Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Specmaster]

The DSO_X 3034A arrived.
Well padded, undamaged and with four probes with all probe accessories.   

But I can't get it to work. 
Luckily, SWMBO didn't even ask what I received yet.   

I wished that it could be an issue with the switching power supply as this is reported (ok, rarely..).
It's not. It might be the NAND corruption issue some DSO-X 3034A-Models suffer from.
Have issued a repair request to Keysight. Don't know what the cost could be but it's HP.. Agil.. ehh Keysight.   

Is there any possibility that it might be a  known defect that there has been a recall issued but yours never got returned for the repair? If so you might be pleasantly surprised?

[tggzzz]

BTW...you Brits keep using the term "fortnight" and I had no idea what length of time it was. Google is your friend. 2 weeks.

Often combined with furlongs as a unit of velocity, i.e. furlongs/fortnight. 1furlong/fortnight is just about 1cm/minute. Of course the VAX/VMS used microfortnights: see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFF_system

Personally I rather like nanocenturies, as in "I'll only be 20 nanocenturies, dear".

Damn, you beat me to the furlongs/fortnight thing.  I often use that as a test of online unit conversion sites.   

Another favorite unit of mine is the "attoparsec."   There are other interesting units such as the Beard-Second, the Smoot, and the nanoacre.

I'd forgotten the attoparsec; thanks.

The Beard-second is amusing but I'm unlikely to use it, the Smoot and nanoacre don't match on to SI units well enough to remember.

[mnementh]

Hmmmm.... an amusing morning's diversion; rummaging around the wikis on obscure measurements.

I knew about the Jimmy Griffin Index, having grown up just south of Buffalo, and seeing "6-Pack Jimmy" on TV all the time. I always thought it was a unit of "wasted time", however; approximately the length of a "nor'easter" (about 4-6 hours, and 12-14 hours before you could expect to drive anywhere).

I did NOT know about the Wiffle; it never occurred to me (probably due to having grown up with cheap Asian import toy goods) that Wiffle Balls were standardized at 89mm/3.5" in diameter. THAT is actually a pretty useful measure of scale and volume.

I like nC as well, particularly since it is easily remembered as π seconds, one of very few mathematically significant numbers I was strangely able to memorize as a small child.

mnem
*Almost feeling human, which is strange for a dwagon*

[Specmaster]

Are 3D printer files transportable between different 3D printers? I have a need for a small knob to be printed to fit a Tektronics TDS210 for trigger control and I have a the files that some university has developed for their own population of printers which have disappearing knobs and have made it public. Is anyone able to assist me in printing a knob for me?

[bd139]

Yes. there are three steps:

1. CAD native format. This is the modelling language. Depends on the package.
2. STL file. This is generated from the above and is basically the above turned into a fuck load of triangles.
3. G-Code file. This is generated from the above and consists of machine level movements.

You usually, from my knowledge throw the STL file at the company doing the prints. That is the last "portable" format. They turn that into G-code optimised for their printers.

Lots of companies will do STL prints to order on decent printers. Cheapest ones of course are in China. So if you have an STL file, find somewhere that will take it uploaded and show you a preview and a price and job done. This is all we do with PCB services but the portable format is gerber files.

This looks like the thing: https://www.3dhubs.com/3dprint

I uploaded a TDS220 knob I found as an STL and it came up with £5.28 to print in ABS with 200um layer height. Says 2 day turnaround as well so probably local

[med6753]

Here's another one local to me. About 5 miles.

$100 USD for a 20Mhz scope??? Pfffft.....even if it is an Hitachi. I wouldn't pay more than $50 and even that's generous. 

I'll watch it and if it stays posted for weeks I'll low ball him. But as of right now....forget it.   

[bd139]

I always email them and tell them they’re fucking crazy.

[med6753]

If it does stay unsold....and I suspect it will.....I'll e-mail him and tell him that generally scopes of that vintage sell for $1 USD/Mhz. That will make him think. Then I'll offer to double it at no more than $40 USD.

[URI]

It might be the NAND corruption issue some DSO-X 3034A-Models suffer from.
Have issued a repair request to Keysight. Don't know what the cost could be but it's HP.. Agil.. ehh Keysight.   

Does it show any signs of life? If so you can hook up to the serial port to find out what the problem is.

