/lewb

The ultimate Maker's companion (The Loaded Engineer's Work Bench)

MIT LicenseMIT

LEWB

The Loaded Engineering Work Bench


Project is in the idea stage at the moment. feel free to contribute thoughts and ideas!

Requirements

  • raised surface, capable of comfortably working in a standing position, or in on a high stool
  • primary surfaces must be made of non-conductive materials
  • Promote a static-free surface
  • have variety of outlets for a wide variety of output voltages and current types
  • some outlets for standard barrel jacks and usb for power draw
  • each outlet can have power cut to it individually
  • master kill switch
  • programmable kill switches, to kill custom groupings of power sources
  • well lit
  • repel dust
  • articulating keyboard tray full range of movement over/around/outside of primary work surface -min height above ground would be at a height of 6-8" below primary surface level
  • max height above ground, to 10-12" above primary surface level
  • articulating monitor mount for flatpanel monitor (sized between 11"-32")
  • built in mobo, proc, RAM, etc... capable of running commercial 64x Linux distro (4gb RAM, basic video drivers/gpu)
  • well ventilated/cooled
  • connections for peripherals and serial devices on a primary surface
  • IoT enabled. the workbench itself (not the built in PC, or perhaps via the built in PC) should be an internet enabled device/network enabled device

Design Ideas

  • Hollow posts in back corners of primary surface acts as risers, and cable runners, and also can adapt a swivel mounted articulating arm system for keyboard/monitor/lights/magnifying glass/video camera mount
  • a 2x8 from back corner to back corner would house various outlets, inputs/outputs
  • a section on top of the "power row", perhaps 12" in height, 4"-6" in depth, as a recessed shell for portable storage of common electrical component organizers
  • back of this recessed "storage row" would contain LED backlighting, for hish visibility of parts i sliding trays
  • remember those sliding chalkboards from school? what if storage compartments could be slid around like that to maximize available space?
  • primary surface could be a strong platic, capable of being drawn on with dry erase markers
  • anti-static coating?
  • maybe micro-drilled like an air hocket table for air induction to keep parts from rolling off of surface?
  • outer edge (last few centimeters of so) of primary surface could be adjastable in height,
  • 2-4 "breadboard lanes" running from front to back, flush with the surface, with powered breadboards laid into the surface
    • essentially it could be a full network arduino substitue
  • could also be able to programmatically control things like LED backlighting for the parts shelves (make 'em blink when you want to find a certain part!), kill power to a power source/group, monitor temp/humidity in local environment
  • a small TFT touch panel (the size of say a nav screen in modern car)
  • Runs Android? Displays Sensor output from temp/humidity/other built in sensors
  • can be paired to phone via bluetooth, and displays caller info (acts as bluetooth headset)
  • can be used to pair to remote maker bench's, for paired engineering, or for ability to exchange workbench firmata/sketches so you can reproduce circuits and custom killswitch setups easily
  • built in mic/speakers (for IoT, calls, that kinda stuff)