I got a PCB ruler PCB RULER
It is a nice thing for some of the work, but I have a bit of a need for a few changes.
I would like the SMT pads to be at the end of the ruler so I can hold it over a pad on a board.
also, the holes are something I would like along an edge so I can test a pin of an IC.
before I make my own, does anyone have one they like or suggestions for what they would want ?
or what they are using ?
For starters, you will want the ruler to show tenths of an inch rather than eighths. I say this because chips such as the one holding the brains of your Arduino tend to have their pins at intervals of 1/10 of an inch. Any breadboard or circuit board which accepts such a chip will therefore need its holes at intervals of 1/10 inch.
dave-in-nj:
I got a PCB ruler PCB RULERIt is a nice thing for some of the work, but I have a bit of a need for a few changes.
I would like the SMT pads to be at the end of the ruler so I can hold it over a pad on a board.
also, the holes are something I would like along an edge so I can test a pin of an IC.
before I make my own, does anyone have one they like or suggestions for what they would want ?
or what they are using ?
A few years ago, a vendor sent us several of them. Red in color. Mike, the tech, is the only one using them. I will have to look Monday and see who sent them. Perhaps you can get them free!
Paul
Drill hole sizes for screws:
M1, M2, M3, 2-56, 4-40, 6-32 etc.
I would agree about the 1/8ths, those increments are of very little value indeed. If you look at datasheet sheets for component pad sizes they quote metric and inches in 1/10ths. Dont ever recall seeing a pad size dimension along the lines of 3/64ths x 1/8th.
What would be very useful is to have one one edge a measure of the number of pins on a header strip, a count that starts at one. Yes I know a 32 pin 0.1" header would be 3.1" between the pins, but a rule marked 1 to 32 would make it much easier to cut header strips to length.
Other common sizes for measuring header strips would be spacings of 2mm, 1.5mm, 0.05" etc.
it would also be good if 0 on cm and inch rules started at the actual end edge of the the ruler and not 1mm from the end.
Add some text on the ruler with common metric imperial conversions, mm to inches, grams to ounces etc.
Digikey has one that they were sending out free earlier this year. It looks nice but I’ve yet to use it for anything other than a straightedge.
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/digi-key-electronics/PCB-RULER-12INCH/PCB-RULER-ND/5767550
avr_fred:
Digikey has one that they were sending out free earlier this year. It looks nice but I’ve yet to use it for anything other than a straightedge.
Yes, that is the one. They sent 2-3 to us. Passed them on.
Paul
yes, these styles have no real use. thus this thread. they are just show for the unsuspecting.
if you cannot hold it to a circuit board to see if the SMT is a 0805 or a SOD323 it becomes less than useful.
also, I need to measure pin diameters for the drill holes. the way the holes are presented, it is pretty much useless.
the larger pads on the back is interesting. My thoughts are to use castellated holes to show some pins,
the contributions of this thread have shown some good ideas for a useful version.
