Archive for LCR-Reader

Summer Sale Now on in LCR-Reader Store

// June 29th, 2018 // No Comments » // Bluetooth, Devices, LCR-Reader, LCR-Reader Store, News, Sale, ST-5S, ST5S-BT2, Uncategorized

Until July 6th, 2018, Siborg is offering a discount on LCR-Reader, LCR-Reader-MP, Smart Tweezers and other test devices in the LCR-Reader-Store.

 

 

Siborg Offers New Smart Tweezers Offset Calibration Board

// May 24th, 2017 // No Comments » // Devices, LCR-Reader, LCR-Reader Store, News, ST-5S, ST5S-BT, ST5S-BT2, Uncategorized

offsetboard_200Siborg has begun offering the Smart Tweezers Offset Calibration Board in the LCR-Reader Store.

This Calibration Board is a dummy PCB for actual offset values. The board uses holes that represent the size of components (0201, 0402, etc.).

To find the offset of the component being tested, set the Smart Tweezers or Colibri  to 10kHz and insert the tweezer tips into the holes of the corresponding component size. The device will show the actual offset capacitance value; this value can then be deducted from the value of the measured component.

Previously, users had to approximate the size of the component with the tips and note the value. This method was inaccurate and unsuitable for high accuracy.

The Offset Calibration Board is also useful for setting the automatic offset-subtraction value on Smart Tweezers models.

The Smart Tweezers Offset Calibration Board is available in the LCR-Reader Store in all Smart Tweezers Plus and Pro kits, as well as on its own.

How to Resolve False Measurements

// February 24th, 2017 // No Comments » // Devices, FAQ, Help, How To, LCR-Reader, Maintenance, News, Smart Tweezers Maintenance, Smart Tweezers Questions and Answers, Uncategorized

False measurements are when the device shows a measurement while not being in contact with a component. The device will stop showing a measurement value when the tips are removed. False measurements will cause the device to continue displaying a measurement and not turn off, leading to the battery being drained.

There are a few reasons as to why the device is showing a false measurement. This could include the tips being misaligned or shifted during transportation or if the device has been dropped or mishandled. Replacing the tips with a new set may also cause false readings. Generally, these false measurements are caused by metal or plastic debris caught between the tips and arms of the device and can be fixed with these easy steps:

  1. Start by removing the tips and cleaning the arms with isopropyl and a soft cloth or gauze to remove any extra debris. Reinstall the tips to the device. If the device is still showing a reading, remove the tips and continue to step two.
  2. Try removing any excess flex cable from in or around the screw-holes. Gently rotate a drill bit by hand or use a Philips head screwdriver that is twice the size of the hole. This will scrape away any extra plastic and gold from the flex cable. The red circles in the image below shows where interference can occur.screw hole on an armDrill bit clearing interference
  3. Sometimes bits of metal remain stuck in the threads from assembly. These bits can be removed using a tap or one of the screws to clear the threads. Tighten and remove a few times.
  4. Cleaning the screws may also help. Sometimes debris can be stuck between the threads.
  5. If all else fails, make sure there is no metal bits stuck under the flex cable around the screw holes. Very rarely does metal get between these two pieces, but it can create false measurements. Always try scraping away extra flex cable first. Use sharp tweezers to remove any visible metal pieces without tearing or damaging the flex cable.

NOTE: Removing the flex cable will damage the glue and may cause issues when re-adhering the flex cable which can impact the accuracy of the measurements.

  1. Make sure to clean away any residual plastic or metal using isopropyl and a soft cloth or gauze before reinstalling the tips.

 

If these steps do not remove the false readings, please contact Siborg Systems Inc.

Siborg Hosts End-of-January Sale in the LCR-Reader Store and Amazon

// January 24th, 2017 // No Comments » // amazon, Bluetooth, Devices, LCR-Reader, LCR-Reader Store, News, Sale, Smart LED Test Tweezers, ST-5S, ST5S-BT, Uncategorized

 

Siborg is offering up to 20% off their Smart Tweezers and LCR-Reader devices and other SMD testing tools in the LCR-Reader Store and Amazon sales channels. The sale starts on January 18th at 12:00AM and ends on January 31st at 11:59 PM EST. The sale includes LCR-Reader and Smart Tweezers devices, including Bluetooth model and task kits. Siborg is also offering a discount on LED Test Tweezers, Kelvin Probe Connector for Smart Twezers and LCR-Reader, and SMD Multimeter Test Tweezers.

