diff --git a/img/calipers.jpg b/img/calipers.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3f808340d36c299e36fc394b0624f0df545863b7 Binary files /dev/null and b/img/calipers.jpg differ diff --git a/img/calipers_depth1.jpg b/img/calipers_depth1.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..10291537415fd68bcf4e6b5168970dc5e71397ff Binary files /dev/null and b/img/calipers_depth1.jpg differ diff --git a/img/calipers_depth2.jpg b/img/calipers_depth2.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..aacdb701296b16d9e7222f2efd83a31e2b8bb31a Binary files /dev/null and b/img/calipers_depth2.jpg differ diff --git a/img/calipers_id.jpg b/img/calipers_id.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..0858b7762a4f6ea04216b5316d68235dd5dba4d7 Binary files /dev/null and b/img/calipers_id.jpg differ diff --git a/img/calipers_od.jpg b/img/calipers_od.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..158a0de98fc053e4149228caba77a4603ec37ec7 Binary files /dev/null and b/img/calipers_od.jpg differ diff --git a/img/closeup_microscope.jpg b/img/closeup_microscope.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..04a38ef08919c6a6a0411cba6c5994bab397b639 Binary files /dev/null and b/img/closeup_microscope.jpg differ diff --git a/img/closeup_phone.jpg b/img/closeup_phone.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..df6f3fc8165a95599ce416d0f5cfb2de78dbbffa Binary files /dev/null and b/img/closeup_phone.jpg differ diff --git a/img/closeup_webcam.jpg b/img/closeup_webcam.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8727258a8ef8400242407c8e6458658171e0c82c Binary files /dev/null and b/img/closeup_webcam.jpg differ diff --git a/testequipment.md b/testequipment.md index 1e49dabd7bcfeb81373716868e4176e772d0089f..10049c796d08252ffa8fd58194767ed55313277d 100644 --- a/testequipment.md +++ b/testequipment.md @@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ You can also capture complex waveforms, like serial commands, using the single-s  -### Logic Analyzer +### [Logic Analyzer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logic_analyzer) Oscilloscopes are versatile tools for viewing analog and digital waveforms, but sometimes you want to look at several digital signals at once. When you're debugging issues with UART, SPI, or I2C lines, it's also handy to have a platform that automatically decodes signals into plain text, so you don't have to manually count waveforms to verify proper signaling. Your kit includes a small 8-channel 24-MHz USB logic analyzer for this purpose:  @@ -72,6 +72,42 @@ The logic analyzer uses an open-source program called Sigrok PulseView, which yo  -### USB Microscope +### USB [Microscope](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microscope) +Electronics is a world of tiny things! You're soldering tiny components to tiny boards with tiny bits of solder, using a tiny soldering iron tip. The USB microscope is provided as an inspection tool, both for yourself, and for us to help when trying to remotely diagnose problems with PCBs. To illustrate the power of the microscope, here's the best close-up image of my PCB I could get with my computer's built-in webcam: -### Digital Calipers + + +... my phone: + + + +... and the USB microscope: + + + +The microscope has a few buttons on the side that interface with the included software that I didn't install; instead, I used a Linux program called GTK+ UVC Viewer to capture the image, since the microscope enumerates as a standard webcam. Adafruit sells a similar microscope and points users to [this website](https://plugable.com/drivers/microscope/) for various software packages that can capture images from webcams. The confusingly labeled '50x< >500x' knob actually adjusts the camera's focus; you can then "zoom in and out" by manually moving the camera closer or further from your work. This actually works surprisingly well; zoomed all the way out, the camera provides plenty of working distance for soldering. And the onboard LEDs can be adjusted using the knob built in to the USB cable. If you want to perform accurate measurements using the microscope, take reference images using the included calibration card and then measure things using [ImageJ](https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/). + +Tip: if your images seem blurry or washed-out, you probably forgot to take off the clear protective lens over! + +### Digital [Calipers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calipers) +We included a set of digital calipers in each kit because they're fantastically useful for all kinds of mechanical design. Often, you need to design custom parts around existing components, and not all manufacturers provide detailed 3D CAD files for easy integration into your design tool. Calipers are a great quick way to determine critical dimensions of parts for a model. You can also use them to check tolerances on a manufacturing process, such as laser cutting or 3D printing. + + + +Your calipers aren't particularly fancy, but they'll give you 0.01 mm resolution measurements across a range of 150 mm. Accuracy is probably in the range of +/- 0.1 mm, give or take; they aren't precision micrometers, but they're a whole lot better than the stainless steel rule (also included in your kit). Note that they come in a green case with a spare LR44 battery: calipers are precision mechanical metrology instruments and should be treated with care, so always keep them in the case when not in use. + +Your calipers can be used three ways! You can measure the outer diameter of objects using the long jaws: + + + +... inner dimensions using the short jaws: + + + +... and even blind depths, using the depth bar at the end of the instrument: + + + + + +Whenever you turn on your calipers, it's a good idea to gently close the jaws and hit the yellow `ZERO` button to ensure an accurate measurement. Make sure the jaws are clean!