Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[worsthorse]

Thanks to an assist from @Kosmic I upgraded my DG831 to a DG992 this evening: from one channel and 35MHz to two and 100MHz plus other goodies. 

And to be honest, for the stuff I do, 100MHz is almost always way more hertz than I need.  I guess I should sit down and RTFM to learn what it does...

From what I recall reading previously, these lesser models need adjustment to work properly at max frequency (may have been the amplitude accuracy or something), but the method to perform such an adjustment isn't yet known. So, it's good that you don't actually need it to be perfect or even reach 100 MHz. For me, even getting the second channel is already a nice bonus.

I am going to do some testing to see what I can find. For the stuff I do, as long as I know the amplitude (that is, I can measure it) whether it meets spec or not is less important. 

[worsthorse]

If someone is wants an HP 53310A Modulation Domain Analyzer, here is a deal;
https://www.ebay.com/itm/C164946-HP-53310A-Modulation-Domain-Analyzer-w-Opt-001-Exp-Mem-030-Channel-C/293402608912

Damn you, I decided I wasn't going to buy anything more until I cleared out some of the stuff currently on the shelf.   

What do you think that's worth?

[bitseeker]

Yeah, I was checking out that modulation domain analyzer earlier. Worsthorse, if you want it, I'll refrain from bidding. My queue doesn't need to grow further.

[Kosmic]

It's failing self test though. Not sure what "Trigger light" is and if it's fixable.



Bid accordingly 

[Cubdriver]

Yeah, I was checking out that modulation domain analyzer earlier. Worsthorse, if you want it, I'll refrain from bidding. My queue doesn't need to grow further.

I looked at it this morning, too, and I'm in the same boat as bitseeker - too many projects, not enough time.  And shipping is rather dear, too, since it's on the opposite coast.  Help save us from ourselves!   

-Pat

[worsthorse]

Yeah, I was checking out that modulation domain analyzer earlier. Worsthorse, if you want it, I'll refrain from bidding. My queue doesn't need to grow further.

I looked at it this morning, too, and I'm in the same boat as bitseeker - too many projects, not enough time.  And shipping is rather dear, too, since it's on the opposite coast.  Help save us from ourselves!   

-Pat

ha! i was hoping one of you was thinking about it. i am going to stand aside. after looking at the ebay ad, i walked downstairs to remind myself that my repair queue is long and storage capacity, small. 

the good news as long as i don't add it to auction sniper, i will forget about it until it is too late to do anything about it. 

[Cubdriver]

Yeah, I was checking out that modulation domain analyzer earlier. Worsthorse, if you want it, I'll refrain from bidding. My queue doesn't need to grow further.

I looked at it this morning, too, and I'm in the same boat as bitseeker - too many projects, not enough time.  And shipping is rather dear, too, since it's on the opposite coast.  Help save us from ourselves!   

-Pat

ha! i was hoping one of you was thinking about it. i am going to stand aside. after looking at the ebay ad, i walked downstairs to remind myself that my repair queue is long and storage capacity, small. 

the good news as long as i don't add it to auction sniper, i will forget about it until it is too late to do anything about it. 

*makes mental note to send worsthorse a PM reminder around this time Tuesday*   

 

-Pat

[med6753]

I just had to look to see what you guys were getting all worked up about. 

I only have one project and really nothing in cue. 

Looks interesting. Yes, shipping is a bit extreme. 

Nah, don't want it....you're lucky. 

[beanflying]

I am not a violent person by nature but this is as much fun as it used to be way back when

[bitseeker]

It's failing self test though. Not sure what "Trigger light" is and if it's fixable.



Bid accordingly 

There's an LED beside the channel input that lights when the input is triggered. I've seen one with that error before and recall that I couldn't find much info on what impact, aside from the LED being stuck off or on, the error has. I assume the fix would be a transistor or driver chip. Of course, the manual says to replace the whole board.

I missed one last year that sold for $10. I even asked the vendor if they happened to have another. Sometimes it's better to buy first and think later.

[mnementh]

I am not a violent person by nature but this is as much fun as it used to be way back when

Rocket League is just as much fun, and twice as infuriating. 

mnem
*rocketwhore*

[mnementh]

   In other news, my Rapid delivery arrived and now my 320 has it's smile back again, no wonder their delivery charge was so dammed high, they put those knob caps into a jiffy bag that 26 x 24cms, could have got the Titanic in there as well 

I would totes print that. 

mnem

[Kosmic]

It's failing self test though. Not sure what "Trigger light" is and if it's fixable.



Bid accordingly 

There's an LED beside the channel input that lights when the input is triggered. I've seen one with that error before and recall that I couldn't find much info on what impact, aside from the LED being stuck off or on, the error has. I assume the fix would be a transistor or driver chip. Of course, the manual says to replace the whole board.

I missed one last year that sold for $10. I even asked the vendor if they happened to have another. Sometimes it's better to buy first and think later.

Woo, they really went all out with the self tests. Testing a led 

[bitseeker]

Tentatively yes. It's dinner time in Europe :-)

8:00 am here in NZ and 6am in eastern OZ, 3am in WA !   

Finalizing the schedule for TEA Time 1.0.

Date/time: Saturday, 2020-01-11 @ 21:00 UTC  (Countdown timer, TEA Discord server)

Rough episode guide
    1. Intro (genesis of TEA, how you found TEA, what TEA means to you)
    2. 2019: Best/worst of the year (auction, acquisition, repair, explosion, vendor, shipper, forum post/thread, hack, etc.)
    3. 2020: Most/least excited about TE (announced, released, in search of, etc.)
    4. Recent: Acquisitions, addictions, projects, gifts, repairs, forum topics
    5. Jammy Git award: Best score this month (from #4 or seen on the forum)
    6. GAS station: Deals to lure us share with us
    7. QQs: Questions and suggestions (what can be improved, when to do episode 2)

Potential participants (mic):
    bitseeker, Zucca, worsthorse, med6753, xrunner? (Feel free to correct. Hopefully, we have at least 4.)