 

Visit the LCR-Reader Store or Amazon Sales Channels in USA, Canada, and Europe before January 31st for your chance to get up to 20% off!

Siborg Hosting End of Year Sale on Smart Tweezers and LCR-Reader

// December 22nd, 2016 // No Comments » // amazon, Bluetooth, Devices, LCR-Reader, LCR-Reader Store, News, Sale, ST-5S, ST5S-BT, Uncategorized

Starting December 26th, 2016 at 12:00 AM Siborg is offering a discount on LCR-Readers, Smart Tweezers and up to 20% off task kits in the LCR-Reader Store and Amazon Sales channels in USA, Canada and Europe. The sale will end at 11:59PM on December 31st. This sale includes the new LCR-Reader Pro Plus and Smart Tweezers Pro task kits that include the Kelvin Probe Station.

 

probe_connector_opensystems

Siborg Offering a Discount on All LCR- and ESR-meters and Test Tweezers Until the End of September

// September 21st, 2016 // No Comments » // amazon, Devices, LCR-Reader, LCR-Reader Store, News, Sale, ST-5S

From now until September 30th, 2016, Siborg is offering a 10% discount on all their devices in the LCR-Reader Store and Amazon sales channels. This sale includes all of LCR-Reader and Smart Tweezers devices and task kits, as well as other test tweezers devices, such as the SMD Multimeter Test Tweezers, LED Test Tweezers,  and LCR-Reader Probe Connector.

This sale includes the new Smart Tweezers with Bluetooth that allows users to remotely record their measurement results in real time.

lcrreaderprous Also included is the LCR-Reader Pro task kit that includes a pre-calibrated LCR-Reader, NIST Traceable Calibration Certificate, spare battery, extra bent tweezer probes, wall charger and manuals.

Visit the LCR-Reader Store, Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.ca for your chance to get Siborg’s devices at a discount from now until September 30th, 2016.

LCR-Readers Now Accompanied by Calibration Certificates

// July 29th, 2016 // No Comments » // Devices, LCR-Reader, LCR-Reader Store, News

Over the past year, Siborg worked with the Institute of Automation and Electrometry at the Russian Academy of Sciences in creating a new calibration fixture that could handle the complete range of measurements for both Smart Tweezers and LCR-Reader. After completion, Siborg sent the fixture to one of Canada’s leading calibration houses for verification. Once verified, Siborg was able to offer periodic calibration with certificate for LCR-Readers when the device and a certificate were purchased together in the LCR-Reader Store. LCR-Readers now come with Calibration Certificates

Siborg also created new task kits, including the LCR-Reader Professional that included the certificate as well as spare bent tweezer-tips and an extra battery.

Siborg is now offering NIST Traceable Calibration Certificates with every LCR-Reader without any extra cost.

The lack of traceable periodic calibration was a hindrance for professionals that were looking for a tool like Smart Tweezers that offers a certificate, but did not agree with the high price.

Check out the LCR-Reader Store for all Siborg’s offerings:

  • LCR-Reader
  • LCR-Reader Task Kits: pre-bundled options that offer customers a device and accessories with a lower price than buying each piece separately
  • Smart Tweezers ST-5S
  • Smart Tweezers ST5S-BT: Bluetooth enabled Smart Tweezers that can record measurement results in real-time
  • Smart Tweezers Task Kits
  • SMD Multimeter Test Tweezers: add tweezer-like precision to any multimeter
  • LED Test Tweezers: Tweezer testing for LEDs, switches, fuses, etc. Comes with a special connector cable that connects the device to a multimeter
  • LCR-Reader Probe Connector: Turns LCR-Reader and Smart Tweezers into a probe station for complete PCB probing, as well as extends the abilities of the devices to measure components that would not fit between the tweezers

New LCR-Reader Probe Connector

// July 14th, 2016 // No Comments » // LCR-Reader, LCR-Reader Store, News, ST-5S

Siborg Systems Inc. has released a new product: the LCR-Reader Probe Station allows complete PCB probing and allows the device to measure components larger than would normally fit between the tweezers’ tips.

The kit includes a 60 cm shielded two-wire connection with a small PCB on one end and a universal attachment for the seven included probe types (alligator clips, 4mm multimeter jacks, long and short pin-probes and a spade connector).

The shielded two-wire connection virtually eliminates all parasitics due to the wires. The Probe Station is also compatible with both LCR-Reader and Smart Tweezers devices.

