Whats your Work-Bench/lab look like? Post some pictures of your Lab.

[AF6LJ]

Wow! It's so wonderful to know that a woman is seriously involved in doing electronics, and seems to me that women working with electronics are rare (based on my assumption). I thought your name "Bernice" belongs to a man. DIdn't had a clue with "Rupunzell" who was actually a feminine character..

There are a few of us who have been in this business, I am not an EE just a lowly RF tech, loving it more than anything else in my life.

[Rupunzell]

Don't be envious or jealous of my techno material things or access to this techno stuff., they are things that all of us will loose eventually in time as everything on this earth will at some point return to the COSMOS.

Enjoy them in the here and now, save and preserve them for those in the future that can and will appreciated them for the knowledge and wisdom they contain and can offer to those who are willing to listen and spend the time and effort to understand.

Your lab and library is no small collection. It is GREAT to see technical libraries like this as it says much about the individual and their passion for what they do in life.

If more individual who are interested in this electronics stuff would spend some time with instruments and their service manuals from that golden age, I suspect there would be a much greater appreciation for just how cleaver, creative and rational some of the solutions these folks came up with for technically challenging problems that remain a fixed aspect of electronics design. There is no need to reinvent the wheel when there are examples of absolutely excellent wheels made. Be humble, learn from wisdom of the past and adapt them to current needs. This also goes a very long way towards building circuit literacy and expression of creativity via circuit design.

The very best circuit and systems designers are more creative artist than just engineering types.

Of the home labs that has surprise me, Bo Lojek, professor at  University of Colorado, also works at Atmel.
http://blog.atmel.com/2013/11/08/the-home-lab-of-bo-lojek/

This comment by Paul Rako wrinkled my brow as it does apply to more than a few folks I know,
"It does not disturb me that Lojek has a stack of early Tektronix mainframe scopes. What bothers me is I have several friends that have the same sort of stack."

If one looks carefully at the pictures in that link posted, there are pictures of Bo and others from that get together....like this one.

From Left to Right, Jim Williams, Bo and Stanford professor Tom Lee.
http://s1298.photobucket.com/user/Analog_Aficionados/media/2010_Analog/Analog-Aficionados-2010-by-Fran-Hoffart-119sfw_zpsbb1ebb72.jpg.html?sort=3&o=92



Bernice

Oops. Sorrrrry! Apart from not taking a hint from your user name (people pick all kinds of nics) I also missed noticing your name in posts several times. Apparently I'm blind.
Well, now I feel even more jealous. *Another* thing there were virtually none of in Australia in the pre-Internet era, was women active in technology. At least not in my rather information-starved no-net circles.

Added: pics below are my small collection of equipment manuals. A vertical bookshelf at left, and along a top shelf. Mostly HP & Tektronix, a few others. 90% for equipment I have, plus a few random ones for stuff I don't have, and missing manuals for some gear I do have.

Most of my tech and general books are in another building; I keep the equipment manuals here in the workshop. Though the space isn't enough and keeps getting wedged due to too much stuff piling up. I'm too ashamed to turn the camera around and show the other side of the room atm.

[Rupunzell]

You're not and never will be lowly, what matters is you're following your passion and know you're doing something constructive and helpful with your time on this earth.


 

Bernice


[/quote]
There are a few of us who have been in this business, I am not an EE just a lowly RF tech, loving it more than anything else in my life.
[/quote]

[Rupunzell]

I did get this, did not want this to become a contest over who has what and who does not have that.

Too often on the web forums, discussions like this end up as keyboard wars or turf-dom over much of nothing.


Bernice

My showing off comment was a joke and brought about by how impressive the setup was. Disappointed that I was misunderstood.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

[TerraHertz]

Don't be envious or jealous of my techno material things or access to this techno stuff., they are things that all of us will loose eventually in time as everything on this earth will at some point return to the COSMOS.

Enjoy them in the here and now, save and preserve them for those in the future that can and will appreciated them for the knowledge and wisdom they contain and can offer to those who are willing to listen and spend the time and effort to understand.

Actually I meant 'jealous' more as a compliment; I'm not actually consumed by covetous envy. Everything's relative, and compared to most people I know personally I'm very well off and have a treasure trove of equipment and tools. That wall in the pics is a small part of it, spread through multiple buildings. Most of which won't be shown due to general mess. Not quite up to the Bo Lojek scale, but not far short.

That said, way to make me feel more envious by demonstrating you are a woman with both technical skills AND a philosophical outlook. Rarity squared. Sadly.

