Wanted to improve the accuracy of pickup for some LED driver IC’s on my aging TM240A. The original front loading tray has generic slots that you need to place the IC’s in, and push to the corner. Now that I have the design in Fusion360, I can make custom holders!
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Dafydd Roche
@ExpatAudio
Class D Amp Marketing Director by day, Designing for Expat Audio by Night. My opinions are my own, not a reflection of any company policy.
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Help Me Twitter! I could have sworn I saw a post about 3d printing a custom front loading plate for the Neoden TM220A/TM240A pick and place. I can't for the life of me find it despite attempts to google.
Thinking about nearfield probes for measuring EMI. Has anyone used one and attached it to a XY table (like a laser engraver type, or a CNC machine?).
It think it'd be so cool to design a PCB and have a "heat map" of EMI.
Think of all those crappy 3d printers that could be used.
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in addition - there's a SCPI library for Arduino.
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A little homework has lead me to this board. mayhewlabs.com/products/mux-s
That and an Arduino Uno would make an excellent controller, then a DB25 over to the test hardware that could have the relays on it's own boards.
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Anyone have recommendations for a relay matrix that can be controlled with usb and python? Would like an off the shelf unit for automated test to work with my multimeter, scope and psu.
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Can you recommend an AliExpress supplier that’s made a pcb test jig for you? Looking for someone that’ll take my layout Gerber and make the jig including all the pogo pins etc.
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I think I found the culprit. Here’s the -15v output, ac coupled.
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Loaded the outputs with 100mA for the positive and 100mA for the negative rail. Scoped the outputs. Very noise (pretty random, nothing on fft). Ac coupled the positive rail in this pic. Random snapshot shows 76mVpp noise. Checking negative rail next
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This one has me stumped. Top line is a mic pre with 100uF of decoupling on the power rails, lower noise is the same board with those caps removed. Bench power supply.
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A haptics comment for y’all. The bow and arrow effect on the quest 2 controllers are surprisingly good. :) even if those controllers don’t use the massive alps actuators (also used by Nintendo).
is it me, or are ESP8266 32bit Wifi Microcontrollers now easier and cheaper to source than 8bit Arduino's? Mostly code compatible, a few less GPIO's and I'm done. (and a code to disable the wifi to save power).
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I’ve order a new laser engraver to finally replace my 10yr old K40 Chinese laser! The mechanics (XY axis) of this machine were always pretty good. Wondering what I could make with it. AOI?
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Help. Wife has asked what’s on my Christmas like list. Ideally engineers tools. I’m into electronics, audio and 3D printing. I have most things I need… mostly all 5+ years old (old, by Rigol standards!) - so what’s new and cool?
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I figure I’d have to write a parser to convert Tyne ascii into conditions, but then I’d have to somehow modify my IF statements with it too. This makes my brain hurt.
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Engineering friends. I have 4 digital inputs on an arduino. I want to provide the Bolean logic to be performed over serial port. Eg send the following over UART and have it constantly evaluated “(A & B & C & D)”. How?
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Every time I feel like Audio is done - a new twist comes along. Active noise cancellation, voice trigger, loudspeaker management (smart amplifier type technology)… there is always something new!
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Hey - I listened to your podcast with - great show. It’s scary how similar our stories are. I got my first job based on trying poorly to build guitar pedals :) I also resonated with your comment about “audio being good enough - what shall I do next?”
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Yesterday I went to to add 2 savings accounts to my business account I have had for almost 9 years. They made my husband be present, even though I am 100% owner of my business. This is 2021 and women are still putting up with this #dobetter
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Engineering friends. What do you do when reflowing surface mount connectors? 4pin jst SH header, datasheet has a +85 Celsius rating (assuming during functional use), but nothing about soldering. Connectors I have are turning a slight golden brown :) (never a frown...)
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Those of you that have waited patiently for restocking of the Expat Audio Cavendish board (that gives your GSSL a transformer output) - good news! they are finally back in stock: expataudio.myshopify.com/products/gssl-
Anyone have experience with the Tindie API and Python? I'm trying to pull together some code that can pull unshipped orders and give me a packing list. (which I'll then print on a small label printer)
Have you dabbled with any of this?
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Engineering folks. Have any of you found a way to transfer solder paste from those little pots into a syringe?
Engineering friends! I have pcb’s I’m assembling that have four 8-pin headers on them. I already made a jig of female headers that hold the headers in place. Question is, what rapid ways do you know to quickly solder rows of pins? This is easily the slowest part of builds.
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Engineering friends. I need recommendations for commodity trimmer resistors that I can run on my pick and place machine. I have a TM240A by Neoden. No vision, and both heads are busy picking up 0603's. Thoughts?
Engineering peeps of Twitter. I’m a fan of modules for functions like Arduino, DC/DC supplies etc. I want to attach them to a custom board I design, without using standard height 0.1” headers which typically leaves you with a 1/2” gap. What’s your trick? Pin spacing is still 0.1”
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I've been watching the "MISO/MOSI" pin naming discussion from the side. (Master In Slave Out on IC's). I acknowledge how it could be hurtful to some, but hadn't seen a good alternative.
Thrilled to see offer COPI and CIPO instead!
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I think we need a few live streams of test fixture development, similar to Seons ones last year. There’s a dorky audience out there for this! :)
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I’ve always liked my “Engineer PA-09” crimpers for JST connectors until someone recently recommended these to me. Wow. Single action crimp for both parts of the connector, and it is SOLID. If I help one person out of crimping hell- it’s worth it!
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My Chinese bass guitar has now spent more time messing around in USA customs and in some random post office in New Jersey than it did in China. I didn’t want any logo’s or any clone stuff, just an interestingly shaped and colored bass. Dammit.
When’s the last time you placed 80 transistors in 65 seconds.... in your home workshop/garage?
This is technology that the previous generation of hobbyists and small business owners could only dream of.
Makes me wonder what my sons workshop will be able to handle... 0.3mm WLCSP?
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And a short vid
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Sometimes the easiest solution is the fastest one to print and move on! Made myself a little rolling shelf to rest my fingers on. Not very exciting, but it stops my clumsy hands getting in the paste and smearing transistors everywhere.
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- as you live this life too. :)
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Hey, engineering twitter, what kind of 3d printed jig would I used to help me put down the microUSB connector (it’s a combo Th and SMD one) on these boards? I’d put them down after my pick place machine has done the SMD parts and before they go in the oven.
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Assembling boards for my alter-ego . Pro Audio guys aren’t so fond of SMD parts, but the war gaming terrain guys want TINY boards. Job done!
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Fired up my aging TM240A Pick and Place machine from . Worked wonderfully, but I can't find much of a user community for them any more. Lots of fuss back in 2013... virtually nothing now. Did everyone upgrade?