Society of Robots - Robot Forum
General Misc => Misc => Topic started by: pomprocker on January 14, 2009, 10:20:56 PM
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OK, How do you all organize your electronic components?
I now have way to many components!!!
Do you organize them generally like resistors, capacitors, etc
or do you go down and separate components by specs.
Also do you store your semiconductor components in antistatic bags?
Also what do you use to store your stuff in?
do you label the drawers or compartments with the stickers that the component came in from mouser/digikey whatever?
I have a little plastic parts thing, but I am outgrowing it!!
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Huge resistor assortment in indiviudal bags (so it's easy to find). It took a while but worth it in the end (reading resistors and labeling 50+ bags is no fun). Smaller assortments of stuff are just jumbled into bags (but i have an inventory of them on paper so i know whats in them), and the odds and ends just get thrown into the plastic parts thing.
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Where do you keep all the baggies?
I kinda want something i can carry around
maybe something biiig like this:
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1287041&cp=&sr=1&kw=parts+box&origkw=parts+box&parentPage=search&searchId=34904593733
but i have one already that is plastic like that and it kinda has static around it all the time...that can't be good for semiconductors
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I've got this type of drawer thing. Everything separate and labeled.
(http://indiecolor.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/beads-organizer-drawers.jpg)
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wow thats impressive!! is that actually yours? looks like your stashing candy away
I've got this type of drawer thing. Everything separate and labeled.
(http://indiecolor.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/beads-organizer-drawers.jpg)
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I don't know if it's Airman's but those are not candy, they are beads! My wife is creating small jewelry from beads so I know them. She has a multicompartment tray I got for her beads, but usually they are all over the place. As for my electronics, since I moved 2 times in the past 2 years, I had to leave behind my drawer organiser. In a while I will be getting one similar to Airman's. But for now, my parts are in bags, some organised, some not.
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Na its not mine, I just found a picture online.
I have one of those tiny shelf drawers I linked you to above.
and I have the drawer thing in this picture I took a while ago - http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj202/erobot/My%20Robots%20and%20other%20Cool%20Stuff/?action=view¤t=Picture85.jpg
I'm remaking my lab in a few months and I'm going to get a bunch of these:
(http://www.apluswhs.com/product_images/718.jpg)
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Recently came up with a solution for most of my parts:
First of all, I started with an 8 compartment bankers box ( cardboard and available at an office supply store ). I found that the small bead boxes with 16 - 20 small compartments fit really well into the bankers box. So now i have a bead box with just resistors, one with caps, semiconductors, chips, and then again with SMD stuff.
The bankers box sits on top of a large rolling 4 drawer plastic cabinet that holds tools and other larger odds and ends.
The only problem was that the beed boxes slipped to far back in the bankers box, so I drilled holes and added small rope handles.
All the boxes are labled with letters, the compartments inside are numbers. A spreadsheet helps to keep me organized.
Bankers box:
http://www.dealtime.com/xPO-Fellowes-Manufacturing-Bankers-Box-8-Compartment-Literature-Sorter-19-1-2w-X-12-3-8d-X-10-1-4h-FEL6100301
Rolling cabinet:
http://www.target.com/Sterilite-Wide-3-Drawer-Cart-White/dp/B000MPQ2S2/sr=1-5/qid=1232038977/ref=sr_1_5/191-1604648-8683267?ie=UTF8&index=target&field-browse=725415011&rh=k%3Astorage&page=1
Bead box:
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat2119&PRODID=prd53261
Hope this wasn't to much.. :)
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this is all good stuff. I think I will just buy more of the beadtype container that i have. I will just try to keep the stuff in the labeled plastic baggies they come in from mouser/digikey and that should work
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interesting
http://www.instructables.com/id/Ultimate-Parts-Storage/ (http://www.instructables.com/id/Ultimate-Parts-Storage/)
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This is what I do (picture of MANY parts drawers) for passive components.
http://circuitgizmos.com/wordpress/?p=253 (http://circuitgizmos.com/wordpress/?p=253)
Many active components I have in static bags/foam and then in labeled 3x3x1 cases.
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wow, that's like a dream lab. i would not mind spending a lot of my time at that place :P
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i just use fishing tackle boxes, and then put them into my drawer. but i would love to get my hands on one of those bead holder things airman00 posted or the other thing he posted!
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I use a whole bunch of these http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=29163 (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=29163)
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This is what I do (picture of MANY parts drawers) for passive components.
http://circuitgizmos.com/wordpress/?p=253 (http://circuitgizmos.com/wordpress/?p=253)
Many active components I have in static bags/foam and then in labeled 3x3x1 cases.
