What did you buy today? Post your latest purchase!

[Muttley Snickers]

We have an older thread on the forum some place where I warned about copies of the Mitutoyo vernier calipers, sorry I cannot post a link from this device but if you search for "Mitutoyo" it should turn up, research twice and buy them once.

Today I bought a new carbon creation machine in addition to a new H2O evaporation generator from Kmart, the toaster is inconsistent and the kettle leaks water and probably deserves a formal safety recall.   

[Specmaster]

Just got myself a variac 270v 2A, I've been after one of these  now for some time now and today one popped up on Ebay and I pounced, made an offer and was accepted. Off to collect it soon.

[McBryce]

We have an older thread on the forum some place where I warned about copies of the Mitutoyo vernier calipers, sorry I cannot post a link from this device but if you search for "Mitutoyo" it should turn up, research twice and buy them once.

Today I bought a new carbon creation machine in addition to a new H2O evaporation generator from Kmart, the toaster is inconsistent and the kettle leaks water and probably deserves a formal safety recall.   

Yes, I came across several clones during my online search. So I bought mine from a local dealer who I rang first to confirm that his are the real deal. I can highly recommend the real ones.

McBryce.

[TerraHertz]

Just want to mention that the CNC lathes sale has 4 hours to go, and as soon as it ends all the online photos will vanish. If you haven't scrolled through the 4 pages of heavy machinery porn, I'd suggest doing so now. Have a box of tissues handy.

Also, some of the machines are still sitting at under $10, some even no bids. If you wanted a few tons of computerized behemoth, take a look. Be aware there's still the "removal fee" which is a few thousand dollars, plus freight costs. So don't bid casually. Oh, and registration to bid takes a while, verifications via SMS, etc.

URL: http://tigerassetgroup.com/sales/dsi1/
Scroll down to and click on "SALE 2. Closes 12pm (AEDT) 12th October. 85+ CNC Lathes"
Not saying which one I want, but it's well on it's way to a thousand dollars and will likely go over. (Plus $2200 removal fee.) Most of the appealing ones are already bid to several thousand, out of my range.

Not fussed, as I found out these don't actually have some of the machining capabilities I need. So now it's mostly just 'learning CNC', aka boy toy purchase, aka get this AND a big old manual lathe. Which I really shouldn't.

Edit: Btw to navigate that Pickles listing, choose sort by: lot number. And use "< Back to results" to return to where you were in the listing. Browser 'back' takes you back to page 1.

Edit 2. A few more traps for CNC nubies have come to light. Talking with an Okuma rep:
  Q: With a machine that has no tool position calibrator arm, can that arm be retrofitted?
  A: Basically no. The software in each machine is custom to that machine. So if there's no arm,
     the software won't have that facility. After adding the arm, would also have to ask Okuma for
     a new software build. Software comes on floppy disks, several disks per set. Very high cost.
     Code is not human-readable script, just binary blob.

  Q: So that applies to gantry loader integration too? You really can't just remove a gantry and tell
     the machine to ignore the absense?
  A: Correct. A customer recently had that situation. Bought a machine with a gantry loader, and
     wanted to run the machine without it. Cost of new software was $7.5K.

  Q: What is the code held in?
  A: Flash memory. There's also battery backed memory for machine state, etc.

Oh, and I'd previously been told that full schematics are available. But people at the factory (and from looking at actual manuals) say that is not correct. There are cabinet wiring diagrams, but no PCB schematics available. So a fault in something like a spindle variable frequency drive, costs several thousand for repair by manufacturer, or replacement.

Edit 3:
Final prices for the five Okuma Spaceturn LB250T CNC lathes.
All with additional $2200 removal fee, plus auctioneer's percentage, plus buyer's transport cost. That guy in WA...

149   E.H. Winthrop WA           $3,550
150   V.V. Matraville NSW        $5,050
151   E.H. Winthrop WA           $4,450
152   S.T. dandenong south VIC   $3,050  (I bid, my max $1350 for this machine with a major flaw.)
153   P.M. dandenong south VIC   $2,800  (Was going to bid on this. It looks bad, but only superficial. It went over my limit quickly.)

I think a lot of the larger machines didn't sell. According to people at the site on Monday, there will be a second auction of the dregs.

