Electronics-Lab.com Blog

Electronics Exchange is a place where new or experienced electronics engineers can go to ask questions and share their experiences with other engineers. Who knows better than another engineer? Unlike typical forums, which list posts chronologically, Electronics Exchange is based on new software (developed for the StackOverflow website) that allows you to rate answers as helpful, and easily find the questions or discussions that relate to topics youʼre interested in. And the website software is a joy to use! I envision Electronics Exchange as a collection of knowledge from books, other websites, and personal experience, all ranked by how helpful it is to other engineers.

Features:

• Show helpful answers at the top
• Gift helpful users reputation points
• Each question or answer has a separate list of comments
•  Let users find questions based on its tagged topic 
• Empower very helpful users to improve existing answers
• Let multiple contributors work on a single answer 
•  Reward expert users with badges and ranks 
• Create one community where experts and students can exchange advice

Electronics Exchange: share experience - [Link]

Chiphacker is a collaboratively edited question and answer site for electronics hackers – regardless of platform or language. It’s 100% free, no registration required. [via]

Chiphacker.com – [Link]

A contest is running on telovation.com. The first person to identify what this automated robotic device is, will receive a free technology grab bag. Visit the link to participate.

Electronics Design Contest: What Is It? - [Link]

Karthik writes:

This website, although, predominantly designed to disseminate information and knowledge about telecom baseband electronics and architecture, also contains topics that relate to work, people, life, philosophy, electronics and other miscellaneous (but related) stuff. I started this website with a view to provide some useful information to all. I see the future of the website as a platform for many to share knowledge and to better ourselves.(”Well…but what’s the point?”  asks my philosophical side). I have also created a section to post my original ideas and thoughts – generally on electronics apart from linking resources from other recognised engineers - that relate to – articles, book reviews, links, calculators, software , freewares and all that sort of stuff. 

[Basebandhub.com] talks about electronics and architecture - [Link]

After finishing a project you may need to add it to an enclosure and drill holes to make external connections or install any control buttons and screens. This proccess can be difficult without any special tools and the result may not look as expected. If you like a profesional result FrontPanelExpert.com offers a complete solution to build your own custom front panel in 3 easy steps. You download Centina CAD free software and install it on your pc. Design front panel layout, calculate cost and finally submit your design for proccessing. You are able to choose front panel material from a range of common ones, like aluminum and plastic and order from prototype to mass production.

The EEVblog is an off-the-cuff video blog of interest to anyone involved in electronics design (electronics engineers, hobbyists and enthusiasts). Be sure to check it out.

Electronics Engineering Video Blog by David L. Jones - [Link]

ICPhotos.org is a free site that provides photos of semiconductors and electronic components

ICphotos: Electronics parts photos – [Link]

Trossen Robotics has announced the launch of their new Educational Robotics Division.Trossen Robotics has announced the launch of their new Educational Robotics Division. Building upon the knowledge and experience they have gained as a premiere US distributor of robotic kits and components, they have hand picked the best robotic kits tailored specifically for classroom use to create a one stop shop for educators using robotics in education.

Trossen Robotics has been committed as a business to helping robotics advance in the US and the new Education Division is another step forward in their continuing efforts. Matt Trossen, founder, explains their focus, “We saw that one of the major stumbling blocks for educators interested in integrating robotics into their classrooms was the fragmentation of all the products and information. Our goal is to be a top notch aggregator for teachers. To create a single comprehensive storehouse of products, guides, and information.” Matt also comments on the future of the division and goals for robotics in education, “We will continue to integrate curriculum and project manuals into the site for educators to use. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for educators to research, choose, and integrate robotics into their curriculum. This is the way we as a company can help keep US schools cutting edge which is as important now as has ever been.”

Offerings from Parallax, Robobuilder, Robotis, Lego Mindstorms, Robotics Connection, VEX and many more are displayed in an easy browse format. Educators are informed of exactly what each kit brings to the classroom, what difficulty and scope of work is involved in the projects, and what their students can expect to bring out of the learning experience. Ordering from the same source also saves educator’s time and valuable education dollars.

What do robots bring to the classroom? Robotics is an exciting field of science that brings mechanical, electronic, and even software engineering together. Skills ranging from physics, mathematics, mechanical design, soldering, programming, logic, and teamwork are built as a foundation of knowledge that has limitless potential. Students get to see the results of their work in a tangible, physical application of science as their projects come to life.

Trossen Robotics cordially invites educators, students, and parents alike to visit their new Educational Division.

Download the PDF version of this announcement here.

The Wisconsin Online Resource Center has a great collection of interactive animations for learning the ins-and-outs of electronics theory and application. If you’re a visual learner, like myself, you’re likely to find these ‘learning objects’ very helpful. In addition to basic principals of AC/DC, digital/analog, logic gates, op-amps, motors, they cover pneumatics, hydraulics, sensors, and bunches more.

If you’ve found circuits confusing/intimidating in the past, try poking around a bit in the DC section, start with the basics or just click on something that sounds cool Woohoo – learning is fun! [via]

Interactive electronics learning online! - [Link]

CircuitPeople made a site where you can upload Gerbers in a zip file for easy viewing (PNG) via Make. Also check out gerbv.

CircuitPeople – View and share printed circuit board files online – [Link]