Electronics > Repair
Series defect on agilent 167xx boards?
DogP:
Great troubleshooting information as always!
Quick question - has anyone opened up one of the riveted pod housings (drilling out the rivets I assume), and have any tips on getting it closed back up and looking nice and keeping it usable? Any idea where to buy small replacement rivets like that? I'd prefer that over replacing with a screw and nut, though I guess that's an option.
Basically, I noticed I had a few dead channels on one pod... I built a simple pattern generator to logic analyzer pod adapter to test all my pods, and also make it convenient to test various pattern generator sequences I was using. After a little bit of testing, I found the channels are all working on the cards, but my A1 cable seems to have a few breaks in it near the 40-pin connector. Wiggling the cable back and forth makes channels come and go. I figure there are probably a few broken wires or solder joints that I could fix, rather than replacing the whole cable.
Thanks,
DogP
TK:
--- Quote from: DogP on November 11, 2022, 07:41:00 am ---Great troubleshooting information as always!
Quick question - has anyone opened up one of the riveted pod housings (drilling out the rivets I assume), and have any tips on getting it closed back up and looking nice and keeping it usable? Any idea where to buy small replacement rivets like that? I'd prefer that over replacing with a screw and nut, though I guess that's an option.
Basically, I noticed I had a few dead channels on one pod... I built a simple pattern generator to logic analyzer pod adapter to test all my pods, and also make it convenient to test various pattern generator sequences I was using. After a little bit of testing, I found the channels are all working on the cards, but my A1 cable seems to have a few breaks in it near the 40-pin connector. Wiggling the cable back and forth makes channels come and go. I figure there are probably a few broken wires or solder joints that I could fix, rather than replacing the whole cable.
Thanks,
DogP
--- End quote ---
Check the wires for damages before opening the POD
DogP:
Yeah, it appears that the cable is broken internally close to the pod (if I flex the cable near the end, the channels come and go).
I popped open the pod, and each wire is a very small coax cable terminated inside the pod, and covered in a conformal coating. So, I guess I can cut the cable back an inch or two until I get past all the breaks, and then re-terminate the cable... though it looks like it'll be a pretty tedious job. For <$100 shipped I can get another L/A card with two more sets of cables (4 pods), which might just be worth it. And I have 7 working pods (112 channels), so I guess it isn't that critical to get this last pod up and running immediately.
To directly answer my previous question on rivets though... it looks like they're 1/16" diameter semi-tubular steel rivets with an oval head. I think they should be 3/8" long (hole of pod assembly is ~0.330" deep, plus 0.040" clinch allowance), though this is the closest I found for sale, keeping the other specs correct: https://www.rivetsonline.com/steel-plated-semi-tubular-rivets-116/t060s00406o .
DogP
dorkshoei:
I'd look on AliExpress for the rivets. They'll be cheap. Maybe not exact but do you really care?
MateKrisz:
MarkL:
I just now can reply, because of I was far away from my LA and I can't confirm your answer. Now back to work :)
Good news that you found this. I always tested the board without cables. I have the cable set but the PODs are missing for me. I will test the card with your solution. Before I read your messages, I was thinking about how easiest the test the memory chips on the board. These chips used on the simple PC100 RAMs around the P1-P2 era. I bought a 32MB (4x8 MB) and a 64MB modules. My idea that I move 1 chip to ram module and test it with simple memtest x86. But first time I will check your idea, I hope some test will be PASS.
DogP:
The 16555 card restoration delayed because I got a 16557 also in untested condition. If it's pass I use it with 16555 both as standalone. Anyway what better? 2x 16555 as Master-Slave or 1x 16555 + 1x 16557 as standalone?
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