It is easy to connect and use; simply remove one of the gold-plated tweezer probes and replace with the flat end of the Probe Connector, making sure that the gold strips on the connector and device’s flex cable connect. Replace the screws, choose a probe attachment and begin measuring.

This new product is available in the LCR-Reader Store for only $24.99 US.

lcrreaderprobestation probe_connector_opensystems

Siborg to Begin Offer Bluetooth Enabled Smart Tweezers

// April 28th, 2016 // No Comments » // Devices, LCR-Reader, LCR-Reader Store, News, ST5S-BT, Uncategorized

Siborg Systems Inc. will be offering a new model of Smart Tweezers with Bluetooth capabilities in mid-May, the ST5s-BT.

This is the first upgrade to the ST-5S, which will allow users to remotely log their measurement results with a compatible device. This will be more efficient by letting users keep track of their previously measured components rather than re-measuring each time.

The Bluetooth is connected using a USB receiver stick that establishes a virtual serial port. Measurements results are sent using a string of comma separated values that represent the measurement results.

Ex. C1.398nF,R3.461kR,10kHz,0.5,S,,,,
C(main impedance value type)1.398nF(main impedance value),R(secondary impedance)3.461kR(secondary impedance value),10kHz(test frequency),0.5(test signal level),S(measurement mode, in this case, serial), followed by 4 reserved values.

This information is then sent to the port and is received by any communication software.

TeraTerm Screen.jpg(STBT-may032016)For example, the photo shows the free Terra Term software receiving data. This data can be save into a file or documented. If the LabView software is being used, it can process and store the data in a database as needed.

The Bluetooth connection will be supported by an NI VISA instrument driver in the NI LabView® environment. Eventually the device will have Apps for the Windows, Android and iOS operating systems.

Smart Tweezers ST-5S is a hand held LCR-meter with high accuracy and plenty of features for specific tasks. These features include: fully automatic LCR and ESR measurements, variable tolerances and test signal ranges, basic accuracy of 0.2%, component sorting, diode and continuity testing, and offers a 4-way joystick-like-navigation that allows basic settings to be changed quickly on the default screen.

The new ST5S-BT will be available starting mid-May from Siborg’s LCR-Reader Store and Amazon sales channels in USA, Canada and Europe.

 

Siborg Creates New Calibration Fixture and Calibration Certificates for LCR-Reader

// April 1st, 2016 // No Comments » // Distributors, LCR-Reader, LCR-Reader Store, News, ST-5S

Calibration Jig for Smart Tweezers and LCR-Reader

Calibration Jig for Smart Tweezers and LCR-Reader


Siborg has been working over the past year with the Institute of Automation and Electrometry at the Russian Academy of Sciences in creating a Calibration Fixture that will allow periodic calibration of all models of Smart Tweezers, and, most importantly, the LCR-Reader. The calibration fixture was then sent to Navair Technologies in Toronto, Canada to be verified. With this verification from Navair, Siborg will soon be able to include calibration certificates with LCR-Reader, which was a main hindrance in companies using the device.

The calibration unit utilizes a 4-wire connection which has been found to reduce noise between connections and the PCB within the calibration fixture.

Previous calibration fixtures used a 2-wire connector which worked well for older models of Smart Tweezers, including the ST-1, ST-2 and ST-3. The 2-wire connector was not able to handle the measurements within the LCR-Reader and Smart Tweezers measurement ranges. Due to parasitics, it could not measure lower values of capacitance and inductance and higher values of resistance. Therefore, the 2-wire calibration fixture was only able to measure mid-range values.

The calibration fixture uses 14 known components that lay within the range of measurements. When a device is connected, the fixture will signal a different component with each button push. The measurement values are instantly displayed on the LCR-Reader or Smart Tweezers’ display which can then be compared to the known values of the components to determine accuracy.

“The new fixture makes it much easier to provide periodic traceable calibration now that it has been certified by Navair Technologies. We have now completed two versions of the calibration fixture using both 4-wire and 2-wire connections. The 4-wire is best suited for newer models, including the recent LCR-Reader. The 2-wire is best for the older models, including the ST-1, ST-2, ST-3 and STIC. These older models used a 2-wire connecjigtion in the handles of the device and could not be properly tested with the 4-wire terminal. This new calibration unit will allow all models to be tested and calibrated.” says the Director of Research and Development at Siborg, Michael Obrecht.

Soon, the calibration certificates will be available in the LCR-Reader Store; there will be 2 types to choose from: a basic calibration certificate that ensures the device has been calibrated, or a more detailed format that shows the measurement results compared to the known values.