Oscilloscope Probe Holder With Vision - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: electronupdate
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2013, 10:33:27 am
content: Attached is a link to the design of a jig which allows hands-free probing of a circuit board . I built in a camera so it could also probe fine-pitch SMT circuit boards without the need for a microscope.I was doing some design work and between trying to hold the scope probe, adjusting the scope, and then using a computer (to stop and start the firmware) I was running out of hands!

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2013, 11:43:44 am
content: Very nice idea. Looking at the cheap junky webcam I have lying around, but it has a bare sensor on the board, needs at least half the housing, unless I use another lens assembly...... Mmmm, must look to see if I still have those dead surveillance cameras around.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2013, 05:01:05 pm
content: damn! that is so cool.... i got a few vga cemar modules laying around that came out of laptops. these are essentially USB cameras .. but they are supr tiny. so we should be able to make a much smaller probe rig...

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2013, 05:47:15 pm
content: That's a neat idea. I may have to put one together myself some time.Quote from: Aurora on March 30, 2013, 05:35:35 pm.. for a bit of ABS or the like? Really? Wow.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2013, 08:24:47 pm
content: Quote from: Aurora on March 30, 2013, 05:35:35 pmYears ago a made a bunch of such holders in different sizes with different holes. I still use them today.Take some sheet material, some isolator (plastic, raw PCB material without copper, acrylic glass etc.). Cut it into acute isosceles triangles. Cut the pointy tip of each triangle off. If you like, do a triangle cutout at the other end so you get two legs. Drill a hole in the tip, so your probe friction fits in the hole. Drill another hole below that one. The second hole is so you can add some weight (nut and bolt), so the probe holder puts some pressure on the probe tip.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2013, 04:30:17 am
content: Quote from: Aurora on March 30, 2013, 08:48:58 pmOP's version is really good , great idea with the camera...A version like the Agilent one could be created and shared via a MakerBot. I don't own a MakerBot, but someone who does should design a 3d model similar to the Agilent in the picture in this thread and put it online (if its not patent encumbered)here's another view - seems easy enough

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2013, 07:47:19 am
content: Quote from: codeboy2k on March 31, 2013, 04:30:17 amSome sheet material is really all you need. No need for a 3D printer. An appropriate saw and drill for the material, and you are done. No need to spend $1000 on some hype tool when traditional tools for a few dollars will do.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2013, 08:23:10 am
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on March 31, 2013, 07:47:19 am+1, using a cheap white plastic chopping board as the material, and a saw, drill, file and sand paper, you could make few of these in one run.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2013, 02:00:22 pm
content: Excellent idea and great execution

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2013, 10:49:45 pm
content: Rat tail file a groove in the jaws of inexpensive spring clamps.

author: cwalex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2013, 12:50:56 am
content: Quote from: robrenz on April 07, 2013, 10:49:45 pmTrust robrenz to find a solution that is cheap and seems obvious after you see it!

author: stewartallen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2013, 04:08:14 pm
content: I spent some time with Solidworks and designed a probe holder inspired by the Agilent and PMK ones. Then printed it out on my "hype tool" Makerbot.I've attached the STL and Solidworks files.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2013, 05:45:49 pm
content: Quote from: Aurora on April 20, 2013, 05:43:08 pmShame they can't print the steel in the middle to give it some weight.

author: baljemmett
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 20, 2013, 11:12:15 pm
content: Quote from: Rufus on April 20, 2013, 05:45:49 pmDo they have sufficient precision and resolution to print, say, an M3 thread inside the legs, to screw a bolt into? (I suppose epoxying one in would do just as well, mind you!)

author: stewartallen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2013, 10:44:44 am
content: @Arura I added tapers to the holes.@Rufus There is a hole in the "Legs" that take a 35x6mm rod for extra weight.@baljemmett no not on the makerbot, best resolution you can get is about 0.1mm on layer hight and about 0.4 on X/Y. But you can easily just tap the plastic. I used hot glue.

author: 1lulu2
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 27, 2016, 08:15:47 am
content: stewartallen,I downloaded your Solidworks files, and Solidworks is complaining that it cannot find:Instance of the following were suppressed when this file was openedC:\Documents and Settings\Stewart Allen\Desktop\Probe_Extrude.SLDPRT Unable to locate the fileDo you have this file? Do I need it? I am using Solidworks 2015.Also, how did you extrude the rubber feet?lulu

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 04:11:30 pm
content: Still like the camera idea.

author: LaurentR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 04:23:53 pm
content: For the camera, a good option could be one of these:https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EPPQBVC/They are $20, small, work on Android and Windows, have a flexible cable, LED lighting and a focus distance of 6cm, so they could work out of the box for this application.I haven't tried it in this context but have been using it for all kind of other purposes and it works just fine.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 04:49:15 pm
content: Quote from: LaurentR on August 30, 2016, 04:23:53 pmGood find. Thanks. I had been looking at different cameras for this. There's a lot to choose from and was thinking I may just need to order a few to try.I was wanting to get a stage to adjust the probes location.

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2016, 07:00:07 am
content: Quote from: Rufus on April 20, 2013, 05:45:49 pmEasy enough: just print it with c-shaped hollow legs, add steel or other heavy metal, and pour epoxy in to secure.