Hint on Finding Small Parts that "Dropped"

John R.

(or how to avoid an unending stream of undesirable words from spewing forth)

Who has not dropped something like a #2 lock washer, or sub micron surface mount resistor? If you are someone who hasn't, move on, nothing more to see here.

For the other 99.99% of us, here's what I hope is a helpful hint.

If you work on a carpeted floor, so sorry, but you're screwed (pun intended). The best I can offer is a freshly emptied and cleaned "dust buster" or other hand held vac.

For those of us smart enough to be working on a smooth floor, here's how you find those tiny parts (only works for 3-d parts).

* Get a flashlight
* Move big stuff out of the way (chairs, dogs, etc.)
* Turn out the room lights (yes, we're going to work in the dark)
* Get down on your hands and knees, or even your belly (see note 2 below)
* Turn on the flashlight, and hold it so that the edge of the flashlight is on the floor, and the beam is parallel to the floor.
** What you're after is in essence to light up the floor from the side
** Slowly sweep the light from side to side
* The part can be found (usually) by looking for it's shadow.

Note 1: I thought to post this because of this tread over in robotics: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=908927

Note 2: Based on what I saw at UPEC, most of us (self included) would be closer to the floor on hands and knees than if we laid on our bellies

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John R.
Click here to see my Nomad Build Log

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

If the part is magnetic, drag a magnet around. Otherwise, some fine mesh cloth (cheesecloth, old sock (not one with holes!) , nylon stocking, etc.) pushed down into a vacuum cleaner hose and secured on the outside with a tight (!) rubber band or wire tie makes a fine catchment for the tiny things.

-Phil

Peter Jakacki

Depends upon the part but most of the time I never bother, they many parts are so cheap and my time is so ""precious"". Otherwise a super-magnet wrapped in paper or whatever will pick up everything (thankfully the floor itself is non-magnetic). Once you have the parts and all loose bits of wire etc clinging to the magnet you only have to remove the magnet from the wrapper and all the parts fall down into where you want them. Using the magnet behind a plastic lid is another way and all the parts are already in the lid then. I keep coke bottle lids for "bitzers".

Have you ever seen some of those parts under the microscope after you have picked them up? Depending where they have landed they can have bits of dust and pet fur on them, even off a clean floor. I assume you are mostly talking about SMD parts so in which case I avoid reusing them.

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*Peter*

John R.

Personally I have more problems with round parts like screws, springs, etc. rolling. I am fanatical about picking them up, because if I don't I, or the pets, tend to step on them. They can hurt (or even penetrate) bare feet.

I also learned the flashlight thing while working on plastic models. If you dropped a piece, you couldn't go to the bin and find a replacement, and I really didn't like the idea of having to repurchase a kit for one part. Plastic is not magnetic...

Also, the magnets are good if you know about where the piece is, but not if you don't have a clue. The shadow thing helps you find them.

I really like the idea of a fine mesh on the vacuum hose. A lot easier than digging through the pleats of the filter.

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John R.
Click here to see my Nomad Build Log

ElectricAye

John R. said...
...
* The part can be found (usually) by looking for it's shadow.

....

Good idea. It works for acoustics, too. See side-scan sonar.


www.instituteformarineacoustics.org/SonarPrimer/SideScanSonar.htm#Shadows

Jay Kickliter

And old trick I learned in the Navy and still use today: when dealing with small parts, which I will drop, I lay down a white sheet below my work area. Washers will always travel outside the sheet, but everything else is usually easy to find.

Peter Jakacki

That trick worked for the Navy but it wouldn't stay white for long and I must answer to a higher authority, she will be obeyed!

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*Peter*

Dr_Acula

I agree with John R. I find a surefire way to find lost parts is to work barefoot. Invariably, that missing 40 pin dip will have fallen with the pins facing upwards, and will be reunited (literally) with its owner via 40 tiny puncture wounds.

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www.smarthome.viviti.com/propeller