Bench Werx describes the PCB Rax system as an easy-to-use, versatile circuit board holder for board repair, prototyping, and assembly. The basic PCB Rax consists of two side rails
with feet, connected by threaded rods that allow the rails
to clamp rectangular circuit boards between them, plus
four extension brackets that connect to the rails at
adjustable angles to hold smaller or different shaped
boards. Figure 1 shows these components assembled into
the PCB Rax system, ready to hold a circuit board for
assembly or rework.
To put the system through its paces, I assembled four
circuit boards of varying size and complexity that I found
lurking in my goody box. These included an Elenco SP-3B
Solder Practice Kit (partially completed by the grandkids),
an ancient Parallax S- 2 Robot Badge kit, an old Pocket
Mini Computer kit from Propellerpowered, and one
Parallax EDU circuit overlay board that I used to build out
a current project of mine. These boards are mostly
through-hole construction with a few surface-mount
components, and they have varying component densities
and component proximity to board edges. They represent
most of the PCB assembly tasks that I encounter as a
hobbyist. I also placed a few components on an old
prototype board, then removed and replaced them to
simulate some board repair (Figure 2).
To cut right to the chase, I’ve been building things
electronic for a long time, and I was a bit skeptical that the
PCB Rax could add much value to the process I’ve
developed over the years. With my curiosity still intact, I
spent about eight hours over six different sessions
evaluating the system. I found it easy to learn and easy to
use, and I discovered that circuit board assembly and repair
went noticeably quicker and easier using the PCB Rax. I like
this tool, and I’m going to order one. Here’s why.
With 50 plus years of hobbyist soldering under my
belt, I’ve become something of a minimalist, now relying
on tape, clips, and trained fingers to get the most out of
my simple 15 watt iron. I no longer have a full-time
electronics bench or even a soldering station, and I long
ago traded in my big oscilloscope and signal generator for
tiny PC-driven devices that hide in a desk drawer and see
I was recently asked to review a product that readers may soon see
advertised in this magazine — the PCB Rax system from Bench Werx. A quick
look of the Bench Werx website (see www.benchwerx.com/pcb-rax) had me
intrigued, and I agreed to put the PCB (printed circuit board) Rax through its
paces and report back the results. Here’s what I found.
Bench Werx Offers a
Versatile PCB Holder
FIGURE 1. The PCB Rax
system from Bench Werx.
FIGURE 2. Projects completed for this
evaluation. Note the different board sizes,
shapes, and component densities.
REVIEW
36 January 2017