Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Specmaster]

Haha, I think he's fucked even if it isn't a video car, the police go round in twos, so they he has got 2 witnesses against him. Strange that you should say that today as I was watching a YT video last night about instant karma that showed peoples dashcam footage of drivers who had done similar things and were either spotted by parked police cars or had done in front of unmarked cars. That always makes me laugh that people are that stupid not to think that it could be an unmarked police unit 

[mnementh]

My brand new Keithley 6500 just arrived. As soon as it has got up to room temperature, I'll turn it on and let it further warm up, then it's time to see how far off all my other equipment is It looks so good you just want to measure things, lots of things.

McBryce.

Neat. Has it been calibrated...?

mnem

[mnementh]

So it seems then that the word "calibration" is being misused. What you describe I would call a verification that the device is still within the design parameters. To me and loads of other people, calibration is accepted to mean checking and if necessary, adjusting the equipment in order to meet the design specification and then a calibration sticker certificate can be issued to say that the equipment is performing within its design parameters.

Repairs do not in anybodies mind constitute a calibration, merely an effective repair has been carried out to a level that then requires calibration, (or adjustments / fine-tuning / tweaks) to be made against known standards, to bring the equipment back to a position within the original design parameters.

For example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibration makes use of both concepts of "Calibration" that have been expressed so far by myself and others in this thread and there is one particular section of the wikipedia that states :-
"In general use, calibration is often regarded as including the process of adjusting the output or indication on a measurement instrument to agree with value of the applied standard, within a specified accuracy. For example, a thermometer could be calibrated so the error of indication or the correction is determined, and adjusted (e.g. via calibration constants) so that it shows the true temperature in Celsius at specific points on the scale. This is the perception of the instrument's end-user.  "
It is that concept that I conjure up in my mind when talking about getting something to calibrated, and it is that I believe most would accept.

I think my nozzle needs to be calibrated. 

mnem
*shameless*

[bd139]

Haha, I think he's fucked even if it isn't a video car, the police go round in twos, so they he has got 2 witnesses against him. Strange that you should say that today as I was watching a YT video last night about instant karma that showed peoples dashcam footage of drivers who had done similar things and were either spotted by parked police cars or had done in front of unmarked cars. That always makes me laugh that people are that stupid not to think that it could be an unmarked police unit 

Yep exactly. Just went back past the location and the vehicle was sitting there with warning flashers on and the guy was in the police car still 

[Specmaster]

mnem, it might help if your video was available, all I get is "video is not available" then we might know if your nozzle needs calibration or adjustment 

[BU508A]

Have you waved to him in a friendly manner? 

[factory]

Anyone in the US want a cheap HP 431B power meter that still appears to have a sensor with it?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254862401586


Or a 500MHz counter for repair (US only), doesn't mention the display type so hopefully won't be seen by the scrappers.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/324479921724


And in the boat anchor category something much less common, a HP 100E Frequency Standard.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254862394634
https://www.hpmemoryproject.org/news/100e/hp100e_page_00.htm

I would have had a go at that one, but it will likely exceed the size/weight limits of the GSP and get stuck in Kentucky.

David

[Cerebus]

LMAO road karma. Cunt overtook me in a Range Rover. Was doing 30 in a 30 limit and that wasn’t fast enough so he blasted round me doing 50ish on the wrong side of an island and nearly hit an Audi coming the other way. Car coming other way? Plain police car which swung round behind me, passed carefully and pulled the cunt over 

Hopefully it was a video car. If so he’s fucked.

 

[Specmaster]

@mnementh, don't worry about the video, I switched my VPN on and got around the restriction, haha.

In other news, my BangGood desk magnifier/lamp has arrived, and I'm impressed with it, vast improvement over the old fluorescent one I had.  Did you split the control module open or did you just cut the wires and then solder new ones onto the tails when you re-located the control closer to the head? 

[McBryce]

My brand new Keithley 6500 just arrived. As soon as it has got up to room temperature, I'll turn it on and let it further warm up, then it's time to see how far off all my other equipment is It looks so good you just want to measure things, lots of things.

McBryce.

Neat. Has it been calibrated...?

mnem

Well it comes with a Calibration Certificate, so I'd say yes. However, it doesn't match the values on the sticker of my cheap Chinese voltage standard, so I'll open it up later and see if there are any pots I can twiddle.

On the subject of calibration. At one of my jobs I had to sign off the calibration invoices and quotes. The quote always stated "Calibration - X Euros, should adjustment or repair be required, an additional quotation will be submitted after confirmation of intent".

McBryce.

[mnementh]

mnem, it might help if your video was available, all I get is "video is not available" then we might know if your nozzle needs calibration or adjustment 

Currently it it a bit low and hanging to the left... I think adjustment is probably a good idea, but optional.



