Resources

Here you can find links to most of the things I mention in the book. If you have suggestions of something to add, or want to report a mistake in the book, email me: [email protected].



Community

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Links



Distributors
Popular
  • Digikey - Major distributor often favored by designers.
  • Mouser - Another major distributor. Has some parts Digikey doesn't.
  • Newark - Parent distributor company Farnell operates as Newark in the US.
  • Octopart - Search many distributors at once.
  • RFMW - Specializes in RF components.
  • Richardson RFPD - Good for connectors and RF components.
  • Minicircuits - Connectorized attenuators, amplifiers, splitters, cables, and other RF parts.
  • Pasternack - RF parts, cables, and assemblies. Can be expensive.

  • Chinese
  • ICgoo - Chinese language distributor.
  • ICkey - Another Chinese language distributor.
  • HQEW - And another Chinese language distributor.
  • SZLCSC - One more Chinese language distributor.

  • Reading
    Papers
  • Molex Quality Crimping Handbook - Guide to building high quality cables assemblies.
  • Choose the Right Data Converter for Your Application - Guide to choosing the right ADC or DAC.
  • The Data Conversion Handbook - Extensive free book by Analog Devices on ADC and DAC design, implementation, and application.
  • Avoiding RF Oscillation - Article explaining RF instability and how to prevent it.
  • NASA Tin Whisker Homepage - All of the data and insight NASA has on tin whiskers and how to avoid them.
  • Testing hardware in mass production - Great article by Bunnie Huang.

  • Sources
  • FCC ID search - Search and download product FCC filings.
  • Estonian standards store - Purchase full standards documents for cheap.
  • ElecFans - Chinese language forum for finding rare datasheets.
  • TekWiki - Repository of manuals and datasheets for Tektronix equipment.
  • Circuits for Kids - A collection of resources aimed at teaching basic electronics to kids. Thanks Luis!

  • For the Lab
    Prototyping
  • Sparkfun - Supplier of tons of breakout boards, sensors, and parts for easy prototyping.
  • Adafruit - Another prototype-centric supplier with lots of ready to use modules and tutorials on how to use them.
  • Wago Lever Nuts - Useful tool for quickly splicing cables.
  • How to solder - Playlist of videos to visually learn soldering. The best I've found.
  • Pogo Pins - For making contact to test points in test fixtures.
  • Toggle Clamps - For holding PCBs to test fixtures.
  • Assorted mechanical fasteners - Good for prototyping.
  • Heat shrink set
  • Nylon fastener set - For when you need something nonconductive.
  • Nylon standoff set
  • Flammables cabinet - Don't burn down your lab.
  • 99% Isopropyl alcohol - General purpose solvent and flux remover.
  • Acetone - Another general purpose solvent.

  • Lab Equipment
  • Cheaper binocular inspection microscope.
  • Better binocular inspection microscope.
  • Gerton table - Ikea table that's really solid and great for a lab bench.
  • Custom Lab Benches - Can be customized and ESD safe.
  • ESD mat - Anti-static mat with wrist strap.
  • Tall lab chair - Has no arms and sits high enough to be comfortable at a lab bench.
  • Mantis microscope - Very expensive, but much more ergonomic than a regular binocular microscope.

  • Soldering
  • Cheap fume extractor
  • Expensive fume extractor - Pricey, but has a HEPA filter to actually remove fumes, and has an articulating intake tube for easier positioning.
  • PanaVise - PCB holding tools.
  • PCB Workstation with articulated arms - 3D printed fixture for probing PCBs.
  • Solder paste dispenser - Pressure regulator.
  • Air compressor - Particularly quiet air compressor for solder paste dispensing.
  • Solder paste dispenser pedal extender - The cable that comes on the pedal with the solder paste dispenser isn't very long. Use this to make it longer.
  • Dispenser needle assortment - Good for dispensing different types of solder paste at different speeds.
  • JBC Soldering Irons - Very high quality irons, but expensive.
  • Metcal Soldering Irons - Also very high quality, also expensive.
  • Hakko FX888D-23BY - Low cost soldering station.
  • Hakko FX951-66 - Mid-range soldering station.
  • Hakko FX-100 - High end soldering station.
  • Weller WE1010NA - Low cost soldering station.
  • Weller WT2010M - High end soldering station.
  • Cheap hot air station - Will probably break, but it's cheap.
  • Quick hot air station - Should last longer, but more expensive.

