Stickvise - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 12:33:18 am
content: This was on Hackaday, low profile vise for soldering, should be available soon.http://stickvise.com/http://stickvise.blogspot.com/https://hackaday.io/project/3287-stickvise-low-profile-soldering-viseI am using a smaller one from MicroMark

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 12:39:55 am
content: I've got that same brass one, it's OK for some things but too small and it's a wobbly design. I might go for that other one though.

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 01:21:25 am
content: Thanks for posting this, I was messing with google analytics tonight and noticed a couple eevblog referrals. I'm the guy behind Stickvise, first thing I've ever invented, it's a personal project that was unique enough I decided to try selling it. Hoping to send a sample in to Dave for a mailbag segment soon. Let me know if you have any questions or criticism.

author: Jay_Diddy_B
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 01:32:25 am
content: Hi alexrich82 and the group,Welcome to the Forum!!My vise design can be found in this thread.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/pcb-holder-for-smd-assembly-microscope/msg531461/#msg531461I am not sure that I like the idea of plastic jaws. They may cause ESD (static electricity) problems.Regards,Jay_Diddy_B

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 02:12:48 am
content: Cool vise, nice construction I like the dovetail groove. I decided to use nylon for the stock jaws because metal jaws will prevent you from powering up the board without shorting things. ESD safe jaws are a good idea though, something that should be on my short list of accessories to offer in the future.

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 02:20:28 am
content: Available from where?When?"Buy Now" link goes nowhere (redirects to the top of the page).

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 02:26:13 am
content: If you google/ebay for "cell phone pcb holder" You can find these. Works well. The one I have only lasted about a year though (the set screw stripped out).I really like it's low profile. Gonna have to order another one.

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 02:27:11 am
content: Sorry about that, I need to hide that link until it is available. It will be available on the hackaday store in the US soon. Product is not officially released but I am posting updates on my hackaday.io project page. The people at hackaday have been awesome, helped get my idea off the ground.

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 02:29:36 am
content: @george - I had exactly the same problem except I managed to strip out three of them in a year.The design by Alex looks way more robust.@alexrich82 - Thanks, i will keep my eye out for it.

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 02:36:23 am
content: Thanks for all the comments. I've seen that little holder on ebay, I actually admire the simplicity of it a lot. I will update this thread when Stickvise releases.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 02:39:39 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on April 28, 2015, 12:39:55 amI chopped the handle at about half. Much more stable this way.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 02:43:31 am
content: Quote from: george graves on April 28, 2015, 02:26:13 amI have one those cell phone PCB holders. They are low quality in general. I am using now the MicroMark vise whenever possible. One problem it has that it forces the jaws to be parallel which is a problem with boards that are not milled perfectly or have left overs bumps from the paneling tabs.

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2015, 11:14:23 pm
content: Hello all, thought I would let you know Stickvise, my low profile soldering vise product is now available for sale. It's under $30 with free shipping, hope some of you will pick one up and give me your feedback on it. Thanks!http://store.hackaday.com/products/stickvise

author: gibbled
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 06:04:15 am
content: Looks like a very useful item for my bench. Any chance of a forum member discount?

author: kjs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 06:26:21 am
content: Quote from: alexrich82 on May 08, 2015, 11:14:23 pmYikes, just 4.1mm short on holding capacity. Would need immediate modification to hold the Eurocards I often use (160*100mm). Wouldn't want to use them sideways as the thing would likely tip over or at least the "hang-over" would flex.Does it come with black antistatic jaws or with the white ones (both shown in your link)?Currently I use something dead simple but that only works for single sided SMD boards. An antistatic plate with a recessed metal (paper) clip which holds the PCB flat on the plate. It works but your design is much better.

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 11:37:07 am
content: Yeah that's a big board, you would probably be ok clamping the narrow side, it would only have 40mm hang on each side. It's fairly easy to mount to a piece of wood or metal if you want to prevent all tipping and give it a wider base. The product will come with the black jaws, it's so new you're still seeing a lot of pictures I took of my first prototype with the white jaws. The jaws are not static dissipative. I wanted gen purpose insulating jaws so the vise can be used for powering up and testing as well as soldering. I used a similar material to what is used in panavise jaws. I have never zapped anything using those, but if you have a concern a piece of copper tape wrapped around one of the jaws would give you the protection you need.

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 11:40:23 am
content: @gibbled I can't offer a discount or I would, these are in the hands of hackaday who will be distributing for me. I'm guessing with the ongoing hackaday prize promotions they will be doing giveaways soon for people who submit ideas. That might be a way to get one for free!

author: atferrari
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 04:28:59 pm
content: Quote from: kjs on May 09, 2015, 06:26:21 amPicture please

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 04:49:56 pm
content: Here are some pictures, more explanation is on my sitewww.stickvise.com

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 05:10:57 pm
content: Quote from: alexrich82 on May 09, 2015, 04:49:56 pmIs everything in these pictures included in the hackaday's $30 deal? If not, can you please post a picture with only the stuff that is included?

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 05:30:45 pm
content: When you purchase from Hackaday it comes with a set of black nylon low profile jaws only. I made the lowest profile option standard because adding height is easy using m3 male-female standoffs you can grab at the hardware store.Sorry to confuse things, the pics were just intended to show a few ways you can customize the vise if you have access to a 3d printer, I have a bunch of jaw plate designs available for free download that can be printed.

