Low insulation puzzle: what's this?

[Lucien Nunes]

Damp here this morning, and the insulation resistance on a piece of workshop equipment seemed a bit low. I could influence the reading by pressing my hands against the outside of one of its controls. That, and the fact it is getting a bit stiff to operate, show that it's time for this control to be stripped down and cleaned. Metal deposits and dirt build up inside over the years and cause leakage.

The main core of the thing consists of 36 parts threaded onto a shaft. I slide them onto a long screwdriver to preserve their order and orientation as I take them off. Then as I clean each one I put it back onto the shaft.

What equipment is it part of? The maker's name will be familiar but the equipment itself probably not so much. A couple of people here will get it in one. Give the others a chance.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Operated manually. Nine 1-pole 10-way switches in a matrix. Dial each of the nine wheels to a setting from 0-9.

Bear in mind that it is a piece of equipment that I actually need to use. I don't have a substitute. And that insulation resistance is important.

 

[littlespark]

So thats how lucien types up his threads?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I did make a ZX81 input device consisting of three dials and two buttons, when my membrane keyboard gave out in the middle of a project.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Detent springs adjusted and shaft nuts locked with lacquer

 

[timhoward]

I did make a ZX81 input device consisting of three dials and two buttons, when my membrane keyboard gave out in the middle of a project.

The ZX81 keyboard wasn't the finest piece of engineering ever! Had that ribbon cable in and out many times....

 

[DPG]

Resistance decade box?

Or something related to valve testing? Maybe to set the appropriate voltage to one of the valve electrodes?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

If you show me the completed picture, then explain exactly what this machine does.... I still don't believe I would get it.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

On something else at the moment - the quest for M8 turnbuckles that are a few mm shorter than the DIN standard size. Looking at some pics online I got an idea that versions with locking nuts had shorter bodies so I ordered samples, but the bodies are the same size. The eye screws are threaded further to the end which is useful though.

I'll.put this back together after lunch and a bit of admin.

And then I will do some 026 540 310

 

[timhoward]

On something else at the moment - the quest for M8 turnbuckles that are a few mm shorter than the DIN standard size. Looking at some pics online I got an idea that versions with locking nuts had shorter bodies so I ordered samples, but the bodies are the same size. The eye screws are threaded further to the end which is useful though.

I'll.put this back together after lunch and a bit of admin.

And then I will do some 026 540 310

KT66 ?

 

[littlespark]

KT66 ?

C3PO?
R2D2?

your just spouting random letters and numbers now.. ?

 

[timhoward]

Bad picture, best I could find online.
Take it you have a vintage AVO panel tester?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Got it. Anyone not with us, keep watching.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

VCM IV

 

[DPG]

Did I get it in post #21 then?

 

[timhoward]

Did I get it in post #21 then?

I'd say so!