How to secure scopes and meters to the bench shelf? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: igor78
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2025, 04:20:04 pm
content: I have a bench with a shelf above the main surface, I've seen numerous photos online how people have 3+ levels of shelving with test equipment. My bench is free standing, no wall at the back.How do you guys secure modern scopes and meters to the bench shelf? Old equipment is flat and heavy, has rubber legs, it does not slide back or forward when probes are connected/disconnected.Modern scope is so light that even a button press pushes it back. Same for signal generators. They are also thin so can topple overDo you hold it with one hand always? Do you screw them into the wooden shelf? Do you onlystorethem on the shelf, disconnected from power, and move to the main surface when needed?What is the best practice?[ Specified attachment is not available ]

author: Grandchuck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2025, 06:44:32 pm
content: If your equipment could slide back and fall to the floor, I would fasten a backstop made from thin plywood.

author: artag
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2025, 06:50:48 pm
content: I put antislip foam under light instruments to stop them sliding. This is a product made to stop rugs slipping. Blu-tack under the legs is also helpful.However if there's no wall behind I agree with Grandchuck - put a stop at the back of the shelf. Could be a 5mm thick wooden strip on the surface to catch the legs, or a wooden panel fixed to the back of the shelving, either 10mm or so thicker then the shelf or covering the entire back.

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2025, 11:25:02 am
content: Since 1980s, we use good design. gravity.Had 3 benches from Sil Valley auction:modified stock benches to add a 5 deg reverse shelf slope, extend shelf depth and add backstops.Jon

author: pardo-bsso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2025, 01:06:12 pm
content: Zip ties and light duty straps.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2025, 11:39:01 pm
content: Quote from: Grandchuck on July 24, 2025, 06:44:32 pmAlso, I added wood strips along the left edge, rear edge, and right edge of my bench to avoid things rolling off, especially backwards.

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2025, 02:14:23 am
content: The first thing I would do is to line the shelf with the foam/grid style of shelf/drawer liner that is available everywhere. I buy that drawer liner in rolls and always have some on hand in my shop.Next would be bumpers, front and rear. If your bench/shelves are against the wall, then the wall may serve as the rear bumper. The front bumper does not need to be very tall. It could be an aluminum strip attached to the front edge and standing 1/4" or 6-8mm proud of the shelf top. Of course you could use wood. A small (1/2" or 12mm) wood corner protector strip mounted on the top/front shelf edge could do it.Another way may be to add some weight to the bottom of the instruments. A 1/8" or 3mm thick plate covering all or most of the bottom would add a lot of stay-put-ness. Some of that shelf/drawer liner could be added to make it really immovable on a shelf covered with that same material.Finally, you could tilt the shelf backwards so gravity would tend to pull the instruments to the rear, against your rear bumper.Only if all that failed would I consider anything using screws or tie downs or other mechanical fasteners. I have worked in electronic jobs for over 45 years and with electronics for at least 65 years and have never had to use more than two of these techniques at a time. But, of course instruments have gotten a lot smaller and LIGHTER over that time period. The first Tektronix scope that I used would take up over 75% of either of my electronic work benches. And the waste heat from the tubes in it would heat my office or garage in winter. I would need air conditioning in winter.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 01:47:18 am
content: We don't worry about it too much, and accept the advantage that it's easy to move around.It's a bit annoying, but overall we find it's a great advantage to drag over a really powerful scope, or similar, somewhere that weighs nothing. Definite tradeoff. I miss the heavy iron too. Sometimes.So we just let it be, accept the advantages, and just deal with the annoyance.If I really wanted heavy iron, I'd just buy it used.Honestly, it became less of an annoyance once I just accepted it and appreciated the conveneyance.Like, some stuff has VESA mounts? We briefly considered it, and then decided that they portability was way more useful.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 01:58:42 am
content: Just to be clear, it's a complete rethinking of whatt things like lab benches, offices and other workspaces mean to us. Other than our 3d printing and soldering benches, everything else is fluid and adaptable to whatever I need right now.And it's a compromise, no doubt about that. And it's ANNOYING at times.

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 05:09:55 am
content: Hummm,So have we reached a point where we need to reconsider how our electronic workspace is designed?

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 01:23:02 pm
content: Quote from: EPAIII on July 27, 2025, 05:09:55 amGuy asked do you stick them down somehow, or just deal with it. I answered we just deal with it, and take advantage of test equipment being so small and portable that basically any flat surface can be a mini lab. Uhm, what are you asking?

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 02:59:10 pm
content: Ah yes, modern scopes, except for the very high-bandwidth ones (which are still big and heavy), are annoyingly small and light and keep moving around. One way of taclking the issue is to secure them to an articulated arm. Convenient and secure. You can have a quick look at this:https://www.voltlog.com/vesa-mount-arm-for-rigol-dho800-series-voltlog-474/

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 03:58:54 pm
content: Istillcan't justify the cost of a 3D printer but they have their uses...https://www.printables.com/model/741322-rigol-oscilloscope-shelf-bracket

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2025, 11:03:27 pm
content: try adhesive velcro sheet for any lightweight test equipment that must stick to the bench in a particular spot.or try magnetic adhesive sheet on a metal top bench. or add to a metal or velcro to a rear stop bumper on a shelf.that will hold any lightweight test equipment from sliding.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2025, 08:35:38 am
content: Quote from: Gyro on July 27, 2025, 03:58:54 pmI have too many things to fettle, and too many materials I'd want to 3d print - so I just send the .stl files to Shapeways, DirtyPCBs etcAlternatively just get TE which doesn't allow the dog to be wagged by the tail.

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2025, 05:35:17 am
content: What I was asking is have things changed so much that the design of our work spaces should be re-considered from the floor up. Where we once had large, heavy scopes we now have light and multi-function ones. Not only are they smaller, but they can also function as items that were so different that they could not be added to an older scope. And all this at a price that most individuals can afford.I have two electronic work areas; in my office and in my shop. Both are "in progress" and both can best be described as a MESS. If I have thought of it at all, my thoughts have been along the lines of what you describe; just deal with it. So, I guess what the discussion here has brought me to thinking that I should take a step back and think about what I should do with them taking into consideration the idea that modern devices are a lot smaller than past ones. Perhaps there are other ways beyond just having a shelf or two and dealing with it. I am somewhat old, a dinosaur. So I often tell myself that I must keep my mind open to new ideas and situations.Does that answer your question?Quote from: John Coloccia on July 27, 2025, 01:23:02 pm

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2025, 06:03:37 am
content: I do have a 3D printer. Thanks for that link. The idea looks great. My scope is not a Rigol so modifications would need to be made but it looks like a great idea.But then, so does the articulated arm. But it would make changing a test probe a two hand job.But both are good ideas and they are what I was talking about when I said that I (we?) may need to think about our electronic work areas in different manners.Here's another thought about a scope. In addition to my Hantek, I have an older, digital scope which needs a computer for it's interface. It is no where as good as the Hantek, but it is functional and very compact. I like the idea of having a computer at hand while I work so it may be a good combination for one of my electronic benches. I have used this scope with an old lap-top. That older, slow lap-top was all that was needed to run the interface for that digital scope. And I may be able to mount the lap-top on some kind of pull-out leaf or drawer so it is out of the way when not in use and very "at hand" when it is.Quote from: Gyro on July 27, 2025, 03:58:54 pm

author: u666sa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2025, 05:16:17 pm
content: You push a button and that thing slides back! Use double sided tape on legs. Works for me.