I checked all voltages and they're all ok.
And yes, it flashes its LEDs two times and then lits up the four LEDs pointing to Ref, Math, Digital and Serial in a sequence and stays there. Run/Stop and Single remain dark and the display doesn't show anything.
Haven't tried to read out the internal serial port yet.
Is it equipped with a header or do I have to bodge one in?   
If the latter is true I won't try before the scope visits Keysight..

Is there any possibility that it might be a  known defect that there has been a recall issued but yours never got returned for the repair? If so you might be pleasantly surprised?

I desperately hope that its fault might be covered by a known recall issue and that it'll be repaired for no/low cost.   

[Specmaster]

I always email them and tell them they’re fucking crazy.

Never emailed me like that [emoji1787]

[Specmaster]

Yes. there are three steps:

1. CAD native format. This is the modelling language. Depends on the package.
2. STL file. This is generated from the above and is basically the above turned into a fuck load of triangles.
3. G-Code file. This is generated from the above and consists of machine level movements.

You usually, from my knowledge throw the STL file at the company doing the prints. That is the last "portable" format. They turn that into G-code optimised for their printers.

Lots of companies will do STL prints to order on decent printers. Cheapest ones of course are in China. So if you have an STL file, find somewhere that will take it uploaded and show you a preview and a price and job done. This is all we do with PCB services but the portable format is gerber files.

This looks like the thing: https://www.3dhubs.com/3dprint

I uploaded a TDS220 knob I found as an STL and it came up with £5.28 to print in ABS with 200um layer height. Says 2 day turnaround as well so probably local

Thanks for the info and link, uploaded the file and it came back as unprintable. Need to do some investigation as to why and what if anything I can do about it.

[bd139]

I desperately hope that its fault might be covered by a known recall issue and that it'll be repaired for no/low cost.   

Wave this at them: http://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/DSOX2002A-05.pdf

Also there's a comment here which points to possibly being able to reflash it from the USB port on boot.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/dsox2000-and-3000-series-licence-have-anyone-tried-to-hack-that-scope/msg642279/#msg642279

It might get far enough through the boot sequence to do that.

I'd be pooping my pants with that purchase.

Worked for someone! https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/dsox2000-and-3000-series-licence-have-anyone-tried-to-hack-that-scope/msg676455/#msg676455

[bd139]

Thanks for the info and link, uploaded the file and it came back as unprintable. Need to do some investigation as to why and what if anything I can do about it.

I did one from here and it worked fine: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1733833/files

[tggzzz]

Here's another one local to me. About 5 miles.

$100 USD for a 20Mhz scope??? Pfffft.....even if it is an Hitachi. I wouldn't pay more than $50 and even that's generous. 

I'll watch it and if it stays posted for weeks I'll low ball him. But as of right now....forget it.   

Do you actually want that, even if it was free? I find that question is a useful way for me avoiding buying crap

[Cerebus]

I always email them and tell them they’re fucking crazy.

I'm frequently tempted to, but life is too short and too full of psychos who will threaten to slash me for imagined insults.

[bd139]

I'm frequently tempted to, but life is too short and too full of psychos who will threaten to slash me for imagined insults.

I am the psycho so that eliminates that problem.

[Cerebus]

I always email them and tell them they’re fucking crazy.

Never emailed me like that [emoji1787]

I guess he presumes by now that you know he thinks you're crazy!

[tggzzz]

Lots of companies will do STL prints to order on decent printers. Cheapest ones of course are in China. So if you have an STL file, find somewhere that will take it uploaded and show you a preview and a price and job done. This is all we do with PCB services but the portable format is gerber files.

This looks like the thing: https://www.3dhubs.com/3dprint

I uploaded a TDS220 knob I found as an STL and it came up with £5.28 to print in ABS with 200um layer height. Says 2 day turnaround as well so probably local

Thanks for the info and link, uploaded the file and it came back as unprintable. Need to do some investigation as to why and what if anything I can do about it.

Try uploading to shapeways and seeing if their sanity checks indicate anything.

Download netfabb basic (runs under wine) and see if that shown problems. It can also repair some problems related to "near misses" with the triangles.

[Brumby]

I always email them and tell them they’re fucking crazy.

They may not be crazy at all.  They may simply be waiting for the one punter that doesn't understand and throws the money at them.

Errrr.... on second thought - nah.  They be crazy.