As for returning to the cosmos... true. Or, in this age, perhaps not quite so utterly inevitable. http://everist.org/texts/Fermis_Urbex_Paradox.htm

Your lab and library is no small collection. It is GREAT to see technical libraries like this as it says much about the individual and their passion for what they do in life.

If more individual who are interested in this electronics stuff would spend some time with instruments and their service manuals from that golden age, I suspect there would be a much greater appreciation for just how cleaver, creative and rational some of the solutions these folks came up with for technically challenging problems that remain a fixed aspect of electronics design. There is no need to reinvent the wheel when there are examples of absolutely excellent wheels made. Be humble, learn from wisdom of the past and adapt them to current needs. This also goes a very long way towards building circuit literacy and expression of creativity via circuit design.

As someone whose long experience has demonstrated that malign, cunning intent is actually much more common and harmful than bumbling stupidity, I tend to see the fading of principles of open design and educational, maintainable equipment as deliberate dumbing down and technical dis-empowerment of the population. My efforts to preserve what I can are done in that context. It's why I wish every beginner engineer could have access to physical originals of those old manuals. As demonstration of principles not just electronic, but also social.

The very best circuit and systems designers are more creative artist than just engineering types.

Funny story: I got into electronics at an early age for the potential for artistic creation. Life & family kind of smashed that plan, oh well.

Of the home labs that has surprise me, Bo Lojek, professor at  University of Colorado, also works at Atmel.
http://blog.atmel.com/2013/11/08/the-home-lab-of-bo-lojek/

Nice. Also, turns out to be one of those sites that for unknown reasons totally crashes the browser I normally use, so most of this reply is a re-type.

This comment by Paul Rako wrinkled my brow as it does apply to more than a few folks I know,
"It does not disturb me that Lojek has a stack of early Tektronix mainframe scopes. What bothers me is I have several friends that have the same sort of stack."

I don't know why it would bother him. What's wrong with collecting these fine old instruments (and their manuals)? Hmm... how many Tek 7000 frames do I have? Um... quick count: 10. Plus assorted other old scopes, and some newer. Mostly in the 'to repair' queue. As if I'll ever have the time, given other demands.

There are plenty of people with far weirder and less useful collecting hobbies.

[Mr.B]

There are a few of us who have been in this business, I am not an EE just a lowly RF tech, loving it more than anything else in my life.

When it comes to anything to do with knowledge of electronics there is no such thing as "lowly"...
I admire people like you as I am simply a hobbyist with a thirst to learn, and i learn a lot from this forum and people like you who contribute.
Thank you AF6LJ.

[AF6LJ]

There are a few of us who have been in this business, I am not an EE just a lowly RF tech, loving it more than anything else in my life.

When it comes to anything to do with knowledge of electronics there is no such thing as "lowly"...
I admire people like you as I am simply a hobbyist with a thirst to learn, and i learn a lot from this forum and people like you who contribute.
Thank you AF6LJ.

That is how I started out, it is still my hobby, my love.

[AF6LJ]

I have had a wonderful career

You're not and never will be lowly, what matters is you're following your passion and know you're doing something constructive and helpful with your time on this earth.


 

Bernice

There are a few of us who have been in this business, I am not an EE just a lowly RF tech, loving it more than anything else in my life.
[/quote]
[/quote]

[Deathwish]

apart from noticing Bernices nic and posting her name on posts, I also noticed some of her pics have the name Nici on them when saved, But I tend to look at the pics and observe that the tidy workshops may belong to a woman more than a male seeing as how women seem to be tidier more organised people in the main ( well my ex always put my stuff in cupboards where i could never find them so blame her for that ).

[robrenz]

.......
I got involved with this form just under a year ago when a post appeared about why Tektronix no longer made excellent O'scopes. I took that moment to try and share some historical information and maybe promote interest in restoration, preservation and continue use of instrumentation from that golden era...which has resulted in a rather curious experience for me in many ways.
.......

Bernice

Hello Bernice,  These posts were before you joined so I thought you might enjoy the links below.

tek-7603-scope-w-7a18-amp-7b53a-timebase-restoration

hp-6114a-precision-power-supply-restoration

3410A ac-microvoltmeter restore

[AF6LJ]

Thank you for sharing those, I love to see equipment like that taken care of and rehabilitated.

[Zucca]

tek-7603-scope-w-7a18-amp-7b53a-timebase-restoration

hp-6114a-precision-power-supply-restoration

3410A ac-microvoltmeter restore

I saw them 1000 times and sent the link to friends, but everytime I look into them it´s like the first time and my jaw falls on the ground.
robrenz I hope everything is well and your projects are running fine.

