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Gosh, the link to the google drive Gerbers does not work for me. Anyone
have success downloading the various files?
Larry I just spent 10 frustrating minutes cursing the genius Google geeks who hacked that can o' worms together and fronted it as a done deal. Bill
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Jared,
Where did you get the extruded aluminum panels for the top and bottom of the unit? Were those reused from another module, or is there some way to get new parts?
-- Jeff Dutky
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The email active link was missing a final character; when that was included, the link works ok. And, I was successful downloading all the data. I do agree the download command is somewhat hidden. You must click the three-dots icon to find the download command. It will build a zip of all the files in the folder and download that. Worked for me...
Larry
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On 12/31/2020 4:38 PM, Bill Perkins wrote: Gosh, the link to the google drive Gerbers does not work for me. Anyone
have success downloading the various files?
Larry ????I just spent 10 frustrating minutes cursing the genius Google geeks who hacked that can o' worms together and fronted it as a done deal.
????Bill
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Best wishes,
Larry McDavid W6FUB
Anaheim, California (SE of Los Angeles, near Disneyland)
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The email active link was missing a final character; when that was
included, the link works ok. And, I was successful downloading all the
data. I do agree the download command is somewhat hidden. You must click
the three-dots icon to find the download command. It will build a zip of
all the files in the folder and download that. Worked for me...
Larry I did all that, saw the .zip get built and then ? ? where the hell'd it go? Bill
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Michael,
I have for many years and many projects used Sunstone Circuits, located in Mulino Oregon. They do excellent work and have great customer service. They accept Gerber files and also have their own free layout software, PCB123. They are setup for prototype and production quantities.
John Hunt
Portland, OR
**
Michael wrote:
Are there any US PCB Houses that we could contact? Or are they all in China? I have never done boards before. I would be willing to help out with the process.
--
Michael Lynch
Dardanelle, AR
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Some minor fitting and stuff says that either the TM500 shell will work (best), or the TM5000 shell (likely less available).? I think that the 5000 series scope extrusions are the same width and have the same slots in them (but are likely to require some machining), and the 7000 series scope frames, while too long (and can be cut down), would need more machining.? What you do for latches is up to you.
The TM500 "universal" shells have brackets punched and bent in to support the boards.? They may need to be bent a bit.
The 7000 series have the same basic punches (across the 7000 series), but different holes and spaces.? Some different adjustments need to be made.
Harvey
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On 12/31/2020 7:39 PM, Jeff Dutky wrote: Jared,
Where did you get the extruded aluminum panels for the top and bottom of the unit? Were those reused from another module, or is there some way to get new parts?
-- Jeff Dutky
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The downloaded files go into your Windows Downloads folder; check near the top of the folder tree in Windows Explorer. If you are using an Apple computer, you are on your own...LarrySent via the Samsung Galaxy S10
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-------- Original message --------From: Bill Perkins <sales@...> Date: 12/31/20 5:03 PM (GMT-08:00) To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [TekScopes] I built a TM500 mainframe tester, and updated the design. Someone might find this useful? > The email active link was missing a final character; when that was> included, the link works ok. And, I was successful downloading all the> data. I do agree the download command is somewhat hidden. You must click> the three-dots icon to find the download command. It will build a zip of> all the files in the folder and download that. Worked for me...> > Larry I did all that, saw the .zip get built and then? ? ? where the hell'd it go? Bill
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On 12/31/2020 7:32 PM, Larry McDavid wrote: Why would using Chinese made boards require a different physical design? money, simply money. using SEEED studio as an example, a 113 mm by 246 mm board, HASL (roughly a complete inside of plugin, is 65 dollars for 10, 48 dollars for 5.? ENIG goes to 94 dollars/10 and 75 dollars for 5. a 4 by 4 board, HASL, is $4.90 for 10.? same price for 5. The board interface to the frame, 113mm by 52 mm, is roughly 23 dollars HASL lots of 10, 19.00 HASL lots of 5. The main board can be done as a 100mm by 100 mm board, The front panel board can be made within the 100 x 100 mm range. So: HASL, 6.50? for the main board if full size.? otherwise 2.30 and 50 cents for board connector (can be used for different designs), and main board.... $2.80. and if you don't get it exactly right the first time, the costs mount up. This neglects the front panel board(s) which will fit within the 100 * 100 mm promotional price. Harvey
The author, Jared Cabot, used PCBWay, surely fab'd in China, and provided Gerber files for each of the four PWBs. Since several here want boards sets, the simple thing seems to be order them from PCBWay. Delivery timing is really not an issue and shipping cost for blank boards can't be that much... I will ask PCBWay for a quote.