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 05:34:21 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on May 09, 2015, 05:10:57 pmAnd here is the picture of exactly what you will get as requested (minus the sip header being held)

author: electr_peter
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 05:46:33 pm
content: Are both jaws are in parallel positions or are they free to rotate relative to each other?

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 06:12:24 pm
content: The fixed jaw is always fixed, but the movable jaw can rotate when not locked in place by the wing nut, in other words there is no rotational constraint on the movable jaw. Once the movable jaw is locked it only rotates if you really force it. I actually prototyped a design with two guiderods but hated it. More difficult to lock, more cost, more complexity and less room to access the bottom of your board. I promise you won't miss it, and if the jaws do become misaligned you just press the vise down on a table and they straighten right out. Hope that answers your question, thanks!

author: kjs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 08:26:38 pm
content: Quote from: atferrari on May 09, 2015, 04:28:59 pmYou will have to wait until July 1. Just packed all my electronics stuff into boxes and the movers will come on Thursday to pack them into a 40ft container. If I would know in which box it is I would open it for youIt is simply a metal board clip as you see sometimes to hold papers on a board when you have to fill out some forms. I cut grooves into the plastic so it is completely flat on top of it. Nothing special but works well for me since 20 years.Similar to this but my clip is a bit smaller and easy to get down flat:but that's a standard writing board with clip....... On mine the "lower lip" of the clip is recessed into the anti-static plastic board which means that the PCB is absolutely flat on the board.You can actually power up the board if the metal clip doesn't short anything at the corner it grabs. The resistivity of the plastic is that high that it doesn't upset most circuits and with solder stop on the bottom side there isn't much it could connect.

author: atferrari
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 10:58:56 pm
content: Quote from: kjs on May 09, 2015, 08:26:38 pmOK until July 1. Good luck with the change.

author: kjs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2015, 03:09:32 am
content: Quote from: atferrari on May 09, 2015, 10:58:56 pmThanks! It's a big move, 8000km....Unfortunately you will be deeply disappointed by the looks. Same as the picture I posted just a different shape of the board. I will try to show the recess for the clip (made with a Dremel). I have several of them and most are made with a conductive plate which looks like MDF. I think it is MDF with something conductive pressed into it. That's a lot cheaper than a real conductive plastic.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2015, 03:27:58 pm
content: Quote from: alexrich82 on May 09, 2015, 05:34:21 pmThanks. I just ordered one. Shipping was free, that's nice. Will report here how it works for me. Will order the sip header separately.I plan to chop the long rail. My boards are small. 5cm x 6cm at most, typically much smaller. Would be nice to have a smaller version off the shelf.

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2015, 04:13:49 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on May 10, 2015, 03:27:58 pmCool, thanks for being an early adopter! Chopping the shaft is a great idea if you don't need that much length. I wanted to emphasize hacking the vise rather than offering a lot of different versions, this way I can produce one version bulk and bring price down.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2015, 09:59:30 pm
content: What thread is the wing nut?I may look for a fancy one on McMaster.

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2015, 12:15:27 am
content: Quote from: zapta on May 10, 2015, 09:59:30 pmCool idea, the thread is M5 x .8mm. Keep in mind the clamping screw protrudes about 7mm give or take, so I would spec something with a female thread that's at least 10mm deep.If you're already ordering you should consider some M3 male-female standoffs so you have the option to raise the jaws up.mcmaster# 93655A502

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2015, 05:51:16 pm
content: The StickVise arrived this morning. It works very well and screams quality. I am very happy.The round rod is too long for me (my board are small, some only 2-3cm in width) so plan to chop 6cm of so. The stock wing nut works well so I will stay with it. I rotated the plastic jaws 180 degrees to use the L shape side rather than the V shape side. This provides better access to components and pads near the edge of the board (have the L side as the factory default?). The plastic jaws have good surface finish, not 3D printed, would be nice to ship with a spare or allow to buy extra when ordering the StickVise (especially if they are not solder temperature resistant). The spring action is a little bit notchy, may get smoother after some usage, but works well anyway and not a major issue. I put a thin layer of silicon grease on the thumb screws and main rod and it helps a little bit. The stock plastic jaws are very good, I don't think I will need the other kinds (downloadable 3D models). Comparing it to the miniature Micro Mark vise, the StickVise works better in two respects, the print action compensates for not perfectly rectangular boards and the single rod design allows the vise to adapt to the surface (better stability).

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2015, 06:31:18 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on May 16, 2015, 05:51:16 pmThanks for the review, I will hopefully have spare jaws and other accessories available eventually, if you ruin your jaws let me know and I will figure out a way to get you some new ones since you're one of my first users.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 23, 2015, 10:40:31 pm
content: I received my stickvise as well and concur with the above - high quality. The design is beautifully simple. It's also small and easy to store if you are short on space.With the board held so close to the table, it's much easier to perform intricate soldering work--especially if you have shaky hands.

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2015, 11:17:38 pm
content: Quote from: dadler on May 23, 2015, 10:40:31 pmThanks for the nice review!

author: alexrich82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2015, 11:18:45 pm
content: Hackaday is giving away 65 Stickvise this week if you sumbit a good entry for the Hackaday Prize:http://hackaday.com/2015/05/28/50k-in-play-awarding-65-stickvise-this-week/