Who Needs an Intuitive Electric Screwdriver?

The cost of renewing our tools varies almost as much as our characters. It’s faster or slower depending on how finicky you are, more sentimental or wholly rational. Ask the question “Do I need an intuitive screwdriver?” and you’ve already replied to it; it’s just a question of time, a procrastination until you break the piggy-bank.

Distrelec, leading European distributor of electronics, automation and measurement technology, now offers the industry’s first range of glow-in-the-dark, phosphorescent screwdrivers, Dextro VDE Slim Glo by C. K Tools. The phosphorescent handles give off a strong, highly visible glow ideal when working in low light conditions.

This is a submission from Distrelec on the launch of a new range of tool storage and carrying solutions developed by their own brand RND. Known in the industry as a supplier of low-cost, great-value electronic components, tools and devices, RND now offers a new assortment of durable tool bags, belts and totes. This new range was developed in response to customers seeking more affordable and reliable tool storage options.

This is a submission from Swissbit. They have launched a new website that features an innovative Product Finder web-tool. The useful and intuitive search app uses sophisticated and advanced algorithms to identify and recommend the best memory products for a customers’ unique needs. The new concept is based on typical and common use cases that exemplify the way in which particular storage products work with various applications.

One of my free spaces within the Elektor editorial team goes by the motto: one man’s grot is another man’s gem meaning I am out and about collecting discarded electronic equipment, which gets restored and/or written about for the general amusement of my readership. Recently on one of my friendly pillaging tours in the Eindhoven area I got two Tektronix 2235 oscilloscopes thrown in – literally – when I was just about to shut my car booth, having loaded half an e-workplace ground to a halt I guess around 1990 and then quietly left to collect dust. Fortunately these Tek 2235 scopes are made for field use hence lightweight. BTW they’re 100 MHz dual trace.

If you don't have the time to watch this video all the way, here's the conclusion: "The acquisition of this device is satisfactory despite minor details. For this price, what's remarkable is not only the fact that you hold a true dual display LCR meter in your hand, but also that you get several measurement frequencies, and a test RMS voltage of your choice of 0.1 V or 0.5 V. [...] The Mastech MS8911 has its rightful place in the toolkit of serious amateur and even semi-professional electronics engineers." Click if you want to learn more.

Elektor Business Edition (EBE) offers innovators, electronics engineers and startup companies essential information and insights into the latest products, research and intelligence from the industry. EBE issue 1/2018 for January and February has a focus on Embedded, Microcontrollers and Tools, and is a special edition for the embedded world show in Nuremberg.

As the topic of her physics final exam essay, student Julia A. Dietrich examined whether it is possible to construct an MC pick-up element yourself. It turns out that with some skill and patience and even without any special tools this is quite possible.

Ukule-LED is a modified ukulele with digitally addressable RGB LEDs embedded in its fretboard. These LEDs can light up in con gurations corresponding to di erent chords, which can aid a beginning ukulele player in learning how to play certain chords, or can act as a chord reference for a more advanced player.

Building prototype boards with SMD components by hand is no easy task, and with modern tiny components the results are impossible to inspect with the naked eye. A USB microscope can come in handy there. In the lab we tried out the Andonstar V160, an affordable microscope with a sturdy stand, and here we tell you about it.