  • Organization
  • Petri dishes - Glass, and great for storing parts on the bench.
  • Antistatic bags - Large and good for storing boards and parts.
  • Clear component draws - Storage for lots of small, loose parts.
  • AideTek Box-all - Compact storage for surface mount parts.
  • Blank SMT storage binder - Storage for cut tape.

  • Test equipment
  • Keysight
  • Keysight official eBay store for used equipment
  • Rohde and Schwarz
  • Tektronix
  • Fluke
  • BK Precision
  • GW Instek
  • Siglent
  • Rigol
  • Anritsu
  • Fluke 115 multimeter
  • Rigol DS1054Z oscilloscope (50 MHz, 4 channels)
  • Saleae logic analyzer
  • RTL-SDR
  • NanoVNA - 50 kHz to 900 MHz VNA for $75
  • FLIR thermal camera for iPhone
  • FLIR thermal camera for Android
  • FLIR thermal camera
  • Seek thermal camera for iPhone
  • Seek Pro thermal camera for iPhone

  • Test cables
  • Pomona banana plug patch cables
  • Pomona banana to minigrabber cables
  • Pomona minigrabber to minigrabber cables
  • Pomona minigrabber to BNC cable
  • Pomona banana to male BNC cable
  • Pomona banana to female BNC cable
  • Pomona BNC male to BNC male cable

  • Hand tools
  • Micromotor - Precision drill for PCB surgery
  • Xacto knife
  • Xacto blades
  • Cheap lab tweezers
  • Nicer lab tweezers
  • High quality titanium tweezers
  • Dental picks
  • Flush cutters
  • Alternative flush cutters
  • Wire cutters
  • Manual wire strippers
  • Automatic wire strippers
  • Needle probes
  • iFixit 64 piece screwdriver set
  • Screw-holding screwdriver

  • Lab Notebooks
  • Scientific Notebook Company - Hardback, grid ruled lab notebook.
  • Archival ink pen - Waterproof, and won't fade, bleed, smear, or feather.
  • Moleskin notebook - High quality and smaller than other lab notebooks.
  • Eureka lab notebooks - Another popular lab notebook.
  • National lab notebook - Another popular lab notebook.
  • Leuctturm1917 - Hardcover notebook similar to Moleskin.
  • RocketBook - Physical notebook that can be scanned with the RocketBook app. Quasi-smart notebook.
  • iPad Pro - The best tablet on the market.
  • Pencil for iPad Pro - Allows you to sketch, write, and annotate on an iPad.
  • Evernote - Note taking app.
  • Concepts - Powerful app for sketching and drawing. Great on iPad with a Pencil.

  • Software Tools
  • Pasternack stripline calculator - Javascript calculator. This page also has links to many other useful calculators on the right.
  • Microwaves101 calculators - Javascript calculators for high frequency design.
  • Transmission line calculators - Javascript calculators for microstrip, stripline, and their variants.
  • FreeDFM - Free online design check for gerber files. Only checks rules for a single fabricator, but still useful.
  • SnapEDA - Service for downloading free component footprints or schematic symbols.
  • GrabCAD - Free 3D models for components.
  • Gerbv - Free gerber viewer.
  • ViewMate - Another free and paid gerber viewer.
  • ADS - Expensive but powerful design and simulation tool. Commonly used for RF design. Includes LineCalc for simple transmission line calculations.

  • Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means I get a comission when you buy the item.
    No one has paid me to put any links on this website or promote any particular product. Everything here is stuff that I personally like.
    Copyright © Designing Electronics that Work 2021