Electronics-Lab.com Blog

The ultimate tools for troubleshooting and maintenance. [via]

This thermal Imager is the perfect tool to add to your problem solving arsenal. Built for tough work environments, this high-performance, fully radiometric infrared camera is ideal for troubleshooting electrical installations, electro-mechanical equipment, process equipment, HVAC/R equipment and others.

Handheld thermal imager - [Link]

found on popsci.com:

Bring a dead electric screwdriver back to life in seconds by adding quick-charging super capacitors. It’s the do-It-yourselfer’s version of Murphy’s Law: Every time you need to sink some tough screws, the battery in your cordless screwdriver is dead. So you do the only thing you can … [continues]

Make an Instant-Charge Screwdriver - [Link]

This looks great! Draw your own circuits -

Apply instant traces on most surfaces (epoxy, glass, plastic, metal). Draw traces on circuit boards, repair defective traces, make jumpers and shield electronics, design prototype circuits and repair rear-window heater traces. [via]

CircuitWriter conductive ink & pen - [Link]

The Weller WMRS was specially developed for industrial production applications, rework and repair, and laboratory use. The short distance between the handle and tip allows the utmost precision in handling. The Weller WMRS has a extremely short heat-up time using the WMRP soldering pencil which makes it ready to use right away, even after a tool-free tip change.

The Weller WMRS  has a digitally controlled power supply unit which can detect all other electronically controlled Weller soldering tool up to 80W, and automatically sets the optimal control parameters for each.

It has very nice design but unfortunatelly is Discontinued. You may find it in stock.

Weller WMRS - [Link]

Dan writes -

An endoscope is a thin viewing device, suitable for being poked into places where the human eye cannot, and possibly should not, otherwise see. Since it’s likely to be dark… in there, endoscopes usually have some sort of illumination device built in. The more sophisticated kinds of endoscope shoot light out of the same lens the user looks through. The common otoscope, for peering into ears, is the simplest example of that idea.

Endoscopes are useful for all sorts of things, but they’re also usually rather expensive. Endoscopes that incorporate a camera so you can hook them up to a TV or computer are, generally speaking, more expensive again.

ETime Home Endoscope (“Digital Pen Camera”) - [Link]

One tool for 6 different applications: soldering, melting, hot cutting, welding, shrinking and woodburning (pyrography) Specifications:

• Heat-up time: less than 25 seconds
• Maximum temperature: 550ºC (tip end)
• Recharge time: 10 seconds
• Run time: 90 minutes

DREMEL VersaTip Gas Soldering Iron Torch Kit - [Link]

 You have been using the basic soldering tip for years. But do you know how that tip is constructed, and why? We’re here to answer your questions. The soldering tip is made up of a copper core, an iron layer, a chromium layer, the wettable area, and lead-free tinning. Each component of the architecture has it’s own unique purpose and function.

Architecture of a Soldering Tip - [Link]

The biggest benefit I see when working with pulse soldering iron is speed and effectiveness. Of course when you don’t work, it stays cool this means it saves energy, doesn’t evaporates poisonous steam and there is no risk accidentally to burn yourself. Well this one even has has light source for better view when soldering. If you like to hack things you may try this challenge on building a pulse soldering iron.

This iron may be powered from 220V supply and consumes about 70-100W of power. Efficiency reaches about 50%. Heating time takes 5 seconds while cooling to 50 ºC takes about 15 seconds.

DIY pulse soldering iron - [Link]

The following instructions show how to make a WORKING hot air soldering iron suitable for ALL uses requiring soldering. This hot air soldering iron is not limited to SMT (surface mount technology) devices or super thin soldering wire. In under 15 seconds from turning this baby on, I reached in excess of 300 degrees centigrade hot air. I still had room for more…lol.

DIY Hot Air Soldering Iron using 12-18volts DC at 2-3 amps - PARTI- [Link]
DIY Hot Air Soldering iron @ 15 Volts DC and 3.5 amps - PARTII- [Link]