Since I have to go down there again to fetch the big UPS, I thought I'd buy something fun. Lot 605, a freestanding cubicle containing a small assembly line. Cubicle made of nice T-slot section, lots of pneumatics, controllers, two huge pneumatic actuator cylinders, etc. Would have been cool.
Unfortunately there's sometimes that one stubborn guy who won't accept being outbid. (Not me!) Combined with the Pickles deadline extension by 9 minutes every time someone bids, it makes for a frustrating waste of time.
After sitting there incremental bidding for about 20 minutes I quit when the value for money died.
"N.W. of Footscray", you suck.

N.W. Footscray VIC    12/10/2017 04:19PM    $420
G.D. East Hills NSW    12/10/2017 04:19PM    $410
N.W. Footscray VIC    12/10/2017 04:19PM    $410
G.D. East Hills NSW    12/10/2017 04:14PM    $400
N.W. Footscray VIC    12/10/2017 04:14PM    $390
G.D. East Hills NSW    12/10/2017 04:14PM       $380
N.W. Footscray VIC    12/10/2017 04:14PM    $380
G.D. East Hills NSW    12/10/2017 04:09PM    $370
N.W. Footscray VIC    12/10/2017 04:09PM    $370
G.D. East Hills NSW    12/10/2017 04:03PM    $360
N.W. Footscray VIC    12/10/2017 04:03PM    $360
G.D. East Hills NSW    12/10/2017 03:57PM    $350
N.W. Footscray VIC    12/10/2017 03:56PM    $340
G.D. East Hills NSW    12/10/2017 03:53PM    $310
N.W. Footscray VIC    12/10/2017 03:53PM    $300
G.D. East Hills NSW    12/10/2017 03:44PM    $130
N.W. Footscray VIC    12/10/2017 03:37PM    $110
S.S. NORTH ALBURY NSW    12/10/2017 01:11PM    $54
N.W. Footscray VIC    12/10/2017 01:11PM    $53
S.S. NORTH ALBURY NSW    11/10/2017 10:54PM    $52
P.B. baranduda VIC    11/10/2017 10:53PM    $5
S.S. NORTH ALBURY NSW    11/10/2017 10:53PM    $4
P.B. baranduda VIC    11/10/2017 10:53PM    $3
S.S. NORTH ALBURY NSW    11/10/2017 10:53PM    $2

Well, it's all good. Means I have more money free still to buy a big old lathe that can actually do what I want. And very amusingly... (story for later)

That auction cost me a grand total of $2.16. And I got a huge 3phase UPS, that I've been seeking for ages.

Now I need to shake this cold I have.


Edit #4. I'm informed by email from Pickles that both things I bid on but didn't win (Lot 152  the CNC LB250T lathe with no tool position calibration arm, and Lot 605 Assembly machine cubicle) were 'passed in' and "may be listed again in the near future."

Ha ha ha! So, they set themselves greedy, hidden price targets, and probably a lot of things failed to reach them. Presumably I only received notifications for lots I had bid on. I wonder what proportion of sales failed?
  I hope most of them. Reality 2x4.


 

[MrW0lf]

Actually I just needed/checked pulse gen then went to make coffee - when returned order already finalized including all this Think it was AI!

[AF6LJ]

Gotta watch that AI.

[MrW0lf]

Gotta watch that AI.

I agree this is out of order! Next purchase will be security camera to watch mouse when I'm away!

[Specmaster]

The trick when ordering is to erase all thoughts of wish lists etc from your mind, otherwise these clever websites shopping botts will automatically fulfill your desires for you, good job you weren't thinking about a Aston Vantage at the time. 

[Specmaster]

Gotta watch that AI.

I agree this is out of order! Next purchase will be security camera to watch mouse when I'm away!

No doubt mouse will blame cat 

[richnormand]

My latest toy:

Platinum target plasma sputter system from Emitech.

[nanofrog]

Nice. 

Did you get it for a specific purpose or just to play with?

[richnormand]

Figured it would be useful with my vacuum system with electrical feed-through to read the film resistance. Flashing a burst of a set metal could be useful. So I'll try to coat a slide and flash it with a pulsed laser.

Long term if I manage to follow though with a home made SEM it will be useful with a gold target. I only need a 2.25" diameter thin film of whatever metal to deposit to act as a target since this is is a DC type system, I think.

Go to post here, my vacuum system is in that thread page (start from top):
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/whats-your-work-benchlab-look-like-post-some-pictures-of-your-lab/msg949560/#msg949560

[VK5RC]

Some solar panels, 32x270W Trina Honey ( 8kW or so), and a three phase inverter Fronius Symo 7.0-3-M, getting 3.7kW at switch on at 430PM so reasonably happy so far.
No battery as yet - I think I might watch and see what happens in the next few years.

