Introduction to LinderLabs’ Tips on Prototyping

Welcome LinderLabs.com‘s Tips on Prototyping.

My name is Greg Linder, freelance engineer and consultant. I’ve got an MSEE from Clarkson University and a BSEE from University of Illinois. Ever since I was in elementary school, I have been building, fixing, taking apart, and re-assembling. Through most of my education, friends have asked me questions about things ranging from “Does this PCB layout look any good?” to “How do I solder a surface mount QFP?” (You don’t need an air gun). This web page is meant to be an outlet for common prototype-construction questions, including photos and examples, from my career as a freelance inventor and engineer.

Topics will range from soldering, to component selection, to proper shop tasks and my experiences with various types of test equipment and tools. As readership develops, I’ll answer questions put to me in the realm of general construction whenever I am able. The motivation here is to help inventors and electrical engineers get a feel for the merits and requirements for hands-on engineering. Lots of people want to build, but are never taught how to solder or lay out a circuit board in engineering school, those topics typically being “tradesman” type topics. Well, if you want to prototype things yourself, you’ve gotta know how to make good looking enclosures, fix circuit boards, and repair SMT stuff in a pinch.

As an engineer, I believe deeply that engineers should never design things without having first repaired or serviced a similar piece of equipment, or at least taken something apart and put it back together again. This is my effort to cater to those who want to tinker on their own, either for work or for fun.

The articles written here are my own opinions. Use the information at your own risk. I’m not responsible for how you use this information, or how the techniques discussed work out for you. Whenever I can, I’ll include links to vendors’ part numbers and the like, to facilitate easy adoption of some of my neat tricks.

Advertisement