Synthetos

SMD Part Containers Laser Etched

I have been ordering lots of VERY small surface mount parts as of late and been tired of using the bag / reels to find the parts I am after.  So I got an idea from a fellow hacdc member to use these small part containers.  I have noticed aswell that once you find a part that you love and just “works” its important to save this info to re-order when you are running low.  So I laser etched the type of device and the mouser part number on each box.

This would  be next to impossible to do on a thermal label printer due to the sub 1″x1″ top surface.  So this is why I went the laser route.  It did take some time to do each one but I am more organized and productive for it.  Even if you do not have a laser cutter you can always make a open office doc that maps a “code” to a part.  So something like

RESISTOR
4.7K

CODE:451

Then in the doc file you have like 451 = PN: 71-CRCW08054K70JNEB
URL: http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Vishay-Dale/CRCW08054K70JNEB/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMu0ojHvF9cQKJlWGXCBPeeocLYUb%252beqCU8%3d

Anyways just some cool organization tricks.

ril3y

Tags: container, DIY, Electronics

Fuzzy Clock Board Building Party

This weekend I organized a few hacdc members to come help out a fellow hacker in need.  Alden broke his collar bone and had many smd boards to get done for xmas presents for family and friends.  He was obviously going to have a hard time making the xmas deadline.  So here is the Chinese sweat shop assembly line we created in an Arlington VA basement workshop.

The “fuzzy clock” as I have named it basically tells time like so.  Five after Noon.  Eight past six, etc.  This board will be available as a kit on the synthetos.com store around the new year and the design files will also be available.  We will also offer custom laser engraving for the back side at an extra cost.  Hope you guys like the work.  Alden and I have put a lot of time and effort into the boards.

Ril3y

Tags: DIY, fuzzy clock, hacdc, microcontroller, open source hardware, pic, reflow, reflow oven

Laser Cut End Mill Holder

As you know I recently purchased a milling machined to be able to do some custom PCB stuff along with some intro level metal working.  Well today I thought that I would try to create a collet holder that would have its sizes clearly visible.  However being short on time and on a break from some “real” work I made an end mill holder for my 10 piece set from grizzly instead.

I am using a method that I invented I termed:  Self threading square tube insert method. Whats so cool about this is it combines fairly easy cuts of aluminum that pretty much anyone can do with a band saw, hand saw or rusty pocket knife… Well not the last one and I don’t suggest you try it.  But is very cool.  Basically its all in the spacing of the 4 holes that were laser cut that the aluminum sits below.  Its a very tight squeeze which allows the screws to “self thread” inside the square tube’s inside.  Hence the name.  Not super witty but it describes it nicely.   Comments, questions or concerns always welcome.  Next thing to make is the collet holder.

Here is the final results:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1393

Thingiverse Links as always here:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1393

Tags: DIY, end mill, laser, Laser Cutter, Metal Working, mill, useful