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Equipment for A Perfect General Lab?
wdhowellsr asks: "I am currently setting up a lab that will need to provide me with the ability to test equipment for electronic systems from low voltage DC to super high voltage AC. I'm currently getting a Fluke 43b meter to be the primary testing equipment and will be wiring the entire lab to every possible variation of AC and DC voltage. I've tried to find resources on the web that would give me information regarding this but have been unable to find anything. What equipment would you consider for the 'perfect' lab, not just for electronics but for computers, chemistry, and biology?"
http://www.ni.com/
Basically imagine your school science lab (you did have a science lab at school right?)
.. we could go on all day. A real lab depends on the precise task at hand and unless you are teaching it's unlikely
I'd start with lots of electrical outlets, some at bench level, some at floor level - you don't want trailing cables everywhere.
Then some good benches, something solid without plastic or metal, like a good oak surface. It won't collect static electricity
and unless you're doing work with serious pathogens wood is actualy a good surface to stay safe from bacteria if you look after it.
A fume cupboard - essential for chemistry, but even for destructive electrical tests that may release toxic vapour. And since you
will want cooling water a couple of taps and sinks at each end of the benches is probably important.
HV Electrical
Power supplies. A high current variac transformer, and for high voltages a cockroft-walton tappable multiplier or tesla for very
high voltages. Some very high voltage capacitors or Leyden jars for storing to do discharge tests, and a foil electrometer - because
a normal meter cannot measure such very high voltages. Lots of cable - and you need many types including super flexible braided cores
and probably some high current cable too. A neon field indicator or audiable field warning device (always approach *anything* in the lab holding this out in front of you, rubber gloves etc.
LV Electrical
At least two good bench multimeters, the old red LED digital kind are good to see from a distance. Lots of clips and test probes. A decent breadboarding system. An oscilloscope, dual beam with freeze. Clock source/oscillator or signal gens to cover the ranges you need
0.001Hz - 1GHz probably. If you're doing digital then a logic analyser and PC set up entirely as a high speed bus analysis tool.
An audio amplifier and loudspeaker. Wheatstone bridge and very flexible small voltage preamplifier with high and low impedence.
chemistry
Lots of glassware if you are doing chemistry obviously, plenty of round and conical flasks, some condensers, plenty of
bungs and rubber tubing of various sizes, quick-fit adaptors, test tubes,a very good balance preferably in its own cupboard
for weighing out reagents, a vacuum pump. An optical wavelength spectrometer would be nice but I'm guessing you can't afford
anything fancy like a mass spectrometer. Thermometers and process control thermocouples, a good electrical heater rather than
the old bunsen burners, an agitator (magnetic types are best), a very good freezer for ice, a basic collection of gas cylinders
including hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and two inert ones, one heavy one light neon, helium. Retort stands, clamps, clips and
things to arrange and secure your test rigs.
biology
An autoclave and UV or microwave sterilisation unit, petri dishes, decent microscopes and a good collection of stains.
A chromatography tank, and perhaps a good disecting unit with pinboard, scalples, lancet etc.
safety
goggles, a decent lab coat, that means one flash tested to very high fireproof standards not a nylon fashion accesory, or
consider getting specialised protective clothing suitable for the hazards you face. A gas detector at floor level is a good idea
at least one to pick up alkanes, monoxide and common heavy gas hazards. Your electrical system should be multi fused with earth leakage
circuit breakers.
Im bored now
you need such flexibility.
And if you're building this America? I hope you realise Science is now illegal.
A fume hood. Trust me.
If you're paranoid, you might also want a small closable metal closet to keep chemicals in, maybe fireproof.
Of course, in these days of rampant terrorism, any interest in chemistry will get you flagged on a watchlist, so you might just do without
I am one of many. My idea is not unique, nor do I expect my voice alone to sway you. I speak in a chorus of opinion.
I have had good luck with the local university. They auction off the old equipment. I didn't get the electron microscope, but I did get a hood, laser, and even the cabinets and glassware. Most the stuff goes fairly cheap, I've never bid over $100. It's not just chemistry and biology. They have lots of computers and electronics by the pallet, but you'll need a large basement:) Good luck.