Research Design Services (aka Electronics Lab) is an excellent resource for assistance in the repair, maintenance, fabrication, or purchase of electronics-related instrumentation and components.

Areas of expertise

  • Hardware design
  • Analog, digital, sensor circuits, electro-mechanical design
  • Sensors experience:
    • Temp
    • RH
    • PH
    • O2
    • Pressure
    • Strain
    • Current
    • Voltage
    • Light
    • Wavelength
    • CO
    • CO2 and more
  • Design–data acquisition and control
    • Example: Using LabView (graphical programming)
  • Control design
  • Logic-based controls (PLCs) and microcontrollers
  • Various custom test boxes
  • Indicators, switches, and controls
  • Exploring new technologies

Other serices offered include 3D printing, calibrations, and ESD compliancy checks.

Custom electronics equipment on a table

Custom design work

We welcome custom design work! Submit a request if you're interested.

Services and skillsets

We are here to assist you with a wide variety of electronics needs, including:

  • Low-cost solutions to many instrument/equipment issues
  • First line of defense versus expensive factory service calls
  • Repair, modifications, improvements, and maintenance
  • Troubleshooting assistance when your instrument isn't working
  • Technical assistance and resources, brainstorming solutions
  • Design resources, new equipment, equipment modifications
  • Instruments, equipment, and components assistance
  • Calibrations
  • ESD compliancy checks

Goals

Our goal is to keep labs, your equipment, and your experiements up and running!

Contact

Mike Estenson

Mike Estenson

Electrical Project Engineer
michael-estenson@uiowa.edu
319-335-2113

Frequently asked questions

  • Wide selection of various integrated circuits (ICs)
  • Fuses (all sizes)
  • Power cords
  • Wire and cable
  • Grommets, knobs
  • Small screws, washers, nuts, standoffs, spacers
  • Connectors (power, test, PCs, data)
  • Various power supplies
  • Rheostats, infinite switches
  • Shrink tubing
  • Electrical tape, nuts, supplies
  • Batteries
  • LEDs, lamps, bulbs
  • Capacitors and inductors
  • Potentiometers
  • Packaging materials for small items
  • Various tools for loan out
  • Various instruments and equipment for loan out
    • Note: Small fees may apply
  • Thermocouple accessories, wire
  • Large selection of wire terminals (i.e. quick disconnects)
  • Relays, switches
  • Voltage regulators
  • Resistors, ¼ W to 10W+
  • Solder and solder accessories

Submit a request

Refer to your PIs/CLAS Grant Support Office if you are unsure of your MFK number.
Record the details of your request. Include as much detail as possible regarding work requested. Also feel free to include weblinks or attach any digitized drawings or pictures as appropriate to help convey the work being requested.

Limit of 2 same or similar instruments may be included on a single request.

Maximum 5 files.
50 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, png, bmp, eps, tif, pict, psd, txt, rtf, html, odf, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, avi, mov, mp3, ogg, wav, bz2, gz, sit, svg, tar, zip.