Comments on: Slim’s Prototyping Station

By: Grant

Grant — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 06:50:28 +0000

This is just beautiful.
I’ve been getting into electronics bit by bit over the past few years, mostly by acquiring and repairing old test year. Not only do I use the gear to learn but also to add to my workbench set up. But by far… My favorite thing are Prototyping kits.
This is just gorgeous! It’s a true work of art! Don’t get me wrong, I would be lost without my portable “KNIGHT MINILAB 2010” with all its features and wonderful portability. But this thing is just breathtaking!

By: Andrew L. Ayers

Andrew L. Ayers — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:51:52 +0000

I am in awe. I have tears in my eyes that you were given such a treasure from a man who obviously loved what he did and did it well. Thank you for sharing this; the full image may become my next desktop wallpaper.

By: Michael Salter

Michael Salter — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:56:50 +0000

That. is. simply. gorgeous.

By: Keith Neufeld

Keith Neufeld — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 22:06:43 +0000

The problems with finding Slim's stuff at the office are that

although Cort especially is on very good terms with Slim's department, we have no actual authority to root through his stuff;
Cort and I both live 2-3 hours away from Pittsburg now, so it's not easy to just pop in and have a look; and
it won't be obvious to most people which are personal projects and which are work projects.

Which brings to mind a question that I think about occasionally: What provisions have you made to ensure that the things you care about end up in the hands of others who will care about them after you're gone?

By: James

James — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:14:45 +0000

“Somewhere, there’s a treasure trove of information on it, but I doubt we’ll ever find it.”

You know, hearing that sentence hurts. Too bad I don’t live in the area, as I would volunteer my time in finding all those little treasures. It’s those little things, the home-made schematic, hand drawings, and such that give us “electronic hobbyists” our name.

By: ctrevino

ctrevino — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:09:00 +0000

man that is really cool, i came across this while trying to teach myself electronics.

i wonder what that thing looks like on the inside
maybe you can draw up some schematics…

By: Keith Neufeld

Keith Neufeld — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 09:23:03 +0000

Cort says that Slim kept all of his notes, including the ones for personal projects like this, at the office, so:

They are all in file folders at PSU somewhere. There are detailed drawings of stuff, schematics, and tape on gridded mylar, and or photo positive masks for any of the circuit boards. Somewhere, there’s a treasure trove of information on it, but I doubt we’ll ever find it.

By: Keith Neufeld

Keith Neufeld — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:53:36 +0000

Jim, I’m hurt! Your favorite thing on my site is something I didn’t even do!

Naw, I’m kidding. It’s an amazing piece of work.

I doubt there are schematics for it, because Slim wouldn’t have needed to draw them out for passive components and connectors, and the more complex sections are probably complete systems that just got interfaced on the back. I can ask Cort to be sure, but I doubt we’ll find any.

That said, I’ve been thinking about the station myself. I haven’t figured out what to use as a chassis, but I’m having visions of an open-source-hardware, modular prototyping station. Something like this, but with pluggable modules (maybe 2″ square, or maybe in different sizes), where you start out with a blank station and then assemble and plug in modules that you need. Best of all, if I could get it started, anyone could contribute and/or sell modules for it.

Just a thought.

By: James

James — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:24:26 +0000

Hello Keith,

Came across your site from http://www.hackaday.com and enjoyed your projects and musings. Then I came to this project – stopped – and said – “WOW!”.

What are the chances that Slim had drawn up some schematics for great piece of workbench equipment? Maybe someone has come across it? If not, would be a great project to build and “re” learn electronics.

Great site!
Jim.

By: Sascha

Sascha — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:03:21 +0000

Hi Keith,

What a wonderful piece of equipment! So much thought and care has gone into it’s construction and I’m sure you’ll gain as much pleasure out of exploring it and using it as I have from simply seeing it here. Thank you for sharing!

The LED displays at the top of the 2nd last photograph might be these:
http://www.ledsales.com.au/pdf/til311.pdf

Sascha.