I'm going to try the default settings on the TEA Time voice channel, which means everyone can talk and listen. If that introduces too much extraneous mic triggering, it's possible to allow only specific users to talk while everyone else is listen-only. We'll see how it goes.

[mnementh]

It's fortunate that Discord's UI makes the mic mute so convenient; you can easily do as I did during the test and leave yourself muted all the time EXCEPT when you actually have something to say. Nobody wants to hear your inadvertent cough or sneeze while someone else is talking, or forgetting yourself and yelling at the kids when they're being baby jerks. 

I intend to be there, Ifni willing and the creek don't rise.

I prefer the countdown timer I set up, but that's a matter of taste. 

mnem
*toddles off to ded*

[beanflying]

I am not a violent person by nature but this is as much fun as it used to be way back when

Rocket League is just as much fun, and twice as infuriating. 

mnem
*rocketwhore*

This is the pseudo Easter Egg in Wolfenstien 'The Old Blood' it is maybe the goriest blood dripping most Doom like of the series  Rocket League is for those who cower in shame 

[kj7e]

It's failing self test though. Not sure what "Trigger light" is and if it's fixable.



Bid accordingly 

That's not necessarily a problem, just need to run the self cal routine to clear that error.  If you power it on with any button pressed it will clear the self cal data and sometimes give that error.  Requires a precise 5v DC input to each Chan A and Chan B, can use just a good power supply and set it with a DMM to 5.000v.  If this sells for $200 its a good deal and it looks very clean.

[Specmaster]

I am not a violent person by nature but this is as much fun as it used to be way back when

Just pretending that they are possums eh 

[bd139]

On the game front I can thoroughly recommend Besiege on Steam. Absolutely marvellous game for the engineer in us.

Have emerged from the middle of nowhere into humanity now. With regrets about my decision to return.

[McBryce]

(Just to add to what bean was saying)

If you are importing a STL in Fusion, normally the flow is:

1- Import the STL as a mesh
2- Edit the Mesh as needed (you can cut, fill, do bunch of modifications)
3- You can export as a stl if you have nothing else to do.
4- For more advance modifications, you convert the mesh to a body (Mesh to BRep)
5- Merge bunch of triangles to get uniform surfaces.
6- Modify the body with more advanced tools to get what you are looking for.

Example:

I got the stl for a probe holder



Now there is something written on the handle and I want to remove it.


I simply select the text by painting over it.


Use the remove/fill tool and completely delete the text.


Now I convert the mesh to a body (Mesh to BRep).


I use merge to get rid of some triangles.

Now it's trivial to split the body in multiple one.

I hope that model allows for adding a weight somewhere inside. I doubt the PLA will be heavy enough to put enough pressure on the probe point. The ones they give away at trade fairs (I got a bag load of these from Electronica) have metal weights in each leg and the entire piece is around 60g.

McBryce.

 

[Martin.M]

just playing  (AC transformer RIP)

[mnementh]

I am not a violent person by nature but this is as much fun as it used to be way back when

Rocket League is just as much fun, and twice as infuriating. 

mnem
*rocketwhore*

This is the pseudo Easter Egg in Wolfenstien 'The Old Blood' it is maybe the goriest blood dripping most Doom like of the series  Rocket League is for those who cower in shame 

*yawwwwwn* Another First Person Shooter... (okay, arguably the FIRST FPS, but still) *twirls finger sarchastically*   ...because sitting in front of the screen doesn't rot your brain enough already; we need to double down on the brain-rot with brain-rot content as well.

mnem
*spawn-camps bean with a grenade-launcher just for shits & grins*

[med6753]

On the game front I can thoroughly recommend Besiege on Steam. Absolutely marvellous game for the engineer in us.

Have emerged from the middle of nowhere into humanity now. With regrets about my decision to return.

Never was a gamer, never will be.

After days of shut in from being under the weather I dared go out in public. As a human species we are doomed.

Old retirees like me who look like the cat dragged them in. Hair, if they have any, that looks like it mopped the kitchen floor. Sweat pants and slippers. Geez....at least make an effort to look decent when you go out in public. It ain't hard. 

Fat girls who wear pajama bottoms in public. It's so hard not to puke right in front of them. 

Being stuck on a register line at a store and the crazy behind you....whom you did NOT have eye contact nor acknowledge....want's to engage you in conversation and tell you his life story. And you can't get away from him. The temptation is there to tell them I don't give a flying fuck but there's the thought they may be off their meds and go ape shit on you. So you just shake your head until you can get away.

I'm home now. We are doomed.   

[mnementh]

On the game front I can thoroughly recommend Besiege on Steam. Absolutely marvellous game for the engineer in us.

Have emerged from the middle of nowhere into humanity now. With regrets about my decision to return.

Fuck off & die, old friend.

mnem
are you feelin' tha lurrrve, bd...? 

[mansaxel]

It's fortunate that Discord's UI makes the mic mute so convenient; you can easily do as I did during the test and leave yourself muted all the time EXCEPT when you actually have something to say.

I do a LOT of day-job work in various teleconferences, and "all mute unless given the token" is a very strongly enforced rule. It makes for sooo much better environment. Oughta build me a footswitch thingamabob. And get me an external sound card to interface with it.