Talk:Layout

2012-05-20T23:23:19Z

TheoMarkettos: Note on ducting

Looking at the flooplan and the vimeo video, there appears to be a distinct lack of plumbing. Both for The Kitchen and for the workshop space, which if you are planning anything wet (painting, DCM, FeCl3 etching, fluid computers, etc), will need to be provided separately. Potentially H&S may want a separate handwash as well in the workshop.

I saw something about pre-existing University IP sockets. You might expect at least some members to have access to this through work/college normally. If the University is inclined (or can be convinced) it might be worth seeing if some could be retained (or wireless access provided) as this could provide some relief to your IP connection bandwidth.

I have no experience with setting up light engineering but do with chemical/wet labs. Let me know if there is anything I can help with. [[User:Zebedeeboy|Zebedeeboy]] 00:12, 6 March 2012 (UTC)

THanks! Yes, you're right, there's no plumbing in place. We'll need to plumb water in for the kitchen. We've not planned any plumbing for the workshop area yet, althoguh the line for the kitchen will come in to our space thereabouts. At the moment I'm trying to put together the minimum work plans to get us started, so that we don't waste any money in the early stages when our cash flow is hard to predict.

Whether we can use the University network at all is under investigation/discussion. I wouldn't say this is at all guaranteed; if we can't get access for all, then it will most likely be no access for anyone, as policing approved uni users vs non-uni people will be hard/impossible; and if we want any access at all we'll need to get network management in place, which is unlikely to happen unless we get general access approved. It would be a pity not to be able to use all the existing, new-looking wiring though.
[[User:Laura|Laura James]] 19:07, 6 March 2012 (GMT)

In terms of network, just getting a Lapwing wireless access point fitted would probably suffice for University people. Get the local Computer Officer to connect that to a bit of University ethernet from another bit of the building with enough range to cover your space, and job done. That's on the University's network not yours, so you don't have to manage it (or do user admin). Lapwing might even already be active in your space.

The other thing I don't see is ducting for fume extract. Soldering irons can filter fumes and exhaust into the room, but laser cutters generate a lot of fairly nasty smelly smoke... even if you filter, the output isn't pleasant. I see aircon units so there must be some ducting, but check how easy this is to connect to (and is it shared with other units - don't want to blow fumes into other people's aircon!). [[User:TheoMarkettos|TheoMarkettos]] 00:23, 21 May 2012 (BST)

Talk:Kit wishlist

2012-05-20T22:56:09Z

TheoMarkettos: /* PCB manufacturing tools */ Comment on PCBs

== PCB manufacturing tools ==

I disagree with the lack of need for chemical PCB etch/expose equipment. The milling technique is quite slow and expensive and not the a very cost effective use of milling equipment, except maybe for prototyping very small boards. Also the proposed mill will not be able to produce high quality PCB with fine traces and pads for SMT components. [[User:TH|TH]] 17:38, 15 March 2012 (UTC)

I second that. Milling is good for drilling holes, and has a niche for fast turnaround tiny boards (ie babysit the machine for 3 hours, not wait a week). The accuracy is pretty poor, so forget any kind of fine-pitch surface mount (even SOIC is pushing it on our machine). Milling tips are expensive and snap regularly. It's very easy to get the depth wrong, snap the tip or gouge great grooves out of your board. You'll always get far better definition from optical transfer and chemical etch, even basic methods eg laser-printed projector film and UV exposure. That level of basic chemical etch is worth having, as well as some recommended cheap low-volume board fabs (eg Olimex or pcb.laen.org - both non-UK ones I haven't tried; are there any cheap local ones?) [[User:TheoMarkettos|TheoMarkettos]] 23:56, 20 May 2012 (BST)

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