I wish I had a lab... :'( All I have now is basically a table in a basement (with shelfs. lots of shelfs)
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My secret to keeping loose parts? Sponges! But only use them for passive components.
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My secret to keeping loose parts? Sponges! But only use them for passive components.
hah, nice. also packaging foam works well too!
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wow, that's like a dream lab. i would not mind spending a lot of my time at that place :P
Thanks! It is a fun place to work.
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http://circuitgizmos.com/wordpress/?p=253 (http://circuitgizmos.com/wordpress/?p=253)
All I can say is wow! Do you need an assistant? lol
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if i marry you does that mean i can use that workshop gearmotion? :-* that place must be worth tonnes, and can you get enough zip ties?!!
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if i marry you does that mean i can use that workshop gearmotion? :-* that place must be worth tonnes, and can you get enough zip ties?!!
I think I'll completely ignore that first part... :P
As for the second part: Apparently I can't get enough zip ties. :D
Yes, there are some things I have a lifetime supply of, for various reasons.
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aww dammit, i guess it is good to buy some things in bulk for discounts etc... but damn!
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aww dammit, i guess it is good to buy some things in bulk for discounts etc... but damn!
On occasion I'm afforded the opportunity to purchase in bulk. It will likely be a long, long time before I need any more ties.
I do the same with screws. I hate having 5 screws when I need 6...
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lol gearmotion, (excuse my language) you lucky bastard! what is your profession?
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Professional Zip Tie Juggler.
And sometimes an Embedded Designer.
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beep, beep. later tonight im ordering one of these to see if there any good http://shop.voltelectronics.com.au/30-drawer-unit-parts-cabinet.html (http://shop.voltelectronics.com.au/30-drawer-unit-parts-cabinet.html) they look good to you guys?
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look good to me
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SmAsH -
For a couple of bucks you should be able to get some little 2 inch by 3 inch (convert to a bizarre alien unit of measurement) plastic bags with zip-closed opening. (You haven't seen my bins full of these bags...)
You can write on the bag with a black sharpie and get quite a few of these bags into one drawer. This is a good way to do resistors. If you pick up an assortment, putting them in labeled bags keeps you from going nutty with searching when you need a resistor.
http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/49e1e83e16990790273fc0a87e0106a9/Product/View/R7010 (http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/49e1e83e16990790273fc0a87e0106a9/Product/View/R7010)
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by zip close do you mean an actual zipper of the ones you press to seal? and btw you dont have to do my name with the caps ;D
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by zip close do you mean an actual zipper of the ones you press to seal? and btw you dont have to do my name with the caps ;D
Press-to-seal. "Zip-Lock" might be a common term here in the states. The littlest are the 2"x3" (50x75 mm) and fit well in the drawers. Some have a white patch that lets you write on the bag easily.
Like this:
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yea i have those bags except with no label. i just got print labels and cut em up and put my components into a bag. im still wondering what to do with those bags now?
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Fill them with parts!
A fast way to have a nice selection of parts is the variety packs like the Dick Smith resistor pack that I linked to. I'm willing to bet that I have some resistors left in my drawer from the short time that Dick Smith was here in the states.
Jameco Electronics (California) has variety packs, too.
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hmm, ill buy a few of these next time i place an order http://www.futurlec.com.au/ValuePacks.jsp (http://www.futurlec.com.au/ValuePacks.jsp) one thing i dont get is it says 300 resistors for $3.31 and theyre less than 1c per resistor, how does that work? lol :P
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hmm, ill buy a few of these next time i place an order http://www.futurlec.com.au/ValuePacks.jsp (http://www.futurlec.com.au/ValuePacks.jsp) one thing i dont get is it says 300 resistors for $3.31 and theyre less than 1c per resistor, how does that work? lol :P
How does that work? It works really well for you! :-P That is a good price - for the cost of a bad fast-food meal you get a pile of resistors.
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i dont buy fast food! well thanks for the tips gearmotion!
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hmm, ill buy a few of these next time i place an order http://www.futurlec.com.au/ValuePacks.jsp (http://www.futurlec.com.au/ValuePacks.jsp) one thing i dont get is it says 300 resistors for $3.31 and theyre less than 1c per resistor, how does that work? lol :P
resistors are extremely cheap to manufacture and they're made in large quantities .I have a similar pack of resistors - definitely buy them, well worth it
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hmm, ill buy a few of these next time i place an order http://www.futurlec.com.au/ValuePacks.jsp (http://www.futurlec.com.au/ValuePacks.jsp) one thing i dont get is it says 300 resistors for $3.31 and theyre less than 1c per resistor, how does that work? lol :P
How does that work? It works really well for you! :-P That is a good price - for the cost of a bad fast-food meal you get a pile of resistors.
what i meant by that was that 331>300 thus making it more than 1c p/resistor but yea ill pick up a few of those grab bags soon as ill be making a $100-$150 order soon. bulk buy anybody?
