Introduction
In this section I will discuss various tools that I use for electronics and in my videos.
Custom Cables & Guide to Crimping PCB Interconnect Cables
This is a very quick video guide to working with custom PCB connectors. I recently had to make a custom connector for my Raspberry PI, which has a bank of male headers. I looked at a few different options and in the end I decided I would invest in a crimp tool to create my own custom cables. While the experiences are still fresh in my mind I decided I would make this video in case that it will be of benefit as an introductory guide to others who are trying to do the same sort of thing. The video will discuss regular ribbon cables, fixed length pre-crimped cables, and custom crimped cables. I will also give a guide to how to crimp 0.1″ male and female PCB interconnect cables and describe what a proper crimp connector should look like.
The Digilent Analog Discovery – USB Scope, Logic Analyzer, Waveform Generator etc.
In this video I investigate the use of the Digilent Analog Discovery with Waveforms and look how it can be used for the analysis of analog and digital circuits. The Analog Discovery is a USB oscilloscope, waveform generator, digital pattern generator and logic analyzer. It is priced at $99 for US students and generally for $219. l demonstrate three different applications of the Discovery:
– Analog analysis of a rectifier diode.
– Using the digital pattern generator and logic analyzer to investigate the behavior of a JK flip-flop.
– Using the logic analyzer and its I2C interpreter to connect to the BeagleBone I2C bus and analyse how it behaves when we use the Linux i2c tools.
I work at Boeing in El Segundo CA as a EE. A tech showed me how he did crimping. As a right hand man, he held the crimper in his left hand. Using tweezers, he grabbed the socket by the opening (where the Raspberry PI pin would slide in) and placed in the crimper. He then began to close the crimper (with the left hand) until it held the socket in place (just a click or two). At this point (at least with the crimper we have) you could actually put down the crimper and the socket would stay in place. But I digress. Next, now that his right hand was free, he use it to pick up the wire and to slide it in the crimp side of the socket. Then with the left hand, he applied the final pressure to crimp. This worked well for me. I improved the method by holding the crimper vertical by one arm using a vice.
All it needs now is a stepper motor and a foot pedal…. and a USB microscope projecting the action on a monitor … that’s left as an exercise (as teachers like to say).
excellent site, probably the best I have come accross for clear, correct step by step learning. Great Thank You
very useful videos,still waiting for my Analog discovery;a week late…:0(
got the same crimp tool from RaspiMart in the UK
http://raspimart.co.uk/shop/dupont-terminal-crimping-tool-sn-28b/
a much cheaper price;its exactly the same tool pololu resellers have in (nearly £32!)
works well if a little fiddly.
Hint:- its easier if you cut the terminal AND a piece of its backing band
of the strip,then use the band to hold the terminal against the pliers flush
with the front edge of the band;then crimp.
the band helps lign up the termnal and supports the wire too.
That is useful – thanks!