[Howardlong]

.......
I got involved with this form just under a year ago when a post appeared about why Tektronix no longer made excellent O'scopes. I took that moment to try and share some historical information and maybe promote interest in restoration, preservation and continue use of instrumentation from that golden era...which has resulted in a rather curious experience for me in many ways.
.......

Bernice

Hello Bernice,  These posts were before you joined so I thought you might enjoy the links below.

tek-7603-scope-w-7a18-amp-7b53a-timebase-restoration

hp-6114a-precision-power-supply-restoration

3410A ac-microvoltmeter restore

That shit should be banned. Pornographic. 

[AF6LJ]

As soon as I can find the power cord (or maybe I just won't wait) I plan on doing a teardown of my Tek 321A
Not only does it still work it works quite well.

[Docholiday]

Here is mine - my work bench in the military.

[Rupunzell]

TerraHertz:

Actually I meant 'jealous' more as a compliment; I'm not actually consumed by covetous envy. Everything's relative, and compared to most people I know personally I'm very well off and have a treasure trove of equipment and tools. That wall in the pics is a small part of it, spread through multiple buildings. Most of which won't be shown due to general mess. Not quite up to the Bo Lojek scale, but not far short.

*Question is, how many folks invoked in electronics collect, restore and are invoked with technology to this degree?

That said, way to make me feel more envious by demonstrating you are a woman with both technical skills AND a philosophical outlook. Rarity squared. Sadly.

*I'll PM a pix to you in this regard. The electronics is part of my overall interest in science & technology & the humanities. There are too many involved in electronics that are narrowly focused on a specific area of electronics or similar technology, yet there is far more than just what they are focused on including art, literature, biology, cosmology, physics and all other aspects of humanity. Consider this:

EGO = 1/knowledge


As for returning to the cosmos... http://everist.org/texts/Fermis_Urbex_Paradox.htm

*I'm going to read this, give it some thought and reply.

As someone whose long experience has demonstrated that malign, cunning intent is actually much more common and harmful than bumbling stupidity, I tend to see the fading of principles of open design and educational, maintainable equipment as deliberate dumbing down and technical dis-empowerment of the population. My efforts to preserve what I can are done in that context. It's why I wish every beginner engineer could have access to physical originals of those old manuals. As demonstration of principles not just electronic, but also social.

*Goes back to classical liberal arts education. Great and enduring designs are a result of making the an amicable and symbiotic deal with nature. To do this means a deep understanding and appreciation of both the ways of nature and humanity.


"The very best circuit and systems designers are more creative artist than just engineering types."
Funny story: I got into electronics at an early age for the potential for artistic creation. Life & family kind of smashed that plan, oh well.

*Electronics can absolutely be used as artistic expression. There are more than a few who are doing this today.

I don't know why it would bother him. What's wrong with collecting these fine old instruments (and their manuals)? Hmm... how many Tek 7000 frames do I have? Um... quick count: 10. Plus assorted other old scopes, and some newer. Mostly in the 'to repair' queue. As if I'll ever have the time, given other demands.

There are plenty of people with far weirder and less useful collecting hobbies.

*That was more of a complement on how many of Paul's friends appreciate much the same things. Turns out, there are items of instrumentation that are greatly appreciated by many making ownership common among that group.




Bernice

[Rupunzell]

Hello Bernice,  These posts were before you joined so I thought you might enjoy the links below.

tek-7603-scope-w-7a18-amp-7b53a-timebase-restoration

hp-6114a-precision-power-supply-restoration

3410A ac-microvoltmeter restore

GREAT stuff to see instrumentation like this being restored to pristine condition.

Suggestion, it might be a good thing for this forum to add a section that related directly to restoration, repair and calibration of specific instruments. This can aid others who are interest restoration, repair, maintenance and calibration of these classic instruments from that golden era.

Some time ago, a repair was done on a Tek 620 monitor. There was no service manual on hand and a web search returned a page that illustrated what another has done to repair a similar problem with a section of that problem area. Turns out the problem-failure is a result of a design Ooops. In return, I made some suggestions to the keeper of that web page, he added it to the web page;

http://golddredgervideo.com/kc0wox/tek/620/



Bernice

[Rupunzell]

As soon as I can find the power cord (or maybe I just won't wait) I plan on doing a teardown of my Tek 321A
Not only does it still work it works quite well.

One of those Tektronix specific power cords with the right angle connectors with totally non-standard pin configuration. Tek 321A originated from the Tek 315, their first great small portable designed by Dick Ropiequet, John Kobbe and Jim Morrow who introduced the idea of coaxial controls. This was the beginnings of the Tek 300 series and Tek's effort to make smaller O'scopes.


