EEVblog #81 – Smart Tweezers - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2010, 07:36:29 pm
content: I do not know, but I did not feel "the magic" about this product,at the point that Dave almost blame the classic DMM's with cables ,I just think that we have to invent just for him Tweezers with bluetooth , so to be happy and free of cables.As about the " made in Canada " excitement , well the robot that did the board could be located on Canada.But if I seriously consider, if this tool are actually useful , I will say no ..Those tweezers could be practical , if the design was allowing to rotate the body with the display independently from the placement of the tweezers .So with the display always facing at you , you could check horizontal and vertical components.Just few thoughts.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 27, 2010, 10:10:56 am
content: Man! David L. Jones is everywhere. Fluke Plus, Gossen Metrawatt, Advance Devices and only He knows where else has 'Australian host, David L. Jones' got embedded. And so is the TI MSP430F microcontroller, like the industry standard for handheld T&MI. It would suit to find out what multimeter, if any, employ mainstream microcontroller in the Multimeter Shootout.Not a piece of advice, but a humble suggestion Dave, you may find the 'Extended Specifications' sheet of the Fluke 87 V a standard for comparison for Multimeter Shootout a la the Fluke 87 V itself. As you 'Publish And Be Damned', it might serve you a slab for standard features and specifications.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2010, 01:32:43 pm
content: I like it. Its very helpful as when you build SM you use tweezers anyway, the parts are so small. Now, you have an option to ID the parts instead of burning your eyes trying to read those unreadable markings. Complete accuracy is not used in that mode, but the parts all look alike so as you pick them, you can confirm what they are.I prefer not built with SM because I'm not a pro EE. But speed is everything, from design to prototype and getting the device out there and working, so I prefer something I can see easily and use my hands with, which is typically DIP and SIP sized. But the final device is best as small and power frugal as possible, and a good case, that is MILSPEC shock and water proof, is always a plus.

author: jimmc
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2010, 09:16:43 pm
content: If you want your own LCR meter then take a look at what this guy has done with a PC soundcard, a few common components and some clever software.http://www.sillanumsoft.org/ZRLC.htmThe software even draws the vector diagrams as in Dave's tutorial.Jim

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 04, 2010, 11:40:16 am
content: It looks like it is great for prototyping and production with SMD

author: slburris
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2010, 12:32:48 am
content: I think their pricing is considerably out of kilter. The tweezerscost > $300 and for a little more money $361, I can go buyan Agilent LCR meter, the U1732A-SMD which comes witha tweezer accessory:http://www.newark.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=51P1540&CMP=AFC-GB100000001Am I missing something here?Scott

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 05, 2010, 01:45:44 am
content: Quote from: slburris on May 05, 2010, 12:32:48 amYes, the form factor.The SmartTweezers is completely hand held without probe leads to get in the way. Also, and correct me if I'm wrong, the Agilent unit does not have an automatic LCR mode.Those things may mean the SmartTweezers is considerably more efficient to use in a production setting.But of course YMMV.Dave.

author: slburris
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2010, 06:10:22 pm
content: It looks like you are correct, the Agilent meter does not auto selectbetween L, C, and R. I'm not sure if that would bug me or not.I think if the price was closer to $199, I'd be more inclined to buy it,but at it's current price, it's not clear to me at least if it's the righttradeoff vs. the Agilent meter.Scott

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 06, 2010, 12:53:38 am
content: Quote from: slburris on May 05, 2010, 06:10:22 pmI've used basically identical LCR meters to the Agilent extensively in day to day work, and I must say it's pretty annoying sometimes as you always seem to have it set to the wrong mode when you go to probe something. I've sworn at it more than once!The auto mode on SmartTweezers would save much frustration when measuring a bunch of random components on the assembly bench for example.I guess it's similar to manual and autoranging multimeters.Dave.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 06, 2010, 06:34:38 am
content: I think basically the treezers are designed for production use and will grreatly speed up small to medium runs of production

author: charliex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2010, 07:06:15 pm
content: I've posted this before, and i have no clue if it works properly, but a few people have built them, i got as far as cutting the PCB.the superprobe! built in the old radio shack logic probes (which mine had like 5V on the tip!)http://members.cox.net/berniekm/super.html

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 18, 2010, 09:56:06 pm
content: BTW, I'm supposed to be getting the Agilent LCR meter for review. I already have the similar Extech one, so it will be a mini shootout.Dave.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2010, 11:06:52 pm
content: Here'ssomething rather cheaper- no L measurement though

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2010, 01:19:46 am
content: Great! I hope they send you more stuff across all types of gear, chips, evaluation boards etc.,Quote from: EEVblog on May 18, 2010, 09:56:06 pm

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 20, 2010, 01:52:09 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on May 19, 2010, 11:06:52 pmAh, Tenma must be rebadging Extech then, because I already have the exact same Extech RC200 for review.Dave.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 20, 2010, 06:38:56 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on May 20, 2010, 01:52:09 amthe range on them is a bit limiting you can't measure mohm resistors and there is no inductance measurement so it's a toy

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2010, 11:46:41 am
content: Nice, a more affordable version of the Canadian tweezer. Sure inductance is missing, but while I don't SMD as much, I do find identifying the parts a major PITA that keeps me from moving there, and accuracy isn't needed, just I.D. is enough.What would matter to me is how good a tweezer [it looks big and bulky on some pics] like device it is, the response time and battery life. I notice it seems to have a nice sharp tip, removeable tweezers to convert it into a basic DMM, and the tweezer has some sort of adjuster on it:http://www.extech.com/instruments/product.asp?catid=44&prodid=617Quote from: EEVblog on May 20, 2010, 01:52:09 am

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2010, 03:23:08 pm
content: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=448.msg6436#msg6436Another poster already showed me this:You can turn any DMM with shielded banana jacks into a 'tweezer' DMM with the proper leads. You can make your own but this Chinese lead is only $3 shipped, to the USA.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280485825223&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_3577wt_911It may work better for me right now as I'm working in low volume.Quote from: shafri on May 20, 2010, 02:48:21 pm

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2010, 06:14:50 pm
content: S&H on that ebay link is $2.10 so total = $3.10 You're ok!Quote from: shafri on May 20, 2010, 03:35:02 pm