Making on the go is sometimes required in today’s busy lives, and if you find yourself traveling — say, off to university like [ZSNRA] — then a convenient solution is required. To that end, a portable electronics workbench was built in the shape of a relatively nondescript plywood box.
Plywood and foam-core are the main materials used in building this maker’s bug-out box, with two fir runners along the bottom so the case is not resting on the hinges. Inside, [ZSNRA] has packed a staggering amount of hardware which results in an 11kg suitcase.
Here goes — deep breath now: wires, solder, resistors, transistors, capacitors, diodes, clips, switches, logic chips, non-logic chips, an Arduino, ATmegas, fuses, pliers, wire strippers and cutters, angle cutters, tweezers, a 66-piece screwdriver set, a desoldering pump, 12 needle files, a hacksaw blade, a multi meter, oscilloscope, power source, four outlets built into the case(!), steel wool, a third hand, a soldering station, two handbooks, and a breadboard.
Whew.
The work surface is an ESD mat on the inside of the case’s front face that is comfortable enough to work with, though we are surprised that it doesn’t also fold out somehow to create an even larger work-space.
For an elegant — if slightly less mobile — workbench solution, check out The Tempel. Now if you’re looking for ideas on how and what to carry we still think [Kenji Larsen] has the ultimate hacking kit.
[Thanks for the tip, Zaphod! via /r/electronics]
I need to make this. :)
wow only 11 kg!?
will it be PAT tested (or equivalent) before going to uni?
that soldering iron might get unahppy with little ventilation.
if you take things to uni then you may be doing it wrong, typically they have pretty decent equipment in labs and if you grease a few palms they don’t mind you hanging around after hours. (sometimes they even encourage it! i know right!?) put your projects in a locker for a small deposit.
I can understand if you took a decent soldering iron in but you might get some funny looks.
Depends on the university. Where I went, the first time I saw a soldering iron was in my senior capstone lab and we had ONE solder station to share among 30 students. No heat guns until we complained for a few weeks and again we had just ONE to share for everyone. Personal solder stations started popping up in short order.
Yes when I was studdyingbelecroincs the campus was a 3/4 hour drive away and after hours access was not possible so your own equipment was essential
Wish this kind of thing, with the flap down work surface, was available commercially…
Actually in Aus, you can probably find something similar in camping boxes/tucker boxes.
You also get similar stuff if you search flight case workbench.