Five ways for engineers to spend their holiday gift cards

As engineers, we understand that it can be difficult for friends and family to shop for us. They know that we like to tinker with technology, but sometimes our interests go over their heads. However, we have some ideas for how to spend those holiday gift cards on things that you'll really enjoy.


Learn R and start creating amazing graphs

If you're currently using Excel for data wrangling and creating graphs and charts, it's time to learn R. R is a programming language and free software for statistical computing and graphics. One of the best things about R is its programmable graphics environment, which allows you to build up the elements of the graph that you want and make it look amazing. With R, you can handle large datasets that are beyond the capabilities of Excel. A great book to start with is "R for Data Science." You can purchase it on Amazon for $36 or find it for free online.


Take better measurements with quality digital calipers

A good pair of calipers is an essential tool for mechanical engineers and can also be useful for electrical engineers. Whether you're measuring mounting hole spacing or reverse-engineering a mechanical part, accurate calipers are indispensable. Quality calipers offer more accuracy and require calibration. Cheap options are often not calibrated or need to be recalibrated. Consider investing in a pair of Mitutoyo calipers, which offer 0.01mm of resolution and include a long-form calibration certificate.


Expand your knowledge with online courses on Udemy

Sometimes, knowledge is the best gift, and that's exactly what you can purchase on Udemy. There are thousands of technical courses available on Udemy, including courses on programmable logic controllers (PLCs), embedded systems, and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Udemy courses are affordable and include certificates for your resume or LinkedIn profile, showing employers that you're committed to continuous improvement in your field of expertise. Before heading over to Udemy, check out Avnet's own training resources for engineers.


Put accuracy in your pocket with a professional multimeter

While any multimeter can give you an approximate voltage readout, a well-made multimeter provides much more. The Fluke 179 True-RMS Digital Multimeter, for example, has handy features like value recording and automatic ranging. Fluke offers multimeters for every budget and a variety of other instruments, all designed for professional use. Just be sure to label yours with your name, so your coworkers don't "borrow" it for too long.


Upgrade your lab with a modern oscilloscope

An oscilloscope is the ultimate desktop tool for serious electrical engineering work. If you're still using an ancient 'scope, the features in new models will amaze you. Keysight Technologies offers a range of digital oscilloscope models, from compact entry-level models to feature-packed models. Every model is a high-quality instrument with the accuracy and precision necessary for real jobs.


In conclusion, these are five ideas for engineers on how to spend their holiday gift cards. From learning a new programming language to expanding your knowledge with online courses, there are many ways to make the most of those gift cards. Happy shopping! 

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