easy access to something stored right in the centre of the island bench. I would totally avoid storing things on the floor under the tables. You could even have a shelf close to the floor with additional castors that will support the shelving, in order to store boat anchors. It could work like a 2D Compactus.Open window access for a laser cutter would be nice - but you can get filtration system solutions for entirely indoor operation (not cheap, I know).

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 09:52:45 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on November 07, 2018, 09:46:42 amAny other orientation and the bench visually projects into the main room as you walk in making it all look crowded.People walk past in the previous lab and the office. The office they can see right in, I'm used to it.QuoteThe shelves are going flat against the wall.QuoteThat's the plan.

author: inOr
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 09:55:32 am
content: Good idea! The problem with square rooms is that that, except for dining rooms, all that space in the center is normally wasted. That's why those granite-top islands are used in swankier kitchens everywhere (Well, at least in the US of A). Also why mobile homes and boats can jam so much into so little space - stuff is against the walls and middle of the rooms are just walkways. So yeah, put something useful and swank in the middle of the lab room.

author: inOr
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 10:06:18 am
content: Gotta agree with everyone who says replace the mailbag mat. The other benches aren't going to be on video every week. Put the dirty mat on one of those. ASSUMING the UV and grime haven't destroyed the ESD dissipation of the top surface, that is. Is there a way to test that? Might be an interesting topic for yer show. You want your presentation space(s) to be schmick (Is that how you write it in Oz-speak?), so please, spiff it up. BTW, I like the EM Radiation chart as a backdrop for mailbag talks.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 10:20:46 am
content: Quote from: inOr on November 07, 2018, 10:06:18 amI can just get a 1m length of top quality 3M or Desco stuff for use in close camera shots, no need to replace 10m worth. Just sit in on top.The mailbag bench itself doesn't need new matting, as it's not up close and is inconsequential.

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 11:41:01 am
content: You can buy ESD paint in cans, possibly staining...………..so the possibility is here to give the existing matting a new life.Ian.

author: WN1X
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 02:00:59 pm
content: I am not a fan of the angled mail bag table, either. The old layout was nicer.

author: Wan Huang Luo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 04:58:20 pm
content: Congratulations on the new lab setup. You can experience the joy of building a workbench all over again!

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 05:01:46 pm
content: With the Mailbag desk the shelving behind it doesn't go all the way across so the sides look bare.Isn't there room to add more shelves alongside the two?

author: chriswebb
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2018, 08:26:39 am
content: Would it be possible to use a UV protection film on your windows to keep the mats looking spiffy if you do decide to replace them?

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2018, 03:32:21 pm
content: Quote from: chriswebb on November 08, 2018, 08:26:39 amDon't think it was natural sunlight UV that did that in the old lab - the old lab had no windows!I DO have a window in the spare room I use as an office and workshop, AND it is positioned such that all the light comes in from one side (apart from the artificial light directly overhead, which in my case is all LEDs). My mat is just approaching 3 years old now, so far all I really see are the dust lines if I remove something that's been sitting int he same place for some time, that all just wipes clean. However, who knows what it will look like after it's been 7+ years.

author: Fionn
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2018, 11:27:32 pm
content: I would tryhttps://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/acl-staticide-inc/6001/ST1004-ND/98609orhttps://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/desco/10435/16-1054-ND/299797(or both)If it does not work... 20 bugs lost, if works happy end. even if you need 5 bottles, better than getting 10 meters of new mat. And yes, they look like cr*p after all the years.Oooooorrrrr... give all mats a big UV light dose (take them to a solarium or something like that- if its really the fault of UV light the color should be even everywhere after that)

author: Fionn
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2018, 11:48:31 pm
content: One more thing: Get at least 1 US and EU outlet at least, you get a plenty of stuff from those countries, so you don't have to muck around with power supply shipped with mail stuff. Should be easy ... 110V is another story.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 12:37:53 am
content: Quote from: Fionn on November 29, 2018, 11:48:31 pm110V is not a problem at all .... however 60Hz would be (if it was important to have).