Re: (Elecraft) First K2 question

[Joseph Trombino, Jr]

Howdy Gang:

I've built a bunch of kits over the years and the following technique works
very well for me and keeps me from messing up...it is a bit labor intensive
but it has proved to be foolproof for me (me being the fool or course:)

I get sheet of legal size paper and write down the numbers of the
components.i.e., R1, R2, C1 C2, etc, I do all the resistors and then the
capacitors.

I tape all the resistors and caps next to their designator on the paper.

When I install a part I cross its number off of the list.

I do this for diodes, transistors, toroids, etc....not the spare chassis
parts though (grin)

I can then tell when all those values have been used up and if I have any
extra left over...meaning I made a mistake with another part and I can go
looking for my mistake.

It takes some time to do this but I find it much better than putting parts
in certain containers by value.....with my system I can tell if I have
installed the correct number of a particular part value.

Maybe not for everyone cause it is labor intensive but I find the kits go
together faster and with much fewer mistakes with this system.

                                    73, Joe W2KJ
                                    I QRP, therefore, I am



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[Craig Rairdin]

> I've built a bunch of kits over the years and the following technique
works
> very well for me and keeps me from messing up...it is a bit labor
intensive
> but it has proved to be foolproof for me (me being the fool or course:)

> I get sheet of legal size paper and write down the numbers of the
> components.i.e., R1, R2, C1 C2, etc, I do all the resistors and then the
> capacitors.

> I tape all the resistors and caps next to their designator on the paper.

Just to keep the universe in balance let me suggest the complete opposite
technique: I separate the parts by type (resistors, capacitors, diodes,
etc.). I don't do an inventory (Christine usually does a really, really good
job) but I do make sure I have the right part in my hand before soldering.
While I've messed up some other things (put a electrolytic cap in backwards
but fortunately none of the smoke got out) I haven't had a problem with this
method. To each his own, of course. IMHO, YMMV, etc.

Craig
NZ0R
K1 #1966
K2/100 #4941
KX1 #1499
KX1 #1541 (still in the box)
K1 #?? (in the postal system somewhere)

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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Craig,

While this method works, it is not the best advice for those who do not have
a few K2 assembly experiences under their belt.

I would like to resurrect a favorite method of sorting parts that I use (I
believe there are photos on Tom Hammond's website www.n0ss.net ).  I cut a
corrugated box in half (the USPS Priority Mail boxes work great to create 2
'trays'.  The leaded components are placed (in value order) into the open
end of the corrugations.  This enables me to quickly locate any component
and quickly mount it - the misc hardware and oddball components just lay in
the center of the tray.  I line up the capacitors on the left side of the
tray and the diodes, inductors and misc leaded components on the right -
larger values toward the rear of the tray.  This is a method that was
advocated with the old Heathkit instructions, and I find it much more useful
than putting the components in bins or taping them to a sheet of paper, but
then Your Mileage May Vary - organize the components in ny way that you can
easily access them when needed, that is more important than the precise
method of accomplishing that goal.

Fortunately, the base K2 now packages the resistors in assembly step order
on a strip, so you do not have to sort the resistors as we did in the
earlier days.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> > I've built a bunch of kits over the years and the following technique
> works
> > very well for me and keeps me from messing up...it is a bit labor
> intensive
> > but it has proved to be foolproof for me (me being the fool or course:)
>
> > I get sheet of legal size paper and write down the numbers of the
> > components.i.e., R1, R2, C1 C2, etc, I do all the resistors and
> then the
> > capacitors.
>
> > I tape all the resistors and caps next to their designator on the paper.
>
> Just to keep the universe in balance let me suggest the complete opposite
> technique: I separate the parts by type (resistors, capacitors, diodes,
> etc.). I don't do an inventory (Christine usually does a really,
> really good
> job) but I do make sure I have the right part in my hand before soldering.
> While I've messed up some other things (put a electrolytic cap in
> backwards
> but fortunately none of the smoke got out) I haven't had a
> problem with this
> method. To each his own, of course. IMHO, YMMV, etc.
>

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[Stephen Brandt]

To Whom This May Concern,

    Sounds like a great idea.  But I have one concern.  Paper is a wonderful
generator of static electricity.  Or least this was drummed into me many
time at work.  Be sure to use proper esd procedures and be careful with
paper.  Good luck.

