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Scientific Workshop - Electronics Deparment

We work for the scientific and medical institutions of the university.
Our work includes:

Advising and supporting scientists and institute electronics technicians regarding the use of electronics for research and teaching purposes (purchasing, testing, efficient and economical use of electronic devices, clarification of electronic measurement problems)
Developing and constructing non-commercial electronic devices specifically for research tasks and teaching (for experimental diploma and state examination papers, for internships and demonstration experiments).
When developing electronic devices, we look for ways to generate, measure, process and evaluate signals. The frequency range in which we handle signals is between 0Hz and 1GHz. We also develop and build control and regulation devices.
Central storage of commonly used small parts including provision of component information.
You can submit your orders to us online through the inventory withdrawal form.

A complete overview can be found in our service catalog as well as a selection of our previous projects in the project list.

Services in detail:

In development, we try to find an electronic solution for your problem/task. This includes analysis, possibly with an on-site visit, advice on material and equipment procurement, and of course the development of our own devices.

CAD tools are available as design tools (Orcad, Eagle, KiCad). The production of the circuit boards is left to the circuit board technology (LPT) at Uni-West.

For testing the devices, we have an EMC chamber and a climate chamber, among other things. Here, the modules can be tested or aged under extreme temperatures.

For development, we have a number of different measuring, signal, analysis, and testing devices. An IR camera is available to detect thermal problems early.

If needed (and after appropriate instruction), it is possible to rent these devices to the institutes at favorable conditions.

The circuit board production takes place at the Circuit Board Technology at the Uni. They are usually produced double-sided with through-plating and component markings. For simple sample circuit boards, we can use photo-coated material that is conventionally exposed, developed, and etched.

There is no cheap mass-produced equipment available from us.
Each device is built and tested individually. A device safety test according to VDE 0701/0702 as well as for medical devices according to VDE 0751 is mandatory. In cooperation with other areas of the Scientific Workshop, complete enclosures and shields can also be produced.

There are many options for processing housings, especially front panels, and circuit boards. Generally, a compromise must be found between design, function, and price. In the sample construction, label printers or a printout of the laser printer on special aluminum foil are used for quick labeling. Laser engraved anodized front panels are currently the first choice. These are manufactured by the mechanics of the Scientific Workshop.

For rework tasks, in addition to a "normal" desoldering station, we have an IR soldering station and a stereo microscope.

For the production of special plastic parts, a 3D printer is available.

Microcontrollers are used for many control and regulation tasks. They have decisive advantages: relatively simple programming and use of free software. Ready-made components can be used, so that hardware development also quickly leads to initial results. But as always, the devil is in the detail.

We work with both Microchip's PIC controllers and Atmel (AVR, ATMega, Arduino...) components. (The companies have since merged...)

Communication with the PC usually takes place via USB. Rudimentary user interfaces can then be realized, for example, with Visual Basic. More sophisticated operation can be realized, for example, with apps on the smartphone.

The software "LabView" from NI has gained great popularity for controlling devices, data acquisition, and data processing. With it, tasks can be solved relatively quickly without having to learn a programming language. However, the program packages have become so extensive that you have to expect a significant learning phase when dealing with more in-depth questions.

In addition to the original control of measurement acquisition cards, acoustic and optical systems can now also be integrated, and of course, extensive network protocols are integrated. The necessary software licenses are offered by KIZ.

The device list contains measurement and test devices that can be borrowed for a small fee if available. If you are interested, please contact us personally.

If you have devices in your institute that you rarely use, you can let us know, and we will pass them on to other institutes if necessary.

Information about the warehouse:

If you need electronic components, come to our Electronics Warehouse (Building O26, Level 1). Please fill out the online warehouse order form in advance.

Available parts can be taken immediately, while others will need to be ordered. Let us know how urgently you need the parts, as it will help with planning.

What we have:

For university use (institutes and clinics), we have common components in stock (see ⇒ inventory list). We are also happy to assist with "exotic" parts from our drawers. Everything else can usually be ordered at favorable conditions on short notice. It is best if you can provide the exact article designation (see ⇒ suppliers) to avoid confusion.

A private sale of materials to university members/students using the ⇒ chip card wallet function is possible.

We have the following in stock (⇒ inventory list):

plastic and metal housings
passive electronic components
active components (transistors, analog, 74.., CMos,...)
boards (hole grid,...)
cables, wires
shrink tubing
connectors
copper wire
transformers, power supplies
some standard batteries
...

Note: The inventory list may not reflect current availability.
For questions regarding availability and special requests, please call, email, or simply stop by.

What we don't have:

PC accessories (cables, expansion cards, CD-RW...) are not stocked as standard.
Halogen lights + bulbs (230V, except for some signal lamps)
fluorescent tubes, especially for room lighting (please inquire with the caretakers or building technology department (Dez V-2))
larger quantities of batteries (these are available in the WW material warehouse at Festpunkt M25)

Of course, we can also order these parts for you.

Note:

For many items, it is not worth "hoarding" larger quantities, as distributor lead times are relatively short. So if you plan ahead a little and categorize your needs accordingly as "urgent", "soon" or "can wait two weeks", it will help us with order planning. We strive to achieve favorable quantity discounts and keep the postage share low. On the other hand, we are required to calculate a storage surcharge within the framework of the workshop regulations for our activity.