What did you buy today? Post your latest purchase!

[Kilrah]

I see some similar models advertised on ebay as being 4 axis and was wondering how that would work. Does it allow you to go back in time to fix mistakes?

Hah. Here's a 4th axis:

Was it expensive?

$1500 shipping included... so definitely no.

Chose that one because:
- It's a 4030 with 1500W spindle, pretty rare - normally you've got to go to 6040 to have the big spindle, the standard for 4030s is 800W. Wanted the big one to have some margin and be able to do metal machining and have torque at low speeds for larger mills, but 6040 is way too big for my already overcrowded place and I wouldn't envision much use for the extra area for my stuff.
- It's USB, had no will to fiddle with finding the right PC/OS combo to drive a parallel port
- It's got a (supposedly waterproof...) closed circuit cooling/lubrication cycle and a 6cm tall removeable "skirt" (not pictured) that encloses the bed somewhat and should hopefully help control the mess a bit.

Drawbacks so far:
- Got instructions for the parallel port version, had to figure out how to get the communication working. Wasn't too complicated to get the basics working but I'm still missing the secondary IOs (end point switches, tool probe, emergency stop button). Messaged the seller to get data and will see if I get a response before I start delving into it.
- USB boards apparently have limited IOs so the end point switches of all axes are ORed together. Not sure if it's really a drawback - they don't actually matter that much in the first place, you've got to check your ranges are free of holders and stuff anyway.
- Spindle is manual control only. From the very quick look I had in the control box it's likely that computer control can be added with just a bit of wiring.
- Can't get my hand controller (purchased separately elsewhere) to work yet

You must post up some pics and video.

Welp that may take a little until there's something actually interesting to post, but in the meantime have my first [self-explanatory] 



Used a Dremel 3mm mill for the "Test", all I could find in a shop on the spot (machine arrived so quickly my sets of mills aren't there yet  ). There were a few engraving V-tips with the machine so the PCB is done with that.

Anyway an actual something in an afternoon is pretty satisfying already 

[mmagin]

Just bought a manual from Artek (the scans I found freely available are horrible) for the HP 3312A function generator.  I got it recently cheap in not-quite-working condition because I wanted something I can use for sweeping old radio IFs.  I decided to avoid an antique electromechanically (60hz) swept signal generator
Although I suspect that most of the problem is dirty switches.

Ha ha, yeah.  Blasted the piss out of the switches with isopropanol spray and worked them a lot and it seems to be working great.  Only really need to fix up the SYM CAL switch which seems to get stuck no matter what.

[Rémi]

Yesterday I got a Tektronix type 549 for 100$. Probes, manuals and the stand were included.
The oscilloscope seems to work fine. Great vintage equipment, I love it.

[Johnny10]

Great Buy!
Did the cart come with it?

[Rémi]

Yes 

[Johnny10]

 

[Kilrah]

Beautiful! Especially great with all the equipment and manuals, lot of history in that!

[nanofrog]

Epic score! 

[mmagin]

Yesterday I got a Tektronix type 549 for 100$.

The Tek 500 series storage scope.  Way way sexier than the 7613 I used to have.  *drool*

[Rémi]

Epic score! 

Yes I was lucky that the seller didn't know what the scope was. Apparently it belonged to a man who has passed away two years ago. I'm sure he would be happy to know that his scope is in good hands.

[wkb]

Motorised rotary vane WR90 waveguide attenuator.  ICs on the control board are date-stamped 1978   

Need to throw a bit of MCU stuff together to be able to control it.

EUR 5 

[Fortran]

Yesterday I got a Tektronix type 549 for 100$. Probes, manuals and the stand were included.
The oscilloscope seems to work fine. Great vintage equipment, I love it.

Why does the cart have a pull-start?
Is it a Go-cart? 

[Housedad]

The stand allows the scope to be rotated for a better angle.  the handle unlocks the stand so the scope base can swivel.

[Fortran]

I figured it was for something like that.
But it really looks like a pull-start.

[dexters_lab]

i don't normally post in here but then it's not every day you buy an electron microscope (well, 1/2 of one) 

[Housedad]

I figured it was for something like that.
But it really looks like a pull-start.

Sometimes it is a pull start and sometimes it isn't.

https://youtu.be/0Q4__KniMF0

[Kilrah]

 

[razberik]

i don't normally post in here but then it's not every day you buy an electron microscope (well, 1/2 of one) 

Zeiss ? Leica ?

//Alright, it is written on there !  Hitachi

[McBryce]

i don't normally post in here but then it's not every day you buy an electron microscope (well, 1/2 of one) 

I could understand buying a complete electron microscope, but what use is half an electron microscope?

McBryce.

[dimkasta]

i don't normally post in here but then it's not every day you buy an electron microscope (well, 1/2 of one) 

I could understand buying a complete electron microscope, but what use is half an electron microscope?

McBryce.

Glass is half full I guess

[nfmax]

i don't normally post in here but then it's not every day you buy an electron microscope (well, 1/2 of one) 

I could understand buying a complete electron microscope, but what use is half an electron microscope?

McBryce.

Glass is half full I guess

Yes, but for an electron microscope to work, the glass has to be completely empty!
 

[Rbastler]

A 40*30mm NaI scintillator, a R9420-20 pmt and some various stuff for the lab

[bsudbrink]

i don't normally post in here but then it's not every day you buy an electron microscope (well, 1/2 of one) 

I could understand buying a complete electron microscope, but what use is half an electron microscope?

McBryce.

dexters_lab obviously subscribes to the "bait" theory of equipment acquisition, as do I.  In brief, if you want something but can't find it, start collecting all of the parts, documents, etc. that you will need to repair and/or operate it.  Now, somewhere out there, there is a broken electron microscope that "knows" that dexters_lab has the parts to fix it.  It will find its way to him.

[bitseeker]

dexters_lab obviously subscribes to the "bait" theory of equipment acquisition, as do I.  In brief, if you want something but can't find it, start collecting all of the parts, documents, etc. that you will need to repair and/or operate it.  Now, somewhere out there, there is a broken electron microscope that "knows" that dexters_lab has the parts to fix it.  It will find its way to him.

That's a good one, and often true, oddly enough. I'll add it to the TEA Glossary.

[edpalmer42]

No, you'll spend months and buckets of money collecting and refurbishing parts.  Then when you're about 90% complete, a complete, working unit will fall into your lap for free!   

Ed