Welp.... that kindof sux, but there simply isn't another posted video of that scene anywhere but the orificial Adult Swim channel on yoobToob. They do police their IP pretty aggressively; not surprising in this day & age.

https://venturebrothers.fandom.com/wiki/The_Nozzle

I tried searching from the US via VPN too, and still same results.  You might find something on your side of the pond if you search "venture the nozzle". 

EDIT: Oh, it looks like you found a way around the geoblock. 

mnem
 

[mnementh]

My brand new Keithley 6500 just arrived. As soon as it has got up to room temperature, I'll turn it on and let it further warm up, then it's time to see how far off all my other equipment is It looks so good you just want to measure things, lots of things.

McBryce.

Neat. Has it been calibrated...?

mnem

Well it comes with a Calibration Certificate, so I'd say yes. However, it doesn't match the values on the sticker of my cheap Chinese voltage standard, so I'll open it up later and see if there are any pots I can twiddle.

On the subject of calibration. At one of my jobs I had to sign off the calibration invoices and quotes. The quote always stated "Calibration - X Euros, should adjustment or repair be required, an additional quotation will be submitted after confirmation of intent".

McBryce.

    BWAHAHAHAHA!!!

mnem
 

[med6753]

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle, call me impressed.  The entire attenuator assembly slides out with minimum fuss or tongue angle. And the 50ohm/1MEG switch is part of that assembly. So rather than try to unsolder the switch I'm going to just swap over the entire unit....after giving the switch contacts a good cleaning. 

 

[Robert763]

So it seems then that the word "calibration" is being misused. What you describe I would call a verification that the device is still within the design parameters. To me and loads of other people, calibration is accepted to mean checking and if necessary, adjusting the equipment in order to meet the design specification and then a calibration sticker certificate can be issued to say that the equipment is performing within its design parameters.

Repairs do not in anybodies mind constitute a calibration, merely an effective repair has been carried out to a level that then requires calibration, (or adjustments / fine-tuning / tweaks) to be made against known standards, to bring the equipment back to a position within the original design parameters.

For example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibration makes use of both concepts of "Calibration" that have been expressed so far by myself and others in this thread and there is one particular section of the wikipedia that states :-
"In general use, calibration is often regarded as including the process of adjusting the output or indication on a measurement instrument to agree with value of the applied standard, within a specified accuracy. For example, a thermometer could be calibrated so the error of indication or the correction is determined, and adjusted (e.g. via calibration constants) so that it shows the true temperature in Celsius at specific points on the scale. This is the perception of the instrument's end-user.  "
It is that concept that I conjure up in my mind when talking about getting something to calibrated, and it is that I believe most would accept.

Metrologists != most people. Metrology != common.

Many words are misused, e.g. troll, accuracy, precision, stability, resolution, hack, etc etc

Just abbout the best reference is Fluke's book "Calibration - Philosophy in Practice" The title says a lot. Yes I have a copy.

[Kosmic]

So it seems then that the word "calibration" is being misused. What you describe I would call a verification that the device is still within the design parameters. To me and loads of other people, calibration is accepted to mean checking and if necessary, adjusting the equipment in order to meet the design specification and then a calibration sticker certificate can be issued to say that the equipment is performing within its design parameters.

Repairs do not in anybodies mind constitute a calibration, merely an effective repair has been carried out to a level that then requires calibration, (or adjustments / fine-tuning / tweaks) to be made against known standards, to bring the equipment back to a position within the original design parameters.

For example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibration makes use of both concepts of "Calibration" that have been expressed so far by myself and others in this thread and there is one particular section of the wikipedia that states :-
"In general use, calibration is often regarded as including the process of adjusting the output or indication on a measurement instrument to agree with value of the applied standard, within a specified accuracy. For example, a thermometer could be calibrated so the error of indication or the correction is determined, and adjusted (e.g. via calibration constants) so that it shows the true temperature in Celsius at specific points on the scale. This is the perception of the instrument's end-user.  "
It is that concept that I conjure up in my mind when talking about getting something to calibrated, and it is that I believe most would accept.

Metrologists != most people. Metrology != common.

Many words are misused, e.g. troll, accuracy, precision, stability, resolution, hack, etc etc

Just abbout the best reference is Fluke's book "Calibration - Philosophy in Practice" The title says a lot. Yes I have a copy.

http://www.introni.it/pdf/Fluke%20-%20Calibration%20Philosophy%20in%20practice.pdf

This is the first edition. The resistor section is interesting. The standard cells one, is a bit less useful. I quess the second edition of the book is a lot more modern ?

[med6753]

Since I had to pull the shield off to clean it I figured I might as well share.

First pix is the 50 ohm side. 2nd pix is the 1MEG and pre-amp side. I deoxit'ed the leaf contacts then hosed them down with 100% IPA then blow dry.