Larry
On 12/31/2020 3:50 PM, Harvey White wrote:
Oshpark is very good, with 3 board per order for the price of 5 dollars per square inch.? I should point out that the board set I saw would be rather expensive.
Their boards are purple, and ENIG (gold plated)
The typical Chinese made boards may have a size limitation for lowest cost, and the lowest price will be for HASL (Hot Air Solder Leveled) boards.? On the other hand, a 100 mm square board can be had for 4.90, and that's for 10 of them.? Shipping with DHL is likely 20 to 25 dollars, but that price range covers 5 different boards, all 100 mm in size or less.
Using Chinese made boards will require a different physical design.
Harvey
On 12/31/2020 6:33 PM, Michael W. Lynch via groups.io wrote:
Are there any US PCB? Houses that we could contact?? Or are they all in China?? I have never done boards before.? I would be willing to help out with the process.
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Hi,
Wow, I didn't expect such a big response. :D haha
As for production of PCB's, I did use PCBWay as they are a sponsor of my Youtube channel, however, they are a slightly more 'premium' Chinese manufacturer.
Using JLCPCB or Seeed Studio (with 3 e's) will be cheaper and still have very good quality.
Gold plating is a good idea for the Main PCB, and a manufacturer that can chamfer the card edge connector is a good idea too. JLCPCB and PCBWay can do this (it's a minimal extra cost per PCB) but I think Seeed Studio couldn't last time I checked.
I have used JLCPCB extensively in the past, their prices and quality are quite good.
I'm not quite in a position to run a group buy myself as I live in Japan, so shipping and logistics would be more expensive and difficult than if someone in the USA did it instead. However, I am more than happy to provide 'technical support'.
Just let me performance check my unit first to make sure I have it all working 100%, I'm a bit paranoid that I might have a gremlin hiding somewhere. :D haha
Anyway, I'm glad you all like it. I have a few more ideas for some similar projects in the future so stay tuned. :)
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To answer a few other questions: I used a blank module kit to build this project, I lucked into one when buying a 'mainframe with modules fitted' at Yahoo Auctions so put it to good use. But I don't see why any old chassis from an otherwise unrepairable TM500 module couldn't be used. The front faceplate PCB needs to be made from 1mm PCB rather than the usual 1.6mm, black silkscreen on white solder mask, but this is easily done by any Chinese manufacturer. I know PCBWay and JLCPCB can do it as they both manufactured this sort of thing for me in the past. I can't comment on actual costs as such as the PCB's were sponsored, but matte black from PCBWay is rather expensive so the more standard colours (like green etc) will help save cost. The white for the front faceplate shouldn't raise costs much (or at all) though, so that shouldn't be much of a concern. The large PCB does raise the cost a little, but it's not too bad from the Chinese manufacturers, and when divided out to a group buy, the individual cost should be pretty manageable. I just uploaded the files to the files section here too, to make it easier to download for anyone having trouble with google drive (seems google groups isn't compatible with some of the URL's generated by Google Drive, who would have thought??) /g/TekScopes/files/Tek%20TM500%20Power%20Module%20Tester%20067-1201-99%20New%20Ver. Hopefully that link works, it's in the files section anyway. :)
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Me too.
Glenn
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On 12/31/2020 6:31 PM, Dale Chayes wrote: Yes,
-Dale
On Dec 31, 2020, at 18:12, Larry McDavid <lmcdavid@...> wrote:
?Anyone interested in buying sets of boards to share?