[woody]

A voltage reference.

[URI]

I shot an HP 3437A tonight! 
It only has to withstand being transported via DHL in unknown packaging..   
I hope the very best.

[Cyberdragon]

An antique 22GHz analog spectrum analyser (Ailtech model 707, whatever that brand is) I would show pictures but she's not pretty, it's extrememly crusty, missing its bottom plate, and the knobs are well worn including a huge gauge around the main tuning knob from decades of careless fingers. It's supposed to be working and calibrated, but unfortunately its missing some weird old power connector so I can't power it up untill I find a way to connect mains. I did however get the manual, service info, and contact info of the original calibrator who was present at the sale.

EDIT: did I mention it was only $50...

[Dubbie]

Same pic for both sides blueskull?

[julianhigginson]

wow! that's a little board with a lot on it...  who is assembling it?

[Jeroen3]

You have via's inside pads... ?

[rsjsouza]

BTW, screw Arrow. Octoparts reported it has the lowest price on the Winbond part, but its price and stock info are not stable, and over just a few days span, thousands of stock have vanished and now I'm looking at 4000 MOQ and 14 weeks lead time.
I thought SPI flash is common commodity and I can get them from anywhere, but I was wrong. SO8 package ones are everywhere, but UDFN8 2*3 chips are quite rare to find even from authorized distributors let along in the wild.

blueskull, really? Arrow is a large corporate distributor that deals with high volume customers all the time, stock is *extremely* volatile. Also, in my experience dealing with certain manufacturers' lack of planning or sometimes simply bad luck, stock is particularly unstable especially for high density packaging used in high volume designs, where tens of thousands of units can be swooped from the market in a mouse click in a time of desperation.

[macboy]

...
I want to do some real HiFi audio works without the snake oil BS
...

I like the way you think. Need a beta tester? 

[AF6LJ]

Some 500 pcs of 2Mbit dual read SPI flash chips from Freelancer Electronics (over stock, I'm a cheap person...). Was going to order some Winbond dual read SPI flash chips, but they ran out of stock and new back order MOQ is 4000 pcs...
I posted another thread in MCU subforum asking if I can replace them with Aldesto QSPI chips, but since I hard tied WP and HOLD to VCC, I decided not to take the risk of latching up the chip in case it accidentally goes into QSPI mode.
BTW, screw Arrow. Octoparts reported it has the lowest price on the Winbond part, but its price and stock info are not stable, and over just a few days span, thousands of stock have vanished and now I'm looking at 4000 MOQ and 14 weeks lead time.
I thought SPI flash is common commodity and I can get them from anywhere, but I was wrong. SO8 package ones are everywhere, but UDFN8 2*3 chips are quite rare to find even from authorized distributors let along in the wild.

Also ordered is a batch of very special PCB from WellPCB, the special part it that it has copper pads on the very edge of the board, and hence the PCB manufacturer will have to prolong the pads, cut the PCB and shave excess copper and FR4 to make it the perfect size. It also features 0.1mm track/spacing and 0.2mm drill/0.1mm annular ring as well as panelization with a mix of routing and v scoring (and some other advanced features, such as high Tg, ENIG and 0.4mm thickness for 4 layers). Let's see how they handle this design.

I'm excited to see how it turns out if I pack 3 tiny BGAs, a UQFN, a UDFN, a crystal, 2 0.4mm pitch connectors and 39 passives on one side of a 12mm*12mm PCB.



The top side is a big 12mm*12mm ADSP-BF706 chip.

Wow that is going to be really busy. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

[Mr. Scram]

I bought some NOS VFD displays. Old school cool. I was tempted to pick up some tubes too, but I need to spend my funds more wisely.

[neo]

In great contrast to the frugal nature of the post above me i made a decision and purchased an oscillosope. There MIGHT be an argument it was a unilateral decision and unwise but any such argument can be wholly dismissed as blasphemy.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/tektronix7704A

Fully loaded Tektronix 7704A with 7B53A, 7A18, 7A26 & 7BA85 and a video showing traces on the screen.
Shipping was bloody murder but it is in proper contrast to the price it went for, i won uncontested.

Also, i too have some NOS VFDs coming my way as well, a couple IV-27s.

[Specmaster]

And we're back to the frugal again, I too won yet another oscilloscope but this one is just a parts mule to allow me to make a good one out of two. Its mainly hardware I want from this one so I'm hoping that in the flesh it looks a lot better then the picture does.