A friend (an ME) asked me what basic tools professional EEs typically have on their bench these days. Back in the dark ages, when I was still doing design work, I would have said an EE's bench would include a scope, signal generator, soldering iron, wire clippers of some sort, and a wire-wrapping gun. These days, I think that stuff might still work for home projects but maybe not for real developers. So I am curious: For the real developers out there, what are the four or five go-to tools on your bench?
Visor with 3x and 5x magnifying lenses.
Flat-nose Tweezers (squeeze to open) for SMD parts
DMV with frequency counter and %duty cycle
Scope with frequency counter.
Power supply (50v 1amp) - I have several - extremely low noise (not amps)
PIC microcontroller programmers (PICKit2, 3 and a new-fangled one I haven't even tried yet. )
A PC for simulation, PCB layout, and Programming Microcontrollers.
A thermostat-controlled Soldering iron
Shear-style flush-cut wire cutters
PC with internet connection for looking up data sheets, searching parts and ordering parts.
Drill press and sub-mm carbide drill bits for PCB.
Wire stripper
Laser printer and PET film for making positive photo-resist from pre-sensitized PCBs
A fluorescent lamp with cold fluorescent tube for exposure of sensitized PCB
Internet connection to look up data sheets, as well as search and place orders for parts