http://forums.leaflabs.com/topic.php?id=556 A place to share, learn, and grow... en-US Fri, 22 Jan 2016 00:21:57 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://forums.leaflabs.com/search.php http://forums.leaflabs.com/topic.php?id=556#post-3035 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:18:15 +0000 okie 3035@http://forums.leaflabs.com/ <p>JonnyBoats,</p> <p>Currently, we have a couple digital and an analog oscilloscope, all with ~100MHz bandwidth. I believe all of them were bought used for $100-$250. (Mine is a Tektronics 466 Storage Oscilloscope that I got from MIT's monthly swap fest for $100.) Oscilloscopes show you analog signals instead of the binary (high/low) waveforms that the logic analyzer returns. The logic analyzer, however, does smart things with communication protocols (UART, SPI, I2C, etc.), like detecting and decoding them.</p> <p>I built a re-flow oven awhile back and accidentally blew the thermocouple amplifier IC while messing with it. I haven't gotten to messing with it again because we're able to assemble very low-volume prototypes just fine with the other equipment. The hot-air station sort of does what the re-flow oven does, but I'm sure a re-flow oven is a great asset if you get it set up and figured out. </p> http://forums.leaflabs.com/topic.php?id=556#post-3017 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:33:08 +0000 JonnyBoats 3017@http://forums.leaflabs.com/ <p>Okie,</p> <p>Thanks for your reply. Can you tell me about your oscilloscope(s), specs, cost etc. Also what specifically do they do for you that a USB logic analyzer can't.</p> <p>Also I am surprised that you don't have some sort of re-flow oven made from a toaster oven with perhaps a Maple and a thermocouple to control it. How are you making the prototypes without a reflow oven? </p> http://forums.leaflabs.com/topic.php?id=556#post-3012 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:27:03 +0000 x893 3012@http://forums.leaflabs.com/ <p>I use next hand-made tools:<br /> J-Link Pro compatible device for debug<br /> USBee AX Pro logic analyzer compatible device for view various protocols<br /> FT2232 adapter for USB/serial and bitbang programmer<br /> Various custom shields for prototyping </p> http://forums.leaflabs.com/topic.php?id=556#post-3008 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 10:21:48 +0000 okie 3008@http://forums.leaflabs.com/ <p>JonnyBoats,</p> <p>We have oscilloscopes, a USB logic analyzer, a soldering iron with a fine tip, a hot-air rework station, a syringe of solder paste, regular solder, a microscope, tweezers, some multimeters, and copper solder-wick.</p> <p>You can do a lot with those things. If I were to give some things up, I'd first give up the hot-air rework station, the logic analyzer, and the solder paste. If you're sticking to thru-hole components, breakout boards, and "shields", you can certainly do without a microscope. I think the expensive thing that is hard to do without (but it's absolutely possible) is an oscilloscope.</p> <p>One way to do it is to learn about what's out there, start working, and then think about what you could use and if it would be worth it. </p>