Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[beanflying]

Booze has been partly to blame for a few of my purchases. Reduced Rational thinking with evilbay Auctions are a dangerous thing 

Speaking of which my Fluke 895A is already in the country 6 days post Order, eta tomorrow 

[xrunner]

Booze has been partly to blame for a few of my purchases. Reduced Rational thinking with evilbay Auctions are a dangerous thing 

Well I would know nothing about booze and auctions LOL. 

[mnementh]

Yep, I'm quite pleased with the screw method because its reversible if needed, I already had done the same mod as djos with regard to storing the tips on the back part of the stand although I have since stopped using  that as it is easy to break the slip-ring contacts on the tips when using this idea.

Yeah I'm going to get one of those round plastic storage units for mine as I've been clumsy and broken several tips already.

I've also got a blue and yellow hakko clone stand on the way as I'm just not a fan of the ash tray style holder.

Be careful, many people have gotten those Hakko clone stands only to find the same issues with the 9501 handle as it would seem that not all of the clones of the 9501 are equal in their diameters and then it becomes far easier and neater to modify the ashtray types. Incidentally I put silicon feet on the bottom of mine to stop them from moving, works really well.

I've had a close look at them before buying and I suspect the pics show the wire installed around the wrong way for the 9501 handle - I think if I install it from the rear of the yellow holder it should work well. I guess I'll find out when it arrives if my theory is BS. 

Good idea with the feet, I intend to do the same. 

No I think it is to do with the diameter of the finger stop itself, mnementh has done some extensive research and found out that there are some pretty big differences between handles and although he has a Hakko stand with his outfit, he has also purchased some new 9501 handles from BangGood and Aliexpress sellers and has discovered to his horror that they don't fit the stand. He reckons that he'll have to take a Dremmel to his stand to enable the handles to fit.

Absolutely the case. While my Hakklone stand fits the FX-9501 handle I built for my OLED T12, it does NOT fit the one I built over a year ago when I converted my Aoyue 2702 from T13 to T12 tips. A third FX-9501 handle I just bought fits halfway between the two. I intend to machine my Hakklone stand out to fit eventually; but first, I decided to order one of the FM-2028 handles (the ones with a yellow/green/blue/red silicone grip) and see if it fits as-is. If so, I suspect that is the why behind the redesign.


A'aight; 'sbeen a long day, I'm vapor.


mnem
*foom*

[neo]

If i have equipment in need of rack ears, how exactly would i make them?

Also should i try or should i just settle for securing the things to an appropriately rated rack shelf with zip ties? A shelf like what i would have to use for rear support anyway.
 

[mnementh]

If you have equipment that's light enough it needs to be secured to the shelf, it's too damned new. 


mnem
"...when gravity fails,
and negativity don't pull you through...
Don't put on any airs,
When you're down on Rue Morgue Avenue.
They got some hungry women there,
And they'll really make a mess outta you-ou..."

[Brumby]

RRT - Reduced Rational Thinking.  A common symptom of TEA.  It is manifested when objective assessment of an item is impaired by inhibition suppressing factors coming into play.  These factors include alcohol, the adrenaline response in discovering an auction ending within 60 seconds or (perhaps the most dangerous) convincing oneself that SWMBO wouldn't notice.  This condition often results in increased risk of BOT transgressions and DBA.  Attempts to address RRT usually have some short-term effects.  Long-term effects are rare and there are no known cases of any cure.

[bitseeker]

Added!

[Brumby]

 

This is how the above post looked to me:

Booze has been partly to blame for a few of my purchases. Reduced Rational thinking with evilbay Auctions are a dangerous thing 

I just couldn't let that gem go unpreserved...!

[neo]

If you have equipment that's light enough it needs to be secured to the shelf, it's too damned new. 


mnem
"...when gravity fails,
and negativity don't pull you through...
Don't put on any airs,
When you're down on Rue Morgue Avenue.
They got some hungry women there,
And they'll really make a mess outta you-ou..."

Let me be more specific, should i try making rack mount ears OR should i just zip tie the items together onto a 200lb server rack shelf.  The second option negating the need (and cost) of me attempting to make ears.

[Brumby]

Suggestion:
Start off with the zip tie solution.  This gives you an immediate result and allows you to mull over a preference for proper rack mounting ears.  At some point, this will become a strong urge and you will find the drive to follow through - possibly when you realise you want that rack shelf for something else...

Zip ties are cheap enough to cut and toss.

[beanflying]

Preserved for posterity 

@Neo not finished yet but the photo is a joiner and ears for my 2 34970A's. Agilent bit are to exe even secondhand 

Actually working on Aluminium bits today making a mess 

[neo]

Preserved for posterity 

@Neo not finished yet but the photo is a joiner and ears for my 2 34970A's. Agilent bit are to exe even secondhand 

Actually working on Aluminium bits today making a mess 

Could you do me a favor and answer the following questions?

Are all rack ears similar in how they mount to the instrument?
Could you tell me the dimensions to mark to drill?
What size of angle iron/aluminum?
Could i do it with a drill press?

Suggestion:
Start off with the zip tie solution.  This gives you an immediate result and allows you to mull over a preference for proper rack mounting ears.  At some point, this will become a strong urge and you will find the drive to follow through - possibly when you realise you want that rack shelf for something else...

Zip ties are cheap enough to cut and toss.

