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Re: GPIB scripting software?

 

On Sun, Sep 15, 2024 at 03:27 AM, Askild wrote:
Python is another possibility.
Yes. If the instrument you are using does SCPI, then it's not to hard to write some code in Python to do some basic measurements.
?
AFAIK, if you have the working GPIB hardware.
Keysight 82357B USB/GPIB Interface
or
Keysight 82350B PCI GPIB Interface
?
and have downloaded and installed?
pyVISA (Python Library for VISA), free
Keysight VISA (Virtual Instrument Software Architecture) an API for instrument control, has GPIB
?
The software might be free; but, the devil will be in the details, if you have to manually install them.
?
Here is a basic Python program get an instrument to measure voltage using SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) command set,if the instuments you are using supports it. Not sure the 897B does.
Any program bugs, are free, like the other software.
?
import pyvisa
# Initialize VISA Resource Manager
rm = pyvisa.ResourceManager()
# Find? instruments
instruments = rm.list_resources()
print("Available Instruments:", instruments)
# Open session to an instrument (assuming GPIB device at address 3)
instrument = rm.open_resource('GPIB0::3::INSTR')
# Write a command
instrument.write('MEASURE:VOLTAGE?')
# Read response
response = instrument.read()
print("Instrument Response:", response)
# Close? session
instrument.close()
?
You can do something similar coding in C, and compile it; but, there's way more fiddly bits to get wrong.
?
?
Re: Artek Manuals and HP 3325B

 

As I have a couple of EIP 588s in the queue at my bench, I've been looking for the SM out there. Did a quick search, and bam!, one of the free libraries to the rescue!... And as I look closer, in the preview, what do I see? It's an upload of Artek's proprietary PDF. As conspicuous as shady stuff like this can get.?

I pushed?the cost of the manual to Linda (PayPal through their website), but she wrote?me?back?telling me she's in the hospital?(as Ron states), and that it'll be at least a week until she can send it to me. I told her no worries whatsoever, health always comes first. And certainly, that's longer than my impatience is currently willing to sign off on, but I now feel I'm on the right side of things downloading that file from the free repository, knowing that I fully paid Artek (Dave/Linda) for it.?

I'm sure most, if not?all in this community would essentially proceed the same way.
Radu.?


On Mon, Sep 16, 2024 at 10:53?AM Ron via <roncarlson.email=[email protected]> wrote:
Tim,
?
The Artek office mgr was out due to medical and is back now, filling orders once or twice a week.
I'll let them know to expedite if possible.
?
Regards, Ron
-
Re: Agilent E4406 fails to turn on - CULPRITS IDENTIFIED

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi all,

Thanks to Milan's pointer I de-soldered the two electrolytic capacitors on the little PSU daughter board and they were faulty.

The 47uF@C5 was only 22uF and the 33uF@C6 thinks its a 100ohm resistor!?

Pic of board below before I de-soldered C6.

thanks to all for suggestions.

regards

Tim
Re: Thermal Couple attached to heat sink

 

John,
That pad is thermally conductive and is called a TIM pad. TIM? meansThermal Interface Material.
Both Mouser & Digikey among others sell this stuff. Bergquist is one manufacturer but there are many others.
If you don't know the thermal resistance or thermal conductivity of the pad that came off then get the new pad with the LOWEST thermal resistance or the HIGHEST thermal conductivity.
As for thickness get the same as or close to the old material if you can.
I'm not sure what kind of heatsink retention hardware is used but it needs to provide a moderate clamping force? on the TIM.
There is a lot more to all this but with the limited information about the old material these general guidelines should work.
?
Regards, WT
Re: 8566B Attenuator Service

 

Mark - will do.
Chuck - these contacts were not gold plated.
Re: 8566B Attenuator Service

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi Jinxie - Please let us know if the calibration works now.

Mark

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Jinxie via groups.io <paul666@...>
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2024 1:02 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] 8566B Attenuator Service
?
Thanks, Vladan.
Whilst I'd like to do a thorough job on this attenuator, I really need to clear my bench. This whole thing has gone on far too long and I have a backlog of 'stuff' to deal with. Consequently, I'm going to have to put it back together as-is and deal with the o-rings as and when they fail in the future, much as I'd like to sort them out now. It's unfortunate, but time just isn't on my side.
Re: 8566B Attenuator Service

 

If you were working for the telephone company, applying
abrasive of any sort to relay contacts would have gotten you
fired on the spot. A single technician, helpfully using
such a technique could put a whole exchange out of business
pdq.

Ok, why shouldn't you do that?

First, is the loss of gold, which is not insignificant. Second,
is the loose abrasive will come off of the wet or dry, and embed
in the very much softer gold, preventing good contact closure.
And, third, you will alter the very carefully designed shape of
the contacts by adding a flat spot... forever changing their
behavior, and useful life.

