Test Station

thebman80

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I'm about to start designing my test station for PCB debuging. I need some Ideas on how to build one so anyone want to show some pictures you their set up? Maybe I can steal...Cough I mean borrow a few design Ideas.:D

Right now I a small Cocktail sized CRT monitor for the test station. I know I have some power supplies laying around and spent JAMMA harneses. So the parts are all here just need to assemble then into a functioning unit.
 
I'm about to start designing my test station for PCB debuging. I need some Ideas on how to build one so anyone want to show some pictures you their set up? Maybe I can steal...Cough I mean borrow a few design Ideas.:D

Right now I a small Cocktail sized CRT monitor for the test station. I know I have some power supplies laying around and spent JAMMA harneses. So the parts are all here just need to assemble then into a functioning unit.

I like the way the Univid 1000 is setup. It has 6 different connectors. Connector A is for the power, connector B is for the Video, etc...

So you should build a base unit that allows you to plug in different adapters for the games you want to work on.

Either that or you wire it up JAMMA and build a lot of X to JAMMA adapters.
 
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I made one once on a tv cart, It featured a two player streetfighter controll panel, a jamma harness with some adapters, a monitor, a switching power supply, isolation transformer, speaker, test/service/tilt/credit buttons blah blah basicaly a whole cab on wheels.
I made everything with quick connects though so any one part could be easily taken off and replaced to test it out.
SO say think you have a bad monitor... roll the cart over there and put the other monitor on the cart or just connect it up.

Only problem was this dipshit I worked with kept stealing the parts off of it. "Well I needed a power supply" When there was a whole box of power supplies.
 
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Just read that one seems like he got some good stuff in there but the shear size of the work space it takes up would be an issue for me. I'm starting to get some Ideas of how to do this I have a corner that I might be able to utilize for this purpose in order to save some work space.

This is the work space I have:

DSCF2613.jpg


I figured that I can put it in the back corner here where the tumbler is.

DSCF2614.jpg
 
I can't see pics at work, but for me, the way I was going to do it was to just use a regular jamma harness, get jamma adapters like others said, then perhaps mount the power supply under the counter but accesible for adjusting. I'd also install a set of 12v and 5v gauges up top to monitor voltage.

For control - get a female 15db plug or a couple 15db extension cords, then use them to connect a PC gamepad. Good enough for testing purposes.

Last but not least, Micro Center (off St Davids exit of blue route) has large neophrene pads like oversized mouse pads that would be good for laying boards on while testing.

Remember you'll need an ISO for that monitor too!
 
You want a hint? Get the most stuff up off the bench as possible. Build a corner stand for the monitor, have a low shelf for the test equipment, hang the parts bins on the wall, etc. The more bench space you have, the happier you'll be.

I plan to someday build a nice one for me (when I get a house). I'll most likely have a corner-mount monitor with a 45-degree slanted, anti-static-coated board in front for pcbs to sit on while testing, a JAMMA connector coming up on one side thru the bench (mounted below with the power supply), adapters for different boards, and a fold-under or pull-out control panel for gameplay testing.

I'll also have an area for monitor testing with a swivel base, a mirror, and several different power outlets for the different power requirements of monitors (120vac, 100vac, etc) with adaptors for different molexes. Probably run a video cable from the JAMMA harness on the other area so I can get a video signal, too.

I haven't planned it all out yet as I don't have the space in front of me...
 
...I plan to someday build a nice one for me (when I get a house). I'll most likely have a corner-mount monitor with a 45-degree slanted, anti-static-coated board in front for pcbs to sit on while testing...

Hopefully you will reconsider the anti-static coated board while testing. The anti-static mats will cause the boards to short out if you place the PCB solder side down on them while you have power hooked up. Ask me how I know. :)

Luke
 
Hopefully you will reconsider the anti-static coated board while testing. The anti-static mats will cause the boards to short out if you place the PCB solder side down on them while you have power hooked up. Ask me how I know. :)

Luke

i would like to know, How does an anti static mat cause the board to short out?
 
The anti-static mats are CONDUCTIVE, which makes them "anti-static", since static builds on non-conductive surfaces.

When I was getting my electronics degree I worked at a place that refurbished CD-ROM drives and they told us not to set the PC board down directly on the mat, and sure enough I accidentally did it once and it smoked the board something black. And I was a little surprised since I thought the low voltage surface mount wouldn't be enough to cause any major shorting.

Luke
 
Just had an idea...for people who don't have a lot of room and/or don't want to dedicate their bench to JUST testing PCBs - maybe set up something in a briefcase/suitcase? I would DEFINITELY NOT want to take that on a plane though :) You can put a hinged divider (plywood) inside the suitcase for a small bench, have test buttons, power supply, etc mounted in the top half and have the space under the divider for storage.

If you had an LCD that takes RGB or an RGB to vga adapter, mount the lcd right in the top half the case.

Now that I'm thinking about it - I think I had an old briefcase sitting around, I may just try this!!
 
orion3311--this is what I have done, and really like it. I have a computer power supply, ps1 monitor, jamma harness, and a sega controller. When I am done, just put it in a drawer. Someday I hope to build a more elaborate setup.

Theron
 
Hopefully you will reconsider the anti-static coated board while testing. The anti-static mats will cause the boards to short out if you place the PCB solder side down on them while you have power hooked up. Ask me how I know. :)

Luke

Perhaps I should have said "non-conductive" rather than "anti-static"....
 
You want a hint? Get the most stuff up off the bench as possible. Build a corner stand for the monitor, have a low shelf for the test equipment, hang the parts bins on the wall, etc. The more bench space you have, the happier you'll be.

You surely want as much bench space as possible..
I staggered a couple ikea countertops when I put my bench together to try to keep clutter a little more in check. Equipment mostly sits up top and leaves a nice open work area.

Not that it looks like it made much of a difference in this pic:

burners.jpg
 
That eye level shelf right over the test bench is a good idea keeps things in reach and keeps the work space less cluttered. I think I might put one of them up that might solve a few of my issues.
 
You surely want as much bench space as possible..
I staggered a couple ikea countertops when I put my bench together to try to keep clutter a little more in check. Equipment mostly sits up top and leaves a nice open work area.

Not that it looks like it made much of a difference in this pic:

burners.jpg

Is that a Jameco burner I see? Wanna sell it? :D
 
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