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I dunno about those generic value packs, usually there arent a wide variety of values. I went on eBay and got a 2500 resistor assortment, 50 pcs of 50 values for about 20 bucks shipped. Now I know I have a wide variety of values. Cheapest stuff is usually on eBay where you can eliminate the middle man and buy direct from overseas where the stuff is made.
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i have this:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41DDj5cUZtL._SL160_AA160_.jpg)
I used a label maker to make labels for each drawer. Someday when I have the funds for it im going to completely redo my little lab and make it something much much better and buy like 5 more of these things while im at it lol
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i just got a set of these http://shop.voltelectronics.com.au/30-drawer-unit-parts-cabinet.html (http://shop.voltelectronics.com.au/30-drawer-unit-parts-cabinet.html) except with 20 drawers from my local big w (like walmart) for like $30 reall shoulda bought the online ones above for same price but with extra 10 drawers :( oh well, theyre working great. one more thing, should i worry about the component legs oxidizing? will putting them in packets help at all? like the little press and seal ones? or should they be fine sitting in the drawers? i have them in the bags right now but i want to know if oxidizing will be a big problem at all without the bags??
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i just got a set of these http://shop.voltelectronics.com.au/30-drawer-unit-parts-cabinet.html (http://shop.voltelectronics.com.au/30-drawer-unit-parts-cabinet.html) except with 20 drawers from my local big w (like walmart) for like $30 reall shoulda bought the online ones above for same price but with extra 10 drawers :( oh well, theyre working great. one more thing, should i worry about the component legs oxidizing? will putting them in packets help at all? like the little press and seal ones? or should they be fine sitting in the drawers? i have them in the bags right now but i want to know if oxidizing will be a big problem at all without the bags??
Oxidizing depends on your environment. Putting the components in little bags will limit the environment to the environment of the little bag. I have some old power resistors with oxidized leads. I just clean the leads with a nylon pad before I use them. Some components will hardly change, others will relatively quickly. You can't stop the march of time.
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dammit! i wish the doc was here to help me, na, ill ditch the bags cept for the resistors because i want like 5 different values in the one drawer but ill just get some emery type paper. thanks guys :D
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Well, it seems people here have many methods of storing parts/components, well I personally use little baggies to separate specific types of components and then I use some large ziplock containers to store them all together, but with bags labelled indivdually (yes... every single little baggie... and yes I can almost say I have no life ;D).
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Well, it seems people here have many methods of storing parts/components, well I personally use little baggies to separate specific types of components and then I use some large ziplock containers to store them all together, but with bags labelled indivdually (yes... every single little baggie... and yes I can almost say I have no life ;D).
That is great! You have an organized and compact way of storing your parts. I would imagine that my 3 bins full of resistors consume a lot of empty space, and that put in little bags and then in larger bags that the space would be reduced to a quarter or less of the current amount of space.
That is a very good approach to consider.
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Yes it's definately good to consider, due to the fact that when you are looking for the right resistor you want, and looking through a jumbled mess gets very hard on your eyes, and neck (being hunched over for a long time sucks :( ) But when its all complete its usually just a matter of finding the right bag. :)
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One engineer that I worked with used a system where he had 12 drawers for resistors. The drawers were labeled like this:
10 12 15 18
22 27 33 39
47 56 68 91
In the 10 drawer he stored 1 ohm, 10 ohm, 100 ohm, 1k ohm, 10k ohm, 100k ohm, and 1M ohm.
in the 12 drawer he stored 1.2 ohm, 12 ohm, 120 ohm, etc.
When he needed a 10k ohm, he looked in the drawer for a resistor with an orange third band.
His system worked for him.
Take a look here (what I use): Resistor labels (http://www.usbmicro.com/odn/documents/14E915BD78CB22AC079339E7E9ACF6FC5517814D.html) for some printer labels for your resistor drawers or bags. They look like this:
(http://www.usbmicro.com/odn/images/88306CF7B7B96B7450C6A3179BA641A84186A695.jpg)
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wow
is electronics like your job?
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wow
is electronics like your job?
Embedded design engineer.
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Wow, that is a very good method, looks pretty efficient too.
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Oops! I published the link wrong. This is what I meant (fixed above, too)
Take a look here (what I use): Resistor labels (http://www.usbmicro.com/odn/documents/14E915BD78CB22AC079339E7E9ACF6FC5517814D.html) for some printer labels for your resistor drawers or bags. They look like this:
(http://www.usbmicro.com/odn/images/88306CF7B7B96B7450C6A3179BA641A84186A695.jpg)