Guest story by Mahdi Khamseh, Photonics and Optical Sciences Club (POSM), University of Minnesota.
Building advanced photonics hardware requires more than a strong circuit design. For the Photonics and Optical Sciences Club (POSM) at the University of Minnesota, it also means turning custom printed circuit boards, wires, connectors, and RF modules into dependable laboratory hardware.
With support from SainSmart, the team added a SainSmart Magnetic Helping Hands Soldering Station with LED Magnifying Lamp to the lab. Its adjustable magnetic arms, PCB holders, and magnifying light gave students a steadier and more repeatable way to assemble and rework the electronics behind their 780 nm spectroscopy and laser-locking system.
Building Scientific Instruments at POSM
POSM is a student-led engineering and physics organization developing experimental photonics hardware and scientific instrumentation at the University of Minnesota.
Its flagship project is a student-built rubidium magneto-optical trap (MOT), which uses carefully tuned lasers to cool, transport, and manipulate rubidium atoms.
The project brings together laser spectroscopy, RF and analog electronics, optomechanics, feedback control, vacuum systems, imaging, and programming. Student researchers are involved throughout the engineering process, from initial design and PCB development to fabrication, revision, testing, and experimental integration.
One major milestone is a stable 780 nm rubidium spectroscopy and laser-locking system. Reaching that goal depends on custom electronics that must be assembled, interconnected, tested, repaired, and maintained before the complete system can operate reliably.
The Challenge: Turning PCB Designs into Reliable Lab Hardware
A central part of POSM's spectroscopy lock is a custom RF signal generator PCB with 12 programmable output channels spanning 6 MHz to 120 MHz. The outputs serve both the signal-generation board and other parts of the spectroscopy lock as reference signals.
Designing the circuitry, however, was only part of the job.
During assembly, students needed to keep small PCBs, RF amplifier boards, wires, connectors, and interconnects precisely aligned while operating a soldering iron and feeding solder into the joint.
Before the lab had a dedicated PCB soldering holder, students often relied on tape or held parts manually. If a board, wire, or component shifted, the setup had to be repositioned before work could continue. Falling parts also created a risk of damage and made consistent soldering more difficult.
How a Magnetic Helping Hands Soldering Station Improved the Workflow
SainSmart donated a Magnetic Helping Hands Soldering Station with LED Magnifying Lamp, model 101-92-PCBH2, to the POSM student laboratory.
The station uses independently adjustable magnetic arms and clamps to secure PCBs, wires, connectors, sensors, and small electronic assemblies. The magnetic base allows each helping hand to be repositioned depending on the task, while the LED magnifying lamp gives students a closer view of small components and solder joints.
For POSM, one of the biggest improvements was the ability to prepare the mechanical setup before bringing the soldering iron to the joint.
One arm could hold the primary PCB while another positioned a wire, connector, RF module, or interconnect at the intended solder point. Once the parts were secured, students could keep both hands available for soldering.
The resulting workflow became more repeatable:
- Position the PCB and interconnect.
- Secure the parts with the adjustable helping hands.
- Solder with both hands available.
- Inspect the joint using the magnifying lamp while the assembly remains supported.
- Test and rework the hardware when needed.
From PCB Design to Physical Hardware
A schematic or PCB layout is only one stage of engineering. Finished hardware still needs to be assembled, inspected, powered, tested, debugged, revised, and integrated with the larger experiment.
Wires need strain relief, connectors must remain aligned, and small boards need to stay accessible during testing and rework.
While a magnetic helping hands soldering station does not affect the electrical design itself, it can make the physical assembly process more stable and repeatable. Keeping the PCB and surrounding components supported allows students to focus more closely on the solder joint instead of trying to hold several parts in position at the same time.
“The moment this device was brought in our lab, I immediately saw its value. A PCB can look perfect on the computer, but somebody still has to turn it into working hardware. Being able to position the board and the connection before we start soldering means we can focus on making a clean joint instead of trying to hold everything together at the same time. This was a huge productivity boost. Thank you very much!”
By keeping assemblies stable during soldering, inspection, testing, and later modification, the station supports the broader build-test-revise cycle used throughout POSM's experimental electronics work.
More Than a PCB Holder
The helping hands station has become shared fabrication equipment for students working across electronics and photonics instrumentation.
Beyond the RF electronics described here, it can support a wide range of electronics work, including PCB assembly and rework, connector soldering, wire soldering, cable fabrication, sensor wiring, electronics repair, and small module assembly.
For tasks where several small parts need to stay aligned, the adjustable magnetic helping hands act as an extra set of hands at the workbench. The LED magnifying lamp also makes it easier to inspect small components and solder joints without removing the assembly from its supported position.
As new students join the group, the same soldering station can also support hands-on learning in soldering, PCB rework, cable assembly, and hardware testing.
Projects and board revisions may change, but the need to assemble and maintain reliable hardware remains.
Supporting the Next Stage of POSM's Work
POSM plans to continue integrating the 780 nm spectroscopy and laser-frequency locking system with modulation electronics, photodetection, analog signal conditioning, feedback control, and the optical system used to resolve and lock to the rubidium D2 spectrum.
The SainSmart helping-hands station will remain part of that fabrication workflow as the platform advances toward a complete laser lock and the larger rubidium magneto-optical trap.
For a student-led laboratory, even a relatively simple improvement in how PCBs and electronic components are positioned can make it easier to move from a design on screen to dependable experimental hardware.
Tool Used in This Project
POSM used the SainSmart Magnetic Helping Hands Soldering Station with LED Magnifying Lamp for PCB assembly, soldering, inspection, and electronics rework.
Designed for makers, electronics enthusiasts, students, and repair work, the station combines adjustable magnetic helping hands, PCB clamps, and an LED magnifying lamp to help keep small components stable and visible during precision soldering tasks.
Explore the Magnetic Helping Hands Soldering Station
Editor's note: SainSmart supports student makers, engineering clubs, and hands-on STEM projects that turn ideas into real hardware.
