Need 2 Z5680M …Yes it was the DANG CAT!

[Francis Purcell]

Hello from a longtime lurker….

The point first…I need 2 clear 568(0) tubes :-(

The back story….Ages ago in the 70s when I was in my teens I built a very dangerous small 4 tube nixie clock.. using modified guts from an old pinball machine and an electric clock motor from an old range. As the second hand on the clock made an electrical contact on a set of points from a distributor… The modified pinball score counters would make contact and change the numbers on the Boroughs  tubes… I can still remember the smell of the ozium and the sound of the zorching ..Sort of think of bumper cars :-) and the spark and smell!

  Time moves forward and I found a guy named Jeff Thomas and bought one of his very early NIxie sat clocks….Think of opening the box and getting a major prize… Just like the leg lamp in Christmas story!

I love the clock! It stopped working… I find a guy That is really really helpful and incredibly knowledgeable and nice! Michael at bad nixie Got it up and running again beautifully with a new gps puck…with a motion detector …new firmware and made all necessary component mods ! He does amazing work. I can’t recommend him enough!

The clock sat on the window sill since I got it about a decade ago… while the clock was out for repair… The cat who came to my home after the clock about 6 years ago…Decides that it’s now OK to jump up on the vacant windowsill. Clock comes back… Clock is working for about three months… Owner comes home last Thursday night and notices clock  on floor!

One tube completely smashed and the other tube is missing a tiny point at the top… Just enough to have let all the gas out. Fortunately the other four are in good working condition.

I need two good functioning clear tubes.. if anyone here has a pair I am very willing to talk and spend within the “new normal”… Or if anybody has advice on where to get them I would be very appreciative for your recommendations.  I love this clock I really would like to get it going again… Soon!

I already have a new spot for it in a sealed glass bookcase!!!

admittedly I’m a little conflicted because I love the clock… And love the cat… And currently in that order :-)

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

[Nick Andrews]

I'm sure someone here can recommend a good recipe for cat tacos...

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/7f8d1a0e-7f38-4111-9908-e9d8d7423488n%40googlegroups.com.

[Audrey]

Wow... you poor man, my condolences...

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/CAJD4P-hzkmyFwaQtP5134skqdvnErfP3KBZ1AUJZg_3UTtjkSg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Francis Purcell]

Thank you so much… Now that I’m going through the various steps of. grieving …acceptance..And preparing to fork out cash… I have turned to good old eBay and I’m just not sure which of the players over in eastern bloc countries are Reputable. I was already to push the buy button and I decided to read the description on the “new” tubes to find out they’re missing pins and or digits are non-functional …I really could use some advice :-)

[Paul Andrews]

You probably know this already, but you can also buy Z568 tubes. The red coating is easily removed (hot soapy water, or isopropyl alcohol). You could also consider buying a complete set of R|Z568M from Dalibor Farny, though I’m not sure how they would look in the clock or whether they would fit through the holes in the case.

[Max DN]

Francis, a good suggestion from Paul, indeed. 

I recently purchased two tubes from Dalibor Farny, it's amazing how well made they are, very precise in all details. 

I can't imagine how much experimentations, frustration and satisfaction came from making those tubes. I have not had the time to make my own clock yet (still working on my nixie watch), but I have attached a picture of one of the R|Z568M installed on a clock purchased on aliexpress. Plenty of more info on the Dalibor Farny website on pinout etc, optimal resistor(s) etc.

[Nick Andrews]

It's so tempting to buy one of his tubes just because...  It would either inspire me to move on one or more of my crazy, overly-ambitious ideas or realize I just don't have time to do everything before I die...

I did just buy another full NIM crate yesterday, all Ortec.  Because eight full ones and additional 150 modules just weren't enough I guess.  Man, I pity the fool who gets to dispose of my estate when I croak.  Likely my nieces...

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/f847cfa5-815a-45b6-a52f-8778dee41f86n%40googlegroups.com.

[Audrey]

>  It would either inspire me to move on one or more of my crazy, overly-ambitious ideas or realize I just don't have time to do everything before I die...  

  

Too real...

What are NIMs?

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/CAJD4P-jrH9JLV_9m-y7hpbj70Au%3D%3DNQFvbNzyJa02ViTUR9zig%40mail.gmail.com.

[Nick Andrews]

Nuclear Instrumentation Module.  Tinker Toys or Legos for physicists, as they are frequently referred to.  It's a system of standardized modules that fit into crates which are rack-mountable and provide a set of 42(?) pins on the back to supply power in and sometimes other signals in or out between the modules.  You can pick and choose modules to set up experiments or for nuclear spectroscopy or any of millions of other uses.  Basic power supplies, meters, high voltage, preamps, amplifiers, signal processors, counters, all sorts of different modules are available.

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/CAPDJQ6CqdJoUtFMnFTYQFuZWuzBdJ41wpde1fQ68i7gUKKEBqg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Audrey]

Oooooo I think I've heard of those, very cool

[John Rehwinkel]

I did just buy another full NIM crate yesterday, all Ortec.  Because eight full ones and additional 150 modules just weren't enough I guess.  Man, I pity the fool who gets to dispose of my estate when I croak.  Likely my nieces...

We used to call them CAMAC crates and NIM bins.

- John

[Nick Andrews]

I have yet to be sucked into the CAMAC madness!

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/25C88D0B-C0A4-47AD-BC61-DD012811E1A6%40mac.com.

[Instrument Resources of America]

I've got one full one here myself.  Ira.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/25C88D0B-C0A4-47AD-BC61-DD012811E1A6%40mac.com.

[David Speck MD]

CAMAC and NIM are two entirely different animals.

NIM Crates are older, dating from soon after WWII.  Their backplane just provides power, though some custom and non-standard modules did transmit signals between modules through the backplane. 

CAMAC crates are more modern, and provide power but there is also a data bus that connects all of the modules.  Each CAMAC crate usually has one controller with a microcomputer on the bus.  The controller addresses the cards and formats their output for transmission to the outside world.  They are an order of magnitude more complicated than typical NIM modules.

Dave

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/25C88D0B-C0A4-47AD-BC61-DD012811E1A6%40mac.com.

[Francis Purcell]

Thank You all for your help and Suggestions.... I am stuck on rock on a street named Hard Place ... 4 out of the 6 tubes are good.....and I dig the non metallic base on the original tubes..... I do give much respect to  Dalibor Farny   ....almost like making Polaroid film from scratch!   A Magical Santa's helper has been in touch..... and hopefully a NOS tube is on it's way  a burn in for my one spare....I still may have to go... the new stainless base tube route..... or better yet I can build a second clock..... cause two is always twice as  many as one !

In the mean time Kitty and I have a new kind of Relationship  :-?

[MichaelB]

Mr. Purcell is kind of in a pickle in that if he introduces a Farney Z|568 it will be almost 5/8" taller than his other original 568s and there ends up being a mismatch in the height of the numerals. Will look a bit funky. I've thought about building a NixiSat with all Farney 568s ( beautiful tubes). With the Sat tube spacing they do just barely fit, but the other problem is the standard height colon towers are too low vs the digit height. So those have to be made taller. Can certainly be done, but nevertheless another complication.