Ok, so what should you have done? Well, asking someone would be
a good first choice, but given the length of this thread, most
good advice was buried long ago.

The telephone company issued burnishing tools to technicians. This
tool was made of spring steel, and had fine scratches (made by a
diamond stone, perpendicular to motion. They acted sort of like
a file, only they did not remove any gold, just pushed it around a bit.

NO MORE ABRASIVES JINXIE!

If you cut through the gold down to the base metal, you will have a
contact that will fail next time the weather changes.

Make a burnishing tool out of a piece of shim stock, and drag it over
a diamond sharpening stone several times until it has a bunch of fine
scratches in it. Be sure to eliminate any burs from the edges... you
don't want them cutting things up.

using light pressure, rub the tool back and forth on the contact, while
changing its angle to match the contact profile. Easy does it is a
good motto for this work.

-Chuck Harris (not a Bell guy, but taught contact burnishing by one.)


On Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:04:53 -0700 "Jinxie via groups.io"
<paul666@...> wrote:
Progress! There was nothing wrong with the logic and the solenoid was
*not* energized long-term after all. That 20dB pad was operated by a
solenoid which had some kind of contaminant on its lower Y springs
which the solvents I'd tried were unable to shift. However, a few
light strokes with some 1500 grit wet n dry paper and it's throwing
back and forth perfectly now as far as I can see and is no longer
stuck 'on' as it was formerly. I just wonder what that substance on
the contacts could have been and how it got there? We'll never know I
guess. :-/ Anyway, thanks all. Hopefully it'll calibrate correctly
now. <crosses fingers>
Re: 8566B Attenuator Service

 

Thanks, Vladan.
Whilst I'd like to do a thorough job on this attenuator, I really need to clear my bench. This whole thing has gone on far too long and I have a backlog of 'stuff' to deal with. Consequently, I'm going to have to put it back together as-is and deal with the o-rings as and when they fail in the future, much as I'd like to sort them out now. It's unfortunate, but time just isn't on my side.
Pb with HP16535A multi probes expansion card for HP16500B logic analyser.

 

Hi,
?
Yesterday, while using my logic analyser (HP16500B), a component suddenly burned on my HP16535A multi probes expansion card. The PCB is a little damage, but this is fixable.
I tested the board and it is always completely functional. Damages are only in the top layer where the capacitor pad was.
?
This component is a polarized tantalum capacitor. I think it is used for decoupling, but i am not sure. He is completely burned, so i can't see his reference or value. If someone has this board, can he give my his value ? He is referenced C66 on the board and near the flat ribbon connector.
?
Thanks for your help.
?
?
?
Re: 8566B Attenuator Service

 

On Mon, Sep 16, 2024 at 09:04 AM, Jinxie wrote:
I just wonder what that substance on the contacts could have been and how it got there? We'll never know I guess.
It's probably residue from a silicone lubricant which was used on attenuators built before mid-1985. The stuff was causing problems so it was eventually abandoned. Unfortunately, a lot of attenuators were scrapped because of this. The factory considers those attenuators unrepairable because of the contamination. I often wonder if the o-rings were attacked by lubricant.
?
If this is what you encountered, then the lubricant may also be present elsewhere in the attenuator. You may want to find a way to clean the rest of the contacts before you put the whole thing together. You still have to replace the o-rings, so this is a good time to figure out if there is a solvent that can remove the contamination.
?
Pay attention to the gap between the solenoid armature and the magnet pole pieces. This gap (on both ends) is controlled by the o-rings.
?
For those who have very old attenuators, there was a time when o-rings were not used. The plungers in those older attenuators were white color.
?
Vladan
Re: GPIB scripting software?

 

?
I have submitted my e-mail address to Harke Smits.
?
In a project some years ago, I used python routines written by others
but never had the time to dive into this language.
?
Looking forward to what I will receive.
?
Cheers
?
Ulf Kylenfall
SM6GXV
Re: Artek Manuals and HP 3325B

 

Tim,
?
The Artek office mgr was out due to medical and is back now, filling orders once or twice a week.
I'll let them know to expedite if possible.
?
Regards, Ron
-
Twelve(+/-) bins of original HP/Agilent manuals free for pickup in San Diego

 

I have approximately twelve plastic storage bins (22" x 15" x 12") of test and measurement related manuals that are surplus to my needs. The vast majority of them are HP/Agilent manuals (e.g. scopes, analyzers, generators, and many, many more), and are predominantly operating and service manuals. All are original hardcopy in original binders, and are in very good to excellent condition. There is also some software on 3-1/2" floppy disks. I'd like them to go to someone who can use them, and hopefully make scans and copies of them for the benefit of all.
?
I do not want to have to pack them and mail them, so I'd very much prefer that they be picked up here in San Diego. I'm also willing to drive a reasonable distance to meet whoever wants to take them all.
?
Any interest?
?
Thanks,
Stan
Re: Artek Manuals and HP 3325B

 

The spam filter explanation is extremely likely - I fell prey to that recently. It's been the only issue in years of using their service, other than the unfortunate times when things were in flux due to obvious reasons. Since then, there's never been any issues with a manual delivery other than these prozaic ones (spam filter, etc), that are easy to eliminate.
I'm sure this just needs to be clarified, so probably contacting her by email would sort that out quickly.
Radu.