Larry
On 12/31/2020 11:27 AM, Jared Cabot via groups.io wrote:
Hi all,
I have been accumulating TM500 modules and mainframes for a little while, so I recently finished building an 067-1201-99 TM500 mainframe tester from the Tek construction notes floating around.
I updated the design somewhat and designed it for simplified construction (Not a single wire to strip and solder!) and I thought someone here might be interested in taking a look or even building one themselves.
Here's a link to the youtube video:
And here's a link to the google drive with all the gerbers and schematics and stuff. I went so far as to rewrite the manual with the alterations and corrections included.
Direct link to the new manual:
Let me know what you think, and let me know if you see any errors that need correcting. :)
Regards
Jared. --
Best wishes,
Larry McDavid W6FUB
Anaheim, California (SE of Los Angeles, near Disneyland)
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenn Little ARRL Technical Specialist QCWA LM 28417
Amateur Callsign: WB4UIV wb4uiv@... AMSAT LM 2178
QTH: Goose Creek, SC USA (EM92xx) USSVI LM NRA LM SBE ARRL TAPR
"It is not the class of license that the Amateur holds but the class
of the Amateur that holds the license"
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Six list members have said they want to participate in a group buy of these board sets. Those are:
ML
PA
SM
DC
HB
GL
I've asked Jared for clarification on some points and for help ensuring the order is placed correctly. I'm waiting to hear from him.
I'm inclined to place the order with the same board house Jared used. I'm not willing to go into a lot of competitive bidding on board cost! I don't know the cost of a set of four boards but it can't be that much...
I live in Southern California and am retired so I can manage a group buy, with reimbursement via PayPal Friends and Family. There is a very special PWB-mount rotary switch required; I may buy a lot of those to ensure availability so that would likely be part of the board set purchase. Be aware this is a $25 switch! Many of us have other standard parts available so I'm not enthusiastic about buying other parts.
So, think about really wanting to build one of these testers and let's see if we can make a group purchase work.
I'm currently building a GPSDO into a TM500 proto module. But, any non-working TM module can be bought and stripped to provide the chassis structure for this tester. The PWB set makes is easy...
I welcome your constructive comments. Note the cost of the rotary switch stated above.
Larry
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On 12/31/2020 3:12 PM, Larry McDavid wrote: Anyone interested in buying sets of boards to share?
Larry
On 12/31/2020 11:27 AM, Jared Cabot via groups.io wrote:
Hi all,
I have been accumulating TM500 modules and mainframes for a little while, so I recently finished building an 067-1201-99 TM500 mainframe tester from the Tek construction notes floating around.
I updated the design somewhat and designed it for simplified construction (Not a single wire to strip and solder!) and I thought someone here might be interested in taking a look or even building one themselves.
Here's a link to the youtube video:
And here's a link to the google drive with all the gerbers and schematics and stuff. I went so far as to rewrite the manual with the alterations and corrections included.
Direct link to the new manual:
Let me know what you think, and let me know if you see any errors that need correcting. :)
Regards
Jared.
--
Best wishes,
Larry McDavid W6FUB
Anaheim, California (SE of Los Angeles, near Disneyland)
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I ordered my rotary switch from Digikey, looks like there are 100 in stock with a little bit of a price break for multiple purchases.
Might be worth looking around for cheaper prices, I didn't ask the manufacturer for direct pricing, but that might be worth the time spent to send an email to see if cheaper pricing is a possibility.
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Does anybody now if the aluminum plates are required? Would plastic plates (3D printed or otherwise fabricated) work just as well?
My stable of TM500 modules is already pretty thin, and I don't have any unrepairable units lying about.
-- Jeff Dutky
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In my experience, the 3D printed plastic frame needs a thin gauge aluminum backing to give it rigidity.? If you had any machine shop capability (such as a decent drill press), you could make your own plates.? The idea of a bare PC board is not at all a bad one, your choice of whatever the board solder mask is.? However, I've seen no silver boards at all.? I'm going to experiment with a 3D printed overlay, possibly black, possibly blue, but it could be the same gray as the normal plastic backing.? YMMV on this.
