Lab arrangement and storage - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: McMonster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2011, 12:41:29 pm
content: Hi. Since I got interested in electronics about 1.5 year ago I've managed to accumulate a lot of equpement, components and all the other different stuff, including some really heavy pieces of hardware, like a 30 kg, rack mountable function generator (Wavetek 172B, you could build a bunker with a couple of these) and storing these things while still being able to use them comfortably started to become a real problem recently.I am moving to my first own flat in about a month and I need to start thinking about how to set it all up. Dave already did talk in some of the videos about arranging a good lab and storing equipment, but I wanted to ask you for any other good tips about lab arrangement and storage topics you'd like to give.And since I've heard Dave finally got his own separate lab space this could be an excellent occasion for a new video.

author: hacklordsniper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2011, 12:55:30 pm
content: Lab arrangment depens on your work and needs. Puting more often used equipment in more acessible space and closer to you and so on.Many of this depends on your preffered style.

author: McMonster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2011, 01:08:12 pm
content: I don't have any style yet, until now it was just a table with whatever I could put there while still having some free space. My only particular need is having a more vertical setup because I have a high ceiling and limited area. Any tips are welcome, I'll pick what's useful for me.

author: hacklordsniper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2011, 03:52:52 pm
content: Quote from: McMonster on October 31, 2011, 01:08:12 pmI just finished my lab few days ago, full renovation and teared it down 2 days latter. Vertical setup really, really sucks alteast for me. Unfortunalely you cannot avoid it because of confined space. But you need to consider how to stack this equipment on any kind of shelves because you said you have verry heavy equipment. My reccomedation still stays that a long, deep bench is best way to go and for that reason im now building a 9 meter X 80 cm bench

author: ciccio
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2011, 06:57:20 pm
content: Quote from: hacklordsniper on October 31, 2011, 03:52:52 pmI'm sorry, your lab looked so finely built...A 9 meter bench will be very long: when you'll need something, it will be always too far away..why not two benches facing one to the other? It will be more easy to rotate your chair and pick what you need on the other bench (this is my experience: it's always on the other bench).A third one can easily close one side to form an U-shaped bench.I made a mistake when I designed my lab: the benches are 90 cm deep, and that is too much: everything collects in the farthest 10 cm, and remains there because my arms are too short and I'm too lazy to pick it up. (80 cm deep should be the right value).Regards

author: hacklordsniper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2011, 10:39:04 pm
content: Thank you for sharing that 80 cm bench is enough, i was worried will it be enough and should i go to 90 cm.Actually my future bench will be a 1 m long then corner, the 5 m, then again corner and last 3 m

author: buxtronix
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2011, 03:02:40 am
content: I dont have pictures, but basically mine is:- An 'L' bench, 1800x900 each way. It's a proper office grade desk that won't wobble apart, not a flimsy Ikea "desk".- Computers on one side, electronics on the other. A wireless mouse and keyboard avoids cables being in the way.- At the back should be anything you can reach without a stretch (eg deeper equipment, parts drawers). Dont leave the back empty otherwise you will accumulate hard to reach stuff.- Shop shelves mounted on the wall. They are strong enough to hold fairly heavy gear.- First shelf has stuff I regularly need in reach (eg CRO, meters, power, etc).- Next shelves have gear I need to access less frequently, as well as 1/2 finished projects.- A linear slide (from a drawer) under the bench for alligator jumpers, etc (seehttp://www.buxtronix.net/2011/08/tidy-those-alligator-leads.html)- A swing arm desk lamp clamped to the 1st shelf, reaches to any space above the desk (like this:http://www.onlinelighting.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=60_176&products_id=3145&osCsid=). I modded mine with a switch in the head so i could move and turn it on/off with one hand. Inline cable switches suck for these.- (I am also going to mod one of these to be a moveable fume fan).- Put lighting under the shelves (I went with low profile flourescent). Without it, this will become a dark inaccessible space. Optionally, make a shade so you dont get the light right in your eyes. Again, locate the switch somewhere accessible.- Dont forget a bin under the desk.- Power points! Lots! Both above and below the desk - you want to avoid having cables get in the way. Count how many power points you need. Double it. That should be your minimum. Make sure the ones you will frequently access are switched - plugging and unplugging as you're fiddling with a project really gets tedious.Above all - arrange stuff in such a way that you can access your most frequent gear without stretching, and reserve the distant spots for less used stuff. Having to reach far to e.g. adjust a lamp, is really tedious.Lastly, ensure that the bench has a nice big space for your current project. Having basic gear (e.g bench lamps, fume extractors, tools) sitting in front of you takes valuable space (hence me using clamp lamps and the jumper slide).

author: mattsmith
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 29, 2018, 05:08:57 am
content: Hey there.In my lab i have a large office grade desk created by my father and I about 2 metres and slightly short of 1 metre wide.I also have several storage facilities on top of the desk i.e. filing cabinet style draws. These pretty much run along the back of the desk the whole way long allowing me to store any necessary items.I then have a computer I have compiled with a bunch of parts which is pretty powerful if I say so myself.I then have a shelf about 1 metre above the desk and the bottom of the shelf is lined withlightsthat point directly down and can pretty much illuminate most of my room.Most of my equipment is stored within the storage facilities, however there is a cupboard under one side of the desk with which I store any excess items or anything that I can't fit in the filing cabinets.Good Luck,Matt Smith

author: Chris-IP5
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2018, 06:18:48 am
content: Good time to think what you want to do in your lab, and what you might move onto in the future.I went for an L-shaped bench, to keep everything within arms reach. Theres a main working area (kept empty for current project / breadboarding) closely surrounded by the most used test equipment (psus, dmms, signal generators, you might have different). There is a bit of a tower of test equipment growing to the left, in your case (OP) you might have a rack nearby? Think how to get the signals to/from the rack conveniently.I wish I had made the bench deeper though and if the room was bigger a U-shaped one would have been nice. Luckily I left enough space I've been able to have technical discussions / demonstrations with people in the room.On one side of the "L" is space for any secondary project and component storage and underneath it I keep reference material and records of my work. Oh and reels of cable that don't fit anywhere else.I find it useful to have an audio source (CD player) and loudspeaker available permanently theyre in the corner of the L.As buxtronix mentioned its useful to have plenty mains power points available. I put extra ones in on the wall behind the main working area before I put the bench and everything else in... there is never enough sockets though!Good bright light needed in the main working area - adjustable angle lamp.When I started electronics my "lab" was inside a wardrobe...beware electronics expands to fill the space available!