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The Tektronix 310 is a compact portable oscilloscope [[introduced in 1955]].
{{Oscilloscope Sidebar|
It is a 4MHz single-trace, single-timebase scope with a 3" (7.5cm) round CRT.   
title=Tektronix 310|
The 310 is a tube scope and uses 175 watts, but it does not have a fan.  
image=Tek 310A-crop.jpg|
So it tends to run hot, particularly when used in a hot environment with still air.  
caption=Tektronix 310, front view|
It has a 165 degree Fahrenheit [[thermal cutoff]] switch  
introduced=1955 |
in series with the primary of the power transformer.
discontinued=1972 |
For extended use in one place, a tilted fan base,  
summary=4 MHz oscilloscope|
the FB310 (part number 016-012) was available.   
manuals=
The fan base blows air upward,
* [[Media:IM-310-2.pdf|Tektronix 310 Manual (early, PDF)]] [http://w140.com/tek_310_early.pdf alternate]
through the perforated bottom panel of the 310.
* [[Media:070-0892-00.pdf|Tektronix 310 Manual (rough, PDF, OCR, bad-OCR)]] / [http://w140.com/tek_310_rough.pdf alternate]
The 310 is hinged at the rear,  
* [[Media:070-0893-00.pdf|Tektronix 310A Manual (PDF, OCR, bad-OCR)]] / [http://w140.com/tek_310a.pdf alternate (PDF)] / [http://w140.com/tek_310a.djvu alternate (DjVu)]
allowing reasonably convenient access to the circuitry  
* [http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/tek/310a/ Tek 310A manuals @ BAMA]
despite the fact that the components are packed more densely  
<small>
than in other Tektronix scopes of the era.   
===Calibration Procedures===
* [[Media:tek_310_fcp.pdf|Tektronix 310 Factory Calibration Procedure (PDF, OCR, bad-OCR)]] / [http://w140.com/tek_fcp/tek_type_310_factory_cal_proc.pdf alternate]
* [[Media:tek_310a_fcp.pdf|Tektronix 310A Factory Calibration Procedure (PDF, OCR, bad-OCR)]] / [http://w140.com/tek_fcp/tek_type_310a_factory_cal_proc.pdf alternate]
* [[Media:Tek 310a fcp oct 1968 with 1969 updates.pdf|Tektronix 310A Factory Calibration Procedure with 1969 updates]]
</small>
<small>
===Modifications===
* [[Media:Tek 310a mod 109a.pdf|Tektronix 310A Mod 109A, High-Altitude Modification (PDF)]]
* [[Media:Tek 310a mod 812s.pdf|Tektronix 310A Mod 812S, Vertical Input Connector Changed to UHF]]
* [[Media:Tek 310a mod 222a.pdf|Boeing Black-out]]
* [[Media:Tek 310a mod 815e.pdf|Tektronix 310A Mod 812S, Trigger and Calibrator Connectors Changed to BNC]]
* [[Media:Tek 310a mod 812z.pdf|Tektronix 310A Mod 812S, Input, Trigger, and Calibrator Connectors Changed to UHF]]
* [[Media:Tek 310 silicon rectifier mod.pdf|Tektronix 310 Silicon Rectifier Mod]]
* [[Media:Tek 310a mod 119F.pdf|Tektronix 310A Mod 119F]]
* [[Media:Tek 310a mod 120H.pdf|Tektronix 310A Mod 120H]]
</small>
}}
The '''Tektronix 310''' is a compact portable oscilloscope [[introduced in 1955]].
It is a 4 MHz single-trace, single-timebase scope with a 3" (7.5 cm) round CRT.   
 
The [[Hickok]] company produced a clone of the 310 under a US military contract as the [[AN/USM89B]].
 
{{BeginSpecs}}
{{Spec | Bandwidth      | 4 MHz (3.5 MHz below 0.1 V/Div, AC coupled) }}
{{Spec | Rise time      | 90 ns (100 ns below 0.1 V/Div, AC coupled) }}
{{Spec | Sweep          | 0.5 μs/Div to 0.2 s/Div 1-2-5 sequence}}
{{Spec | Deflection      | 10 mV/Div to 50 V/Div, 1-2-5 sequence (below 0.1 V/Div only AC coupled) }}
{{Spec | Input impedance | 1 MΩ // 40 pF }}
{{Spec | X input        | 1.5 V/Div, 500 kHz, 100 kΩ }}
{{Spec | Z input        | 20 V<sub>p-p</sub> at rear "CRT Cathode" binding post }}
{{Spec | Calibrator      | 0.5 V<sub>p-p</sub> to 100 V<sub>p-p</sub>, 1-2-5 sequence; 1 kHz }}
{{Spec | Power          | 175 W }}
{{EndSpecs}}
 
==Internals==
=== Cooling ===
The 310 is a tube scope and uses 175 watts, but it does not have a fan.   Therefore, it tends to run hot, particularly when used in a hot environment with still air. It has a 165 °F (74 °C)  [[thermal cutoff]] switch in series with the primary of the power transformer. For extended use in one place, a tilted fan base, the [[FB310]] (part number 016-012) was available.  The fan base blows air upward through the perforated bottom panel of the 310.
 
The 310 is hinged at the rear, allowing reasonably convenient access to the circuitry despite the fact that the components are packed more densely than in other Tektronix scopes of the era.   
 
== 310A ==
There is also a revised version, the 310A, [[introduced in 1959]].   
There is also a revised version, the 310A, [[introduced in 1959]].   
The 310 uses printed-circuit boards but the 310A
The 310 uses printed-circuit boards but the 310A returned to ceramic strip construction.   
returned to ceramic strip construction.   
P2 [[phosphor]] was standard.  P1, P7 and P11 were also available.
P2 [[phosphor]] was standard.   
 
P1, P7 and P11 were also available.
''Is this the only time that a Tek design was moved from PCB back to ceramic strip?''
 
<gallery>
Tek 310 on base.jpg|310 on fan base
Tek_310a_cl.jpg
Wellenkino 310a.jpg|310A
Tektronix-310a.jpg | 310A
Tek 310 rear.jpg|310
Tek 310 front.jpg|310
</gallery>
 
This is a nearly true pure vacuum-tube scope, but in the power supply there are some silicon rectifiers
and in the circuit is one germanium point contact diode.
It is sometimes very useful because it contains a 1 kHz calibrator output with up to 100V level combined with a step attenuator.
 
Early examples of the Tektronix Type 310A used commodity 3WPx CRTs.  At some point in production,
they switched to a Tek-made CRT, part number [[154-366]], which is compatible with the [[3WP2]].
 
Unlike later Tek instruments, where the incremental model designated by an “A” suffix only occurred with a significant specification or performance enhancement, the original 310 and 310A were essentially identical.  They even shared the same manual and schematics.  The main difference was the wiring construction. 
 
The original 310 pioneered the use of circuit board construction, rather than the trusted ceramic strip point to point wiring.  The circuit boards were two sided, however plated through hole technology to interconnect the layers had not been invented yet.  Rather, all of the holes for component mounting and interconnect contained a rivet
which was expanded in a press before the components were installed in the board.  The rivets themselves were not soldered to the copper foil traces, and relied on the pressure from the crimp to make contact.  This proved to be extremely unreliable, with many intermittent connections resulting in high warranty- and after-warranty failure. 
 
The 310A model essentially used the identical circuit design,  but returned to the trusted ceramic strip construction method.
 
The 310A also replaced the [[selenium rectifiers|selenium plate rectifiers]] in the power supply with silicon diodes. 
Tek offered a retrofit kit, to be installed in the service centers, to upgrade