The shelf is going to be their rear support, zip ties or not.

[beanflying]

I am doing mine with a hacksaw, files and a cordless drill. The Aluminium stock I got works for the later HP and Agilent instruments as per te manuals they were making them compatible with the 'metric' racks  However the inserts on the units are still imperial 3" x 1/2" with 4mm fasteners 

So there is no standard really my older HP gear is imperial not metric. The stock Aluminium I am using is 12mm for the join and 25mm angle for the ears with one side trimmed to 1/2" wide to suit the insert.

The stupidity however is with the rear mounts on this series of units the mechanical clown engineers at the time used an American 6-40 TPI thread on the case 

[neo]

You know; on second thought, after seeing the process involved, getting this https://www.ebay.com/itm/262990115864 and then zip tie-ing instruments to it really seems like my  best option.

[beanflying]

The biggest killer for those of us in Oz is postage. That link is $60 USD for shipping 

About the best priced double rackmount kit I had found was going to be well over the $100USD mark. Mine will cost $10-15 with spare material and maybe 2 hours time. My 6632 power supply without the joiner will take maybe 30 minutes.

[neo]

The biggest killer for those of us in Oz is postage. That link is $60 USD for shipping 

About the best priced double rackmount kit I had found was going to be well over the $100USD mark. Mine will cost $10-15 with spare material and maybe 2 hours time. My 6632 power supply without the joiner will take maybe 30 minutes.

Shipping in oz sucks. 

But i guess i have more faith in zip ties than my patience and craftsmanship.

[bitseeker]

Of course, if you want more reassurance than zip ties, you can use ratcheting tie down straps.

[neo]

Yes that certainly would be an option....

Actually thanks for the idea bitseeker. 

[beanflying]

Like all things practice helps 

Just for completeness assembled photo. Need to drill and tap the front holes in the middle now the drill the ears. The aluminium spacers in the middle are the bits I chopped off the ears.

[bitseeker]

Yes that certainly would be an option....

Actually thanks for the idea bitseeker. 

Sure thing. They're quite handy. I've used them for a related purpose, securing tower PCs sitting on rack-mount shelves.

[mnementh]

If you have equipment that's light enough it needs to be secured to the shelf, it's too damned new. 


mnem
"...when gravity fails,
and negativity don't pull you through...
Don't put on any airs,
When you're down on Rue Morgue Avenue.
They got some hungry women there,
And they'll really make a mess outta you-ou..."

Let me be more specific, should i try making rack mount ears OR should i just zip tie the items together onto a 200lb server rack shelf.  The second option negating the need (and cost) of me attempting to make ears.

Short version:

Old bed rails, chopsaw, drill press; welder and angle grinder optional. Lubricate well with alcohol and one to three similarly mechanically-minded friends. You may be forced to make a strategic withdrawal in the wee hours of the morning as exhaustion overtakes you; this just makes for a more interesting return sortie a day or two later. 


Cheers,


mnem
*whump* ZZZZzzzZZZzzzZZZzzzZZzz...

[beanflying]

Butchers you are all metalwork butchers 

 

And its done ready to add to the rack, square and a 'proper' job 

[neo]

Short version:

Old bed rails, chopsaw, drill press; welder and angle grinder optional. Lubricate well with alcohol and one to three similarly mechanically-minded friends. You may be forced to make a strategic withdrawal in the wee hours of the morning as exhaustion overtakes you; this just makes for a more interesting return sortie a day or two later. 


Cheers,


mnem
*whump* ZZZZzzzZZZzzzZZZzzzZZzz...

Too young to drink and my friends are carefully arranged lines of sand. 

[Specmaster]

Short version:

Old bed rails, chopsaw, drill press; welder and angle grinder optional. Lubricate well with alcohol and one to three similarly mechanically-minded friends. You may be forced to make a strategic withdrawal in the wee hours of the morning as exhaustion overtakes you; this just makes for a more interesting return sortie a day or two later. 


Cheers,


mnem
*whump* ZZZZzzzZZZzzzZZZzzzZZzz...

Too young to drink and my friends are carefully arranged lines of sand. 

And what is wrong with simply stacking them up? By definition they will be boat anchors anyway so therefore not going to run away. [emoji23]

From mobile device so predictive text might have struck again [emoji83]

[neo]

Short version:

Old bed rails, chopsaw, drill press; welder and angle grinder optional. Lubricate well with alcohol and one to three similarly mechanically-minded friends. You may be forced to make a strategic withdrawal in the wee hours of the morning as exhaustion overtakes you; this just makes for a more interesting return sortie a day or two later. 


Cheers,


mnem
*whump* ZZZZzzzZZZzzzZZZzzzZZzz...

Too young to drink and my friends are carefully arranged lines of sand. 

And what is wrong with simply stacking them up? By definition they will be boat anchors anyway so therefore not going to run away. [emoji23]

From mobile device so predictive text might have struck again [emoji83]

I want a sever rack to A) clear up space on my current table (no more parts boxes on the floor)  &
B) to look 

My plan A to use said serer rack is to take a shelf like the one i linked and secure them by any means necessary, if any means are in fact necessary.
Plan B, make ears for the fun of it and also to look 


But really one excellent example of the virtues of a server rack, my 608C is taking up a large hunk of my table that i could just as easily use for something else.