Bernice

[AF6LJ]

As soon as I can find the power cord (or maybe I just won't wait) I plan on doing a teardown of my Tek 321A
Not only does it still work it works quite well.

One of those Tektronix specific power cords with the right angle connectors with totally non-standard pin configuration. Tek 321A originated from the Tek 315, their first great small portable designed by Dick Ropiequet, John Kobbe and Jim Morrow who introduced the idea of coaxial controls. This was the beginnings of the Tek 300 series and Tek's effort to make smaller O'scopes.


Bernice

It is a very cool scope, I do have that power cord, the AC version. The temptation is strong to get the Ten, or is it a Dozen size D rechargeable batteries for it, Just for fun.

[tautech]

Hello Bernice,  These posts were before you joined so I thought you might enjoy the links below.

tek-7603-scope-w-7a18-amp-7b53a-timebase-restoration

hp-6114a-precision-power-supply-restoration

3410A ac-microvoltmeter restore

GREAT stuff to see instrumentation like this being restored to pristine condition.

Suggestion, it might be a good thing for this forum to add a section that related directly to restoration, repair and calibration of specific instruments. This can aid others who are interest restoration, repair, maintenance and calibration of these classic instruments from that golden era.

Some time ago, a repair was done on a Tek 620 monitor. There was no service manual on hand and a web search returned a page that illustrated what another has done to repair a similar problem with a section of that problem area. Turns out the problem-failure is a result of a design Ooops. In return, I made some suggestions to the keeper of that web page, he added it to the web page;

http://golddredgervideo.com/kc0wox/tek/620/



Bernice

A thread along this lines does exist and has recently been pinned in the Repair board:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/vintageclassic-renovation-techniques/

[Rupunzell]

It is a very cool scope, I do have that power cord, the AC version. The temptation is strong to get the Ten, or is it a Dozen size D rechargeable batteries for it, Just for fun.

Battery powered = floating.
Consider what can be done with a floating O'scope.

Yes, put in 10 D cells and try it.


Bernice
 

[TerraHertz]

Some time ago, a repair was done on a Tek 620 monitor. There was no service manual on hand and a web search returned a page that illustrated what another has done to repair a similar problem with a section of that problem area. Turns out the problem-failure is a result of a design Ooops. In return, I made some suggestions to the keeper of that web page, he added it to the web page;

http://golddredgervideo.com/kc0wox/tek/620/

Great! I have a 620 (and the manual.) Currently working, but article filed for future ref.

I'll PM a pix to you in this regard. The electronics is part of my overall interest in science & technology & the humanities. There are too many involved in electronics that are narrowly focused on a specific area of electronics or similar technology, yet there is far more than just what they are focused on including art, literature, biology, cosmology, physics and all other aspects of humanity. Consider this:  EGO = 1/knowledge

We'd have a lot to talk about.
Looking forward to the pic. Still not clear to me why you decided not to post your workshop view here.
I suppose you may like a photo tour of my junkpile. Lucky I've started spring cleaning then.

Btw, with that F.U.P. story, bear in mind that at the beginning the style is deliberately dry and abstract. It's a necessary consequence of the plot. Some people get turned off.

And now, for everyone's gruesome entertainment a photo of what was UNDER my workbench. Well on the floor of the whole room really. It's spring, I'm cleaning up, and since during winter I use a wood fired slow combustion heater and the firewood gets piled around the place, there's no point at all in sweeping up.

So, sweep up your workshop. How horrible is the resulting dustpile? Mine is a combination of wood bits, dust, ash, leaves blown in, dirt walked in, cat hair, and bits of my own long beard for binder. This is just 'cleaning phase 1', by broom out of pity for the vacuum cleaner.
This from one room - the main electronics area. The mechanical workshop.... let's not think about that yet.

[AF6LJ]

It is a very cool scope, I do have that power cord, the AC version. The temptation is strong to get the Ten, or is it a Dozen size D rechargeable batteries for it, Just for fun.

Battery powered = floating.
Consider what can be done with a floating O'scope.

Yes, put in 10 D cells and try it.


Bernice

Indeed There were times I wish I had a battery powered O Scope, Now I have one.

[technix]

Well I am upgrading my gear by rolling my own, and my designs will (almost) always have a USB interface for automation. GPIB is out of my reach so too bad.

[Kjetil]

Just moved to a new place, and finally got room for a proper workbench.

2400x800mm of lovely cnc'ed plywood, and I still need more room