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Tag: Tektronix Mobile Cart Repair


Tektronix Scope-Mobile Cart Repair Part 3

Posted by Shaun Merrigan in Electronics, Oscilloscopes. Comments Off on Tektronix Scope-Mobile Cart Repair Part 3

7th May

Tektronix Scope-Mobile Cart Repair Part 3

 

Part 1

Part 2 

This is the conclusion to my repair of a Tektronix 202-2 Scope-Mobile Cart.  Recall that the problem was three fractured trunnion mount bosses which rendered the cart useless (and unsafe) under load.  My proposed solution was to place the bosses into compression by putting a 6mm countersunk bolt through the trunnion mount concentric with the existing hole in the boss.  By using appropriate sized washers between the top of the boss and the frame member I ensure that the boss is placed into compression and the frame member is securely clamped.  This avoids the tensile loading which fractured the bosses initially.

 

Trunnion to member closeup with new bolt and washers in place

The holes in the trunnion mount were countersunk to fit the flat head socket bolts:

Countersunk Hole for new bolt

 

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Tektronix Scope-Mobile Cart Repair Part 2

Posted by Shaun Merrigan in Electronics, Oscilloscopes, Tech. Comments Off on Tektronix Scope-Mobile Cart Repair Part 2

7th January

Tektronix Scope-Mobile Cart Repair Part 2

This post continues my repair of the Tektronix Scope-Mobile Cart and  trunnion mounts. Here is Part 1, which details the problem and my proposed solution.

The original design used 5/16″ button head bolts which screwed into the bosses and attached the aluminum box frame member to the polymer trunnion mount:

Trunnion to member overview-1

Trunnion to member closeup-2

Trunnion to member closeup with original fastener-3

Trunnion to member closeup with original fastener and cover in position-4

It is obvious that overtightening these bolts put the bosses into tension which caused them to fail.  The gap between the member and the boss “spring loads” the system and puts additional tensile stress on the boss.  While an aluminum casting could easily handle these stresses, the polymer obviously could not.

What I did was to glue the fractured bosses into … Read More »


Tektronix Scope-Mobile Cart Repair Part 1

Posted by Shaun Merrigan in Electronics, Oscilloscopes. Comments Off on Tektronix Scope-Mobile Cart Repair Part 1

6th January

Tektronix Scope-Mobile Cart Repair Part 1

I was lucky enough to obtain a Tektronix 202-2 Scope-Mobile Cart.

Tektronix 202-2 Scope-Mobile scanned overview image

 

Upon examining it, I found that the scope tray was loose and the tilt mechanism did not function properly.  The cause for this was broken trunnion mounts on both sides of the cart as follows:

Tektronix 202-2 Mobile Cart Chassis Parts

 

Trunnion Mount and Broken Bosses Overview

 

Trunnion Mount and Broken Bosses Overview

Three of the four bosses were fractured with the fracture surface indicating tensile overload.  I suspect that the bolts were overtightened and the bosses fractured. Overtightening loaded the bosses in tension by trying to compress the box frame member.  Unfortunately this type of polymer (some type of hard thermoplastic) is not good in tension.

Other mobile carts I have seen use cast aluminum for … Read More »