Finally received my Mastech MS8911 LCR tweezer.
Like mnem, I'm not disappointed. It switch automatically between serial and parallel, got 4 test frequencies (100Hz, 120Hz, 1kHz, 10kHz) and 2 voltage levels (0.1, 0.5V). It also come with a calibration certificate. Not sure of the accuracy but at least the serial number on the tweezer and the certificate is the same
<SNIP>
Overall not bad for a 46$ LCR meter
Printed model number and date (dot matrix style) but stick-on serial number - I'd not trust that.
What difference does it make...? That "Serial number" is affixed to the probe cover, not the meter itself. Kindof irrelevant, really. What's important to me is that the meter does have the holo QC sticker, which according to the MasTech site, is their "Genuine Product" seal.
Looking at mine, the warranty (
) paper is identical... same exact laser-printing on every field, even the same date and same Inspector ID, except of course the sticker affixed to the sheet is different.
This is MasTech we're talking about, not HPAK. I don't expect a very sophisticated "genuine product" chain of custody system here.
Even the genuine Ideal-Tek SmartTweezers are marketed and sold under a complex network of "Preferred Vendors" such that actual contact with the manufacturer is well-obfuscated and direct purchase isn't possible; that was part of the reason I've been leery of spending that kind of dosh on a tool where you really don't know what version you're getting or even what is the latest version.
This means in a nutshell that even with Ideal-Tek's SmartTweezers, your only real guarantee that they are the genuine article and will perform as advertised is the reputation of the vendor you buy from and your own ability to test the tool you receive to your own satisfaction. For $47, I was more willing to gamble on fleaBay than spending $500+ at DigiKey.
Hmmm ... Methinks I can make a change with a file and various other impact instruments. We will report back if successful.
Please re-read TM9-243: Use and Care of Hand Tools and Measuring Tools. A file is NOT an impact instrument!
LOL you need to spend a day here.
Comparing the two versions, I'm convinced the main issue is the way the older ones are curved and pointed. It's applying the force at a single point and if that point is not stable the part will fly off. The newer design has more surface area applying force since it's not applied in such a small point but along a slightly longer area.
So I plan on duplicating the bend to fix it, and filing the ends a bit to remove the sharp point. I will return with results only if I have success.
P.S. I guess that's why they gave a backup set of ends - so the user can figure out how to fix the design themselves.
Yeah, yeah.... that sounds good. Lets go widdat. I own both tools... I can tell you definitively that there is a huge difference besides just the tips. They give you spares because they know the gold-plating will wear off, leaving you with bare corrosion-prone bronze underneath; this is the reason you get them with the ST-5S too. The tips included with the 8010 are an obvious cheap clone of the precision-machined tips that come with the ST-5S:
https://www.ideal-tek.com/scheda.php?m=search&f=7&c=Smart%20Tweezers&l=3&idp=2219The pointy tips work best when doing diag on a PCB; the forked tips are obviously intended for handling loose components (Like the angled tips sold for the ST-5S). Since the MS8910 is pretty much worthless for in-circuit testing, the pointy tips just multiply the user's frustration.
I hope that duplicating the forked tips makes the MS8910 a useful tool for you. I honestly do. I expect that the bare bronze exposed by filing the tips will make them more assache than they're worth, tho. Not that this isn't the case already...
Myself, I intend to put the spares that came with my MS8010 with those for my MS8011 and then flip the MS8010 on Kijiji. I'm done with the MS8010. I feel no need to compound my mistake by keeping the evidence around as a reminder.
mnem