TM500 system: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:40, 13 October 2023

The Tektronix TM500 is a modular test equipment system offering a variety of plug-in modules that fit a dedicated series of mainframes with one to six module slots. The plugins are not compatible with other Tektronix lines such as oscilloscopes.

The TM5000 series, introduced in 1982, added a GPIB interface on the mainframe to control intelligent plugins. TM500 series modules work in TM5000 series mainframes but not necessarily vice versa (see ref. below).

In addition to the modules that appeared in Tek catalogs over the years, there were probably a hundred or more that Tektronix designed and used in-house on their production lines for test and calibration of their products. These in-house units usually have an 067-xxxx-xx number.

There were also several other companies that made plugins that fit into the TM500/TM5000 mainframes. The most common non-Tek plugins seem to come from Pulse Instruments, Spectracom, General Optronics, Lasertron, Metrotek, Xetron, Ball Efratom, Digital Audio Corporation and Ballantine.

Mainframes and plug-ins

Pinouts

Links

Plugin hacking and homebuilt plugins (French)
TekWeek 1982: Tektronix taking new products to NAB convention in Dallas, TX

Documents Referencing TM500 system

Document	Class	Title	Authors	Year	Links
Tekscope 1972 V4 N3 May 1972.pdf	Article	TM500 series - A New Dimension in Plug-in Instrumentation	Bob Ragsdale	1972	TM500 system • TM501 • TM503 • FG501 • FG502 • RG501 • PG501 • SG502 • DC501 • DC502 • PS501 • PS502 • PS503

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 * [http://philippe.demerliac.free.fr/Tek.htm Plugin hacking] and [http://philippe.demerliac.free.fr/TekLab.htm homebuilt plugins] (French)
 * TekWeek 1982: [https://vintagetek.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/NAB_TW_04021982.pdf Tektronix taking new products to NAB] convention in Dallas, TX
+{{Documents|Link=TM500 system}}
 [[Category:TM500/TM5000 system]]
 [[Category:Introduced in 1972]]