On Mon, Sep 16, 2024, 10:37 AM Harold Foster via <halfoster=[email protected]> wrote:
No problems at all as late as about 10 days ago.? Pretty sure the email address used will be the same Manuals@... used to contact them so be sure it is not being filtered.
?
Hal
Re: Artek Manuals and HP 3325B

 

No problems at all as late as about 10 days ago.? Pretty sure the email address used will be the same Manuals@... used to contact them so be sure it is not being filtered.
?
Hal
Re: 8566B Attenuator Service

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

YAY!

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Jinxie via groups.io <paul666@...>
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2024 9:04 AM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] 8566B Attenuator Service
?
Progress! There was nothing wrong with the logic and the solenoid was *not* energized long-term after all.
That 20dB pad was operated by a solenoid which had some kind of contaminant on its lower Y springs which the solvents I'd tried were unable to shift. However, a few light strokes with some 1500 grit wet n dry paper and it's throwing back and forth perfectly now as far as I can see and is no longer stuck 'on' as it was formerly. I just wonder what that substance on the contacts could have been and how it got there? We'll never know I guess. :-/
Anyway, thanks all. Hopefully it'll calibrate correctly now. <crosses fingers>
Re: Artek Manuals and HP 3325B

 

That is pretty uncharacteristic for her. At least in my experience.? She has done a great job in keeping up with my manual orders.? I ordered several earlier this year.? I made sure to thank her for continuing the business and providing these resources to us all.? Usually sending them same day as soon as payment is received via PayPal.? Perhaps she is on vacation?? Hope everything is okay.??
?
-Frank
Re: Artek Manuals and HP 3325B

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý


Based on my experience what most likely what happened, is she sent the email with the link,?
and a spam filter somewhere ate it.

I contacted her with a different email address a few days after my order and she found my order?
and forwarded the link to the alternate email address...

It also sticks in my mind that there is a field on the form that is easy to miss if the page extends?
below the bottom of the visible screen...

Jim

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Michael A. Terrell via groups.io <terrell.michael.a@...>
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2024 12:01 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] Artek Manuals and HP 3325B
?
Dave died, and his widow is trying to keep things running by herself.

On Mon, Sep 16, 2024 at 11:11?AM Tim Wright via <al7ds=[email protected]> wrote:
I have an HP 3325B on the bench that has some issues.? The service manual is very detailed, and gives a logical and easy to follow troubleshooting procedure.? Problem is, the SM download from the HP site is so low resolution that the board layout and chip locations are impossible to read.? I ordered the manual from Artek for digital download last week via their website, and have heard nothing back on the download link.? Emails and calls have gone unanswered.? Anybody know what is up?
--
Tim Wright
Senior Engineer
Cumulus Media Chicago - WLS-AM
AL7DS
Re: 8566B Attenuator Service

 

Progress! There was nothing wrong with the logic and the solenoid was *not* energized long-term after all.
That 20dB pad was operated by a solenoid which had some kind of contaminant on its lower Y springs which the solvents I'd tried were unable to shift. However, a few light strokes with some 1500 grit wet n dry paper and it's throwing back and forth perfectly now as far as I can see and is no longer stuck 'on' as it was formerly. I just wonder what that substance on the contacts could have been and how it got there? We'll never know I guess. :-/
Anyway, thanks all. Hopefully it'll calibrate correctly now. <crosses fingers>
Re: Artek Manuals and HP 3325B

 

Dave died, and his widow is trying to keep things running by herself.

On Mon, Sep 16, 2024 at 11:11?AM Tim Wright via <al7ds=[email protected]> wrote:
I have an HP 3325B on the bench that has some issues.? The service manual is very detailed, and gives a logical and easy to follow troubleshooting procedure.? Problem is, the SM download from the HP site is so low resolution that the board layout and chip locations are impossible to read.? I ordered the manual from Artek for digital download last week via their website, and have heard nothing back on the download link.? Emails and calls have gone unanswered.? Anybody know what is up?
--
Tim Wright
Senior Engineer
Cumulus Media Chicago - WLS-AM
AL7DS
4801 - 4820 of 151417