    73,

    Steve Brandt N7VS



> Howdy Gang:
>
> I've built a bunch of kits over the years and the following technique
works
> very well for me and keeps me from messing up...it is a bit labor
intensive

> but it has proved to be foolproof for me (me being the fool or course:)
>
> I get sheet of legal size paper and write down the numbers of the
> components.i.e., R1, R2, C1 C2, etc, I do all the resistors and then the
> capacitors.
>
> I tape all the resistors and caps next to their designator on the paper.
>
> When I install a part I cross its number off of the list.
>
> I do this for diodes, transistors, toroids, etc....not the spare chassis
> parts though (grin)
>
> I can then tell when all those values have been used up and if I have any
> extra left over...meaning I made a mistake with another part and I can go
> looking for my mistake.
>
> It takes some time to do this but I find it much better than putting parts
> in certain containers by value.....with my system I can tell if I have
> installed the correct number of a particular part value.
>
> Maybe not for everyone cause it is labor intensive but I find the kits go
> together faster and with much fewer mistakes with this system.
>
>                                     73, Joe W2KJ
>                                     I QRP, therefore, I am

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[n5ib]

Just to add one more suggestion to the ones already offered about
organizing your build.

In addition to the parts sorting and inventory, I made an enlarged
(11x17) copy of the schematics. As each part was installed I used a
highlighter pen to mark that component on the schematic. Not only did
that serve as one more cross-check, but in addition to a physical sense
of the part location I also gained some insight as to its purpose in the
circuit.

73
Jim N5IB

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[Bill Johnson-10]

Craig, I use a similar method to yours despite being encouraged to be more
inventory minded. The only issue I have had so far, soldering... sometimes I
miss a lead after populating, even though I check at least twice!  I have
investing in some better magnifying glasses and lights along with an in
circuit component checker just to speed things up. Building to me is akin to
knitting I would suppose.  I would not care for the latter though.

I have only found one part missing, a resistor, for which I had a spare in
my own parts bin.  No Biggie given the amount of kit building I have done.

 
Bill
K9YEQ
 
K2-35 & 5279; KX1-35/3080
___________________________________
 
 -----Original Message-----
Just to keep the universe in balance let me suggest the complete opposite
technique: I separate the parts by type (resistors, capacitors, diodes,
etc.). I don't do an inventory (Christine usually does a really, really good
job) but I do make sure I have the right part in my hand before soldering.
While I've messed up some other things (put a electrolytic cap in backwards
but fortunately none of the smoke got out) I haven't had a problem with this
method. To each his own, of course. IMHO, YMMV, etc.

Craig
NZ0R
K1 #1966
K2/100 #4941
KX1 #1499
KX1 #1541 (still in the box)
K1 #?? (in the postal system somewhere)


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[Bill Johnson-10]

One other simple thing I do... I have an electronic tweezers and all
resistors and capacitors get a quick check before inserting.  It is fast a
surefooted.

I like the corrugated box sorting method, especially when doing something as
big as the K2.  Otherwise, back to the pile and use method.

 
Bill
K9YEQ
 
K2-35 & 5279; KX1-35/3080
___________________________________
 
 
..........than putting the components in bins or taping them to a sheet of
paper, but
then Your Mileage May Vary - organize the components in ny way that you can
easily access them when needed, that is more important than the precise
method of accomplishing that goal.

Fortunately, the base K2 now packages the resistors in assembly step order
on a strip, so you do not have to sort the resistors as we did in the
earlier days.

73,
Don W3FPR

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[Karl Larsen]

Joseph Trombino Jr wrote:

> Howdy Gang:
>
> I've built a bunch of kits over the years and the following technique
> works very well for me and keeps me from messing up...it is a bit
> labor intensive but it has proved to be foolproof for me (me being the
> fool or course:)
>
> I get sheet of legal size paper and write down the numbers of the
> components.i.e., R1, R2, C1 C2, etc, I do all the resistors and then
> the capacitors.
>
> I tape all the resistors and caps next to their designator on the paper.
>
> When I install a part I cross its number off of the list.
>
> I do this for diodes, transistors, toroids, etc....not the spare
> chassis parts though (grin)
>
> I can then tell when all those values have been used up and if I have
> any extra left over...meaning I made a mistake with another part and I
> can go looking for my mistake.
>
> It takes some time to do this but I find it much better than putting
> parts in certain containers by value.....with my system I can tell if
> I have installed the correct number of a particular part value.
>
> Maybe not for everyone cause it is labor intensive but I find the kits
> go together faster and with much fewer mistakes with this system.
>
>                                    73, Joe W2KJ
>                                    I QRP, therefore, I am
>

    Hi Joe, I last built an AT Sprint 3 kit. It is a complete radio and
there are a lot of parts in plastic bags. Instructions are clear to NOT
OPEN THE CAPACITORS because they are not marked! When we get to mounting
the capacitors you dump a sack into a  desert dish and then install all
18 of them. Then open another bag into the dish and carry on until all
the capacitors are mounted.

     This dish method worked fine and the components are surface mount
type. But you need to get the dishes when the wife is not looking :-)

73 Karl K5DI

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