[Specmaster]

Thanks for the info and link, uploaded the file and it came back as unprintable. Need to do some investigation as to why and what if anything I can do about it.

I did one from here and it worked fine: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1733833/files

That's where I got the file from but for the 210, the 220 looks a bit better so I'll have a squiss at it when I get back, currently out at North Weald with the Knat display team getting ready for Duxford show.

[Specmaster]

I always email them and tell them they’re fucking crazy.

Never emailed me like that [emoji1787]

I guess he presumes by now that you know he thinks you're crazy!

Hahaha you might well be right at that [emoji6]

[med6753]

Here's another one local to me. About 5 miles.

$100 USD for a 20Mhz scope??? Pfffft.....even if it is an Hitachi. I wouldn't pay more than $50 and even that's generous. 

I'll watch it and if it stays posted for weeks I'll low ball him. But as of right now....forget it.   

Do you actually want that, even if it was free? I find that question is a useful way for me avoiding buying crap

It's sort of "meh".  It's not on a "must have" list but it's not on the "don't want" list.

[mnementh]

Yes. there are three steps:

1. CAD native format. This is the modelling language. Depends on the package.
2. STL file. This is generated from the above and is basically the above turned into a fuck load of triangles.
3. G-Code file. This is generated from the above and consists of machine level movements.

You usually, from my knowledge throw the STL file at the company doing the prints. That is the last "portable" format. They turn that into G-code optimised for their printers.

Lots of companies will do STL prints to order on decent printers. Cheapest ones of course are in China. So if you have an STL file, find somewhere that will take it uploaded and show you a preview and a price and job done. This is all we do with PCB services but the portable format is gerber files.

This looks like the thing: https://www.3dhubs.com/3dprint

I uploaded a TDS220 knob I found as an STL and it came up with £5.28 to print in ABS with 200um layer height. Says 2 day turnaround as well so probably local

A part that small, I wouldn't print at more than .1mm layer height; preferably .06 to .08mm. Most not-absolutely-cheap-as-possible printers made in the last 3-4 years will do that.

US$7 seems about right; probably a dime's worth of filament, but 30 min file/printer prep and 20-60 min print time depending on layer height.

*Does quick slice*

Cura sez 48 min print time on the TDS220 LARGE KNOB  at .08mm layer height, ultra fine detail profile and 3¢ worth of filament. I just started it printing to see what it looks like; I need to figure out  something anyways as my platen keeps moving. This'll be a good test scenario for the easiest fix, which is just to use binder clips.

Here's another one local to me. About 5 miles.

$100 USD for a 20Mhz scope??? Pfffft.....even if it is an Hitachi. I wouldn't pay more than $50 and even that's generous. 

I'll watch it and if it stays posted for weeks I'll low ball him. But as of right now....forget it.   

Do you actually want that, even if it was free? I find that question is a useful way for me avoiding buying crap

It's sort of "meh".  It's not on a "must have" list but it's not on the "don't want" list.

$100 IS a bit steep for a V-212, even if it included probes. OTOH, they HAVE developed a bit of a cult following for a couple reasons: A) They were on nearly EVERY Tech/College/Trade School Electronics Lab workbench for nearly 2 decades, so nostalgia; and 2) they just plain WORK.

   Case in Point: My poor "red-headed stepchild" V-212 that spent more than a decade on the back-back of my back bench with a cheezy home-mad junction tester attached to it. 

mnem
*Sorting junk-ily*

[PA0PBZ]

Is it equipped with a header or do I have to bodge one in?   

There is a header so if it already has been opened you can do it without leaving any traces Anyway, first let's see what Keysight has to say about it, good chance that it will be the known problem and they will fix it for you for free. If not let me know and we can explore other options.

[URI]

Is it equipped with a header or do I have to bodge one in?   

There is a header so if it already has been opened you can do it without leaving any traces Anyway, first let's see what Keysight has to say about it, good chance that it will be the known problem and they will fix it for you for free. If not let me know and we can explore other options.

Ah, ok. Then I know what header it is. 
Was in there already.   
I'm waiting for Keysights reaction and will report then.

_{*Looking for universal USB to Serial, TTL/RS232-level -adapter*}

EDIT: Meanwhile I followed the links bd139 pointed me to (thanks!) and also thanks to FrankBuss (see his posting) I now know the pin out of that serial pin header.