A micro-programmable tube tracer/tester - Page 6

jackinnj · 19th February 2012, 12:12 PM

Here's a GUI:

TheGimp · 19th February 2012, 04:47 PM

Nice, what are you developing that in?

I was previously looking at using Microsoft Visual C++, but the learning curve is rather daunting.

jackinnj · 19th February 2012, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGimp

Nice, what are you developing that in?

Visual Basic. Originally there was a program called "Softwire" which National Instruments scooped up -- as it competed too competitively with Labview (came free with a DAC/ADC card) -- you went from a graphical connect the dots screen which wrote the code. OK for simple projects, but all it was doing was writing the code.

Quote:

I was previously looking at using Microsoft Visual C++, but the learning curve is rather daunting.

It is "somewhat" daunting, but it is, after, a language which gets learned with practice. You're not going to be programming stochastic models for mortgage derivatives, just some loops and controls and a graphical interface. VB is easy in this respect and there's a huge body of canned stuff out there. My C++ stinks!

Whatever you program in, it's important to remember that you've got to protect the DUT AND your instrumentation from accidental catastrophe. As Steve Ciarcia said "software in solder".

TheGimp · 19th February 2012, 06:07 PM

I've programmed in C, but not C++. About once every five years I end up doing some code for an imbedded project, but it is mostly take code from a previous module, strip out the module specific code and write a couple hundred lines to replace it. Nothing much. I don't code often enough to be proficient.

I would probably be better off in VB.

Michael Koster · 20th February 2012, 02:54 PM

Here is a first cut design for the D/A component that plugs on to the Arduino board (called a shield in Arduino-speak). I provide a +5V power input, 8 D/A outputs, and break out 8 A/D inputs.

The connectors are amp MTA and break the signals out into twisted pair or coax.

Cheers,

Michael

TheGimp · 20th February 2012, 04:39 PM

I would recommend adding a 1nF cap on the Refout/Refin pin (Spec says 1-10), change the 1uF bulk storage to 10uF and add a 1nF to VDD as well.

Michael Koster · 8th March 2012, 04:56 PM

I looked at the app note again and made the changes you suggest; thanks.

Here is the first PCB stuffed and ready to test, with the Arduino MEGA board it stacks onto.

I'll need to create some library code for the basic setup and operation.

TheGimp · 8th March 2012, 05:33 PM

Looks nice.

radiostar · 8th March 2012, 05:35 PM

Good work!

Nelson Bass · 8th March 2012, 05:38 PM

Awesome Michael!

8th March 2012, 05:35 PM	#59
radiostar diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2009	Good work! __________________ tubes.rs facebook.com/tubes.rs

8th March 2012, 05:38 PM	#60
Nelson Bass diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Aarhus, Denmark	Awesome Michael! __________________ "People can't do what they should: room acoustics and speaker design - so they do what they can: new amps, cables etc." (Lidia)

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19th February 2012, 12:12 PM	#51
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	Here's a GUI:

19th February 2012, 04:47 PM	#52
TheGimp diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Johnson City, TN	Nice, what are you developing that in? I was previously looking at using Microsoft Visual C++, but the learning curve is rather daunting.

19th February 2012, 06:07 PM	#54
TheGimp diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Johnson City, TN	I've programmed in C, but not C++. About once every five years I end up doing some code for an imbedded project, but it is mostly take code from a previous module, strip out the module specific code and write a couple hundred lines to replace it. Nothing much. I don't code often enough to be proficient. I would probably be better off in VB.

20th February 2012, 04:39 PM	#56
TheGimp diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Johnson City, TN	I would recommend adding a 1nF cap on the Refout/Refin pin (Spec says 1-10), change the 1uF bulk storage to 10uF and add a 1nF to VDD as well.

8th March 2012, 05:33 PM	#58
TheGimp diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Johnson City, TN	Looks nice.