So after looking at the high priced real HP logic analyzer cart that didn’t look that great to me, I decided to build my own incorporating a ton of features that just really makes my life easier. This is optimized for use over cost.

The physical make up

• It uses solid 2×2 poplar posts as the overall frame. Easily available from Home Depot.
• The surface is 3/4″ birch veneered plywood. I use this plywood for a bunch of projects. It’s pretty solid stuff, and the birch really looks nice on top.
• The surface is treated with Polycrylic. Polycrylic resists damage from abrasion, scuffing, chipping, water, alcohol and other common household chemicals. This is nice stuff, but expensive. Nice topcoat.
• The visible layered plywood sides were wrapped with birch veneer that I ironed on with a clothes iron.
• The overall dimensions are 24″ Wide, 27″ Deep, 35″ High including the 4″ high Casters.
• This thing is built like a brick shithouse. Even with the Heavy LA on it, it’s really sturdy.

Labeled Features

1. The monitor is a 20″ 4:3 Samsung. It was an older one, but that’s exactly what I wanted. I don’t think it will do the 1600×1200 max resolution, but the next one down (1280 x 1024?) It’s connected to an Ergotron(love this company’s stuff) monitor arm so that I can push/pull/adjust/spin/raise the monitor over top of DUT’s.
2. This is a 115 watts of light DIY flexible task lamp that I built myself out of spare strip LEDs. It uses less than 20 watts of power. Look here if you’d like to see the full design for it. It works very nicely.
3. The static dissipative naprene rubber mat from 3M 8831 is beautiful. It’s a great tough surface that really works. I have a wrist-strap (w/ 1M resistor) attached to the corner. The mat is fully grounded through the power strip on the rear.
4. This custom sliding keyboard shelf is almost 20″ wide and includes a Cherry ML4100 keyboard that is compatible with the LA. I also added a Kensington trackball M01082 which is much more practical given the space limitations. I like this solution better than trying to jam a full-sized keyboard in there. The shelf was put at an ergonomic height.
5. This is the HP LA itself. Right now, it’s outfitted with a 16752A, (2) 16715A’s, (2) 16717A’s.
6. I found a generic storage bin that really fit the space underneath the cart. Perfect dimensions. I use it for storing cables, CDs, manuals, and everything related. Nice to have it all in one place.
7. These are 4″ Black 4″ Black locking Polyolefin Wheels, model L3PB4X. Support up to 250 pounds. I originally used 2″ casters, these are so much better.

Other things that are nice to have

• A 12-outlet Belkin Surge Suppressor with a 10-foot cord. This is nice because everything attaches to the strip which is zip-tied to the frame, and then just one cord leaves the cart to the outlet. This means I can wheel this thing around my make-shift lab and have it exactly where I want with minimal mess.
• A wireless bridge that connects the wired RJ45 network port to 802.11 wifi. The brand is IOGEAR, and it simply does the job beautifully. This prevents me from running an ethernet cable over to the LA.