 

[Kosmic]

Since I had to pull the shield off to clean it I figured I might as well share.

First pix is the 50 ohm side. 2nd pix is the 1MEG and pre-amp side. I deoxit'ed the leaf contacts then hosed them down with 100% IPA then blow dry.

You know med, one day I will fix my Tek 485. And that day I will find all your posts about the 485 and put them all together. Then, I'm going to have a nice book on how to restore and fix the Tektronix 485 

[cyclin_al]

Just for the records:

calibration is not adjusting.

Calibration means: comparing the DUT to a reference and checking, if it is within specs.
If it is within specs, the differences will be documented.

If the DUT is out of specs, then an adjustment or repair of the DUT can be considered.

... and then proceeding with the calibration following completion of the adjustment or repairs.

EDIT:  Spec and bean beat me to it, just using different words.  Thanks to BU508A for the better explanation by adding details and clarity.

[Cerebus]

Just abbout the best reference is Fluke's book "Calibration - Philosophy in Practice" The title says a lot. Yes I have a copy.

Who doesn't? 

[Cerebus]

All this talk of calibration made me actually do some work.

So, today I've calibrated my 0.1\$\Omega\$ current shunt. (99.9796(2901)\$m\Omega\$ @ 21.5˚C k=2), and calibrated and adjusted the HP 66312A (exceeds factory specifications by quite some margin, I'll actually run the factory verification procedure for the record once I can print the forms out [Bloody inkjets! clean nozzles - no, still crap - clean nozzles - no, still crap ...]).

[Specmaster]

All this talk of calibration made me actually do some work.

So, today I've calibrated my 0.1\$\Omega\$ current shunt. (99.9796(2901)\$m\Omega\$ @ 21.5˚C k=2), and calibrated and adjusted the HP 66312A (exceeds factory specifications by quite some margin, I'll actually run the factory verification procedure for the record once I can print the forms out [Bloody inkjets! clean nozzles - no, still crap - clean nozzles - no, still crap ...]).

Still no crap is usually a sign that it has been a while since you last printed anything and the ink is drying up. Is the printer near to a source of heat by any chance?

[Robert763]

So it seems then that the word "calibration" is being misused. What you describe I would call a verification that the device is still within the design parameters. To me and loads of other people, calibration is accepted to mean checking and if necessary, adjusting the equipment in order to meet the design specification and then a calibration sticker certificate can be issued to say that the equipment is performing within its design parameters.

Repairs do not in anybodies mind constitute a calibration, merely an effective repair has been carried out to a level that then requires calibration, (or adjustments / fine-tuning / tweaks) to be made against known standards, to bring the equipment back to a position within the original design parameters.

For example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibration makes use of both concepts of "Calibration" that have been expressed so far by myself and others in this thread and there is one particular section of the wikipedia that states :-
"In general use, calibration is often regarded as including the process of adjusting the output or indication on a measurement instrument to agree with value of the applied standard, within a specified accuracy. For example, a thermometer could be calibrated so the error of indication or the correction is determined, and adjusted (e.g. via calibration constants) so that it shows the true temperature in Celsius at specific points on the scale. This is the perception of the instrument's end-user.  "
It is that concept that I conjure up in my mind when talking about getting something to calibrated, and it is that I believe most would accept.

Metrologists != most people. Metrology != common.

Many words are misused, e.g. troll, accuracy, precision, stability, resolution, hack, etc etc

Just about the best reference is Fluke's book "Calibration - Philosophy in Practice" The title says a lot. Yes I have a copy.

http://www.introni.it/pdf/Fluke%20-%20Calibration%20Philosophy%20in%20practice.pdf

This is the first edition. The resistor section is interesting. The standard cells one, is a bit less useful. I quess the second edition of the book is a lot more modern ?

Yes the 2nd edition is much more up to date. I have print copies of both editions.

[tautech]

once I can print the forms out[/i] [Bloody inkjets! clean nozzles - no, still crap - clean nozzles - no, still crap ...]).

Pull the print head out and place it nozzles down on damp paper towels overnight. Normally they then work fine next day.

[Specmaster]

once I can print the forms out[/i] [Bloody inkjets! clean nozzles - no, still crap - clean nozzles - no, still crap ...]).

Pull the print head out and place it nozzles down on damp paper towels overnight. Normally they then work fine next day.

That depends on the type of printer. Some of the print heads are not removable, Brother only has 4 ink cartridges, the head is fed via small tubes from the cartridge holder. I'm guessing yours is a HP as I know that they do have head and ink cartridge all combined and they tend to be very expensive and none refillable, plus the cheeky bastards have a microchip in them that will kill them after a predetermined time, rendering them useless.

[bd139]

The only cure for an inkjet is to kick the shit out of it and buy a laser.

Got one of these which is actually quite nice. Duplex with document feeder scanner that actually works properly: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07HB4V132/