The standard construction on the modules seems to be a thin aluminum plate, a plastic backing plate (screws go through these two), and a front plate that's silk screened and held on by control knobs.? Makes a clean appearance.? It's possible to do a transparency, either laser or inkjet, and perhaps put a thin layer of transparent plastic over it, that gives you photo art.? The advantage of an inexpensive board would be that all the machining is done for you.
Harvey
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On 12/31/2020 11:43 PM, Jeff Dutky wrote: Does anybody now if the aluminum plates are required? Would plastic plates (3D printed or otherwise fabricated) work just as well?
My stable of TM500 modules is already pretty thin, and I don't have any unrepairable units lying about.
-- Jeff Dutky
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Non-working TM500 modules appear on eBay from time to time at fair price and include top,? bottom and side panels and the all-important latch-release pull-tab. Shielding is not important for this tester and 3D printed parts might be adequate if made strong enough.LarrySent via the Samsung Galaxy S10
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-------- Original message --------From: Jeff Dutky <jeff.dutky@...> Date: 12/31/20 8:43 PM (GMT-08:00) To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [TekScopes] I built a TM500 mainframe tester, and updated the design. Someone might find this useful? Does anybody now if the aluminum plates are required? Would plastic plates (3D printed or otherwise fabricated) work just as well?My stable of TM500 modules is already pretty thin, and I don't have any unrepairable units lying about.-- Jeff Dutky
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On Thu, Dec 31, 2020 at 05:50 PM, Jared Cabot wrote:
Wow, I didn't expect such a big response
Thank you for the project. But, I don't get it? I know there is a TekWiki page for this thing... but, was this ever produced and sold by Tektronix? (It seems like something they might have used in production, and that someone? decided to release as a project?) I did check the 1977 catalogue... didn't see it in there?
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Ok, heads up, time to go re-download the files if you already downloaded them.
I found one transistor backwards (So test 1 wasn't working right), this has been rectified and the unit is now 100% certified as working by me (but that doesn't mean much... hahaha :D )
The aluminium plate behind the plastic plate can be easily constructed from some 1mm thin aluminium, 61mm x 120mm with 3.5mm holes in each corner (Measure against a plastic face plate to get their positions exact).
As Larry said, shielding is not an issue here so if a 3D printed part for the front panel was to be made, with the thickness of the now absent aluminium plate integrated into the 3D print instead, it might just be ok if you use a high infill percentage.
I've added add a STEP and STL file to to the files that will be able to be used for this purpose if someone wants to try it.
As for whether this was available for purchase from Tek as a completed product, I have a feeling this may have originally been a side project or similarby Warren Collier at Tek, and it must have worked well enough that the construction notes were released as a DIY type of thing.
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Hi Jared,
Very nice implementation of this Power Supply Tester. Hat off.
By the way around April this year a nice 067-1201-99 was sold for USD 148.95 (BIN and eBay) and its TM5000 counterpart (067-0995-99) sold in October this year for USD 349.99 (also BIN and eBay).
May I suggest the 067-0938-00 (Notch FIlter) as a new Project. Scarce and pricey. Last one sold for USD 349.95 (BIN and eBay).
Greetings,
Egge Siert
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On Thu, Dec 31, 2020 at 10:28 PM, Larry McDavid wrote:
I welcome your constructive comments. Note the cost of the rotary switch
stated above.
Larry, I think this approach makes sense. It will not be the ¡°cheap¡± way to make this happen, but it will likely produce the best results. As I had already stated, I would be up to helping out with distribution, payments or any other facet of this project. The prices of the switch and boards would not be a problem for me. As long as the cost of boards was not in hundreds of $. Please feel free to reach out if I may be of assistance. Thanks for sort of spearheading this project. Sincerely, -- Michael Lynch Dardanelle, AR
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Bill Perkins
Jared Cabot
Mlynch001