Embedded software developer and Elektor editor Mathias Claußen takes us inside his electronics workspace, where he tackles new design projects, reviews products, and shoots videos.
We frequently highlight the electronics workspaces of our community members. But what about the workspaces where Elektor engineers get creative? Today, embedded software developer and Elektor editor Mathias Claußen takes us inside his 15 m2 Aachen, Germany-based workspace, where he tackles new design projects (embedded development and much more), reviews electronic products and tools, and shoots videos.
Mathias in his electronics workspace.
How long have you had your electronics workspace? And what are its main uses?
Three-plus years. It is a space — on the bottom level of my building — for electronics, software development, and network maintenance.
Did you have any specific goals or requirements in mind when you were setting up your space?
To get a length of desk space on which I could place not only the computer, monitors and cameras, but also the equipment for SMD soldering, as well as space for testing electronics.
A cup of coffee is front and center on Mathias's workbench.
Can you share some details about your technical interests? What kinds of projects do you work on in your electronics workspace?
My technical interests come for the training I had in IT and later from the study of electrical engineering. It was a mixture of disciplines in between software and hardware. May it on the server side or on embedded end devices. Over the years, I found that I really like the ARM Cortex-M-based MCUs, as they enable me to reuse gained knowledge and they are perfectly suited to run a small RTOS on them.
With the rise of RISC-V, we have an open and free ISA we can benefit from, so I began to dig out my FPGA boards and give them a go. It is interesting to see how compact a RISC-V core can be and how you can squeeze it into a tiny FPGA. With the ongoing trade war, it is important to have access to an open and free ISA.
Something else to mention are the current steps I am taking with KiCad and FreeCAD. Let the software engineer do hardware and mechanics: what can go wrong? Twitter can tell.
Besides the projects you can read about in Elektor magazine, I try to keep my zoo of classic/vintage computers alive. A mixture of some more or less successful home computer and server of the mid-80s.
What sort of equipment and tools do you have in your space?
The soldering area features an Ersa I-Con Nano. (I hate it for various reasons, but it does the job.) The setup is aided by a solder paste dispenser (a Chinese no-name product, but it works) and a silent air compressor. For hot air soldering, I have an Aoyue int 852a. Not in the image is a T-962 SMD oven. Added to the soldering area is an Andonstar ADSM201, which serves as a microscope and feeds the image into an HDMI capture card.
He neatly stores some of his equipment under useful shelves.
The electronics area includes a signal generator (MHS 5200) with some modifications to the output stage. For a scope, I use a Rigol DS4014. The space is also equipped with a salea logic 16 logic analyzer, which has been serving me for several years. I tried to use one of the Ikalogic ones that Elektor sells, but compared to the salea logic 16, they are just toys. Newly added here is a sub-$10 USB-HDMI capture card that serves me well for doing some Raspberry Pi installations.
What is your most valued piece of equipment or tool?
I think creativity is the most valuable piece of equipment you can have as engineer (maybe in combination with passion). If you are going for a scope or something, that will be just bookkeeping and raw numbers. Value in this case comes from the fact that without creativity you won't be able to create anything. And that is something you should keep in mind as engineer. Or, to say it more simply, a better car won't make a better race driver. The most important tool in a lab is the engineer.
The second most important piece of equipment in my workspace is the coffeemaker.
Do you use your workspace for anything else?
Besides being a workspace, it is now also used for live streaming on Elektor TV. It is where I shot the video, “Check Out the New Raspberry Pi Pico Board.”
Do you have any plans for your space?
Not at the moment. Something that is still missing is a router to build a lamp out of wood that can hang over the work surfaces. But that is a project for later.
Do you have a favorite electronics-related project? What did you build?
Two come to mind — the Elektor bedroom clock (180254) and a retrofit kit for our front doorbell. The clock is now in a pretty plexiglass case in the office that shows the time. The retrofit kit sends a ringing via MQTT to a Node-RED server. At the end, a message arrives in a messenger of your choice. This helps you receive mail and packages when you are in the garden. This second project might appear in Elektor soon.
A monster LED clock with Wi-Fi and temperature display.
Do you have a dream project or something you'd love to tackle?
A "small" book that offers an introduction to the world of web development on and with embedded systems.
Do you have any advice, tips, or encouragement for other engineers or makers who are thinking of putting together a workspace?
The only thing you can replace a desk with is an even larger desk.
Show Off Your Workspace!
If you enjoyed learning about Mathias's electronics workspace, check out these other spaces! Want to present your electronics workspace to the Elektor community? Fill out this online form so our editors can contact you!
Recent Articles by Mathias Claußen
Check out some of Mathias's recent articles and projects. And you can follow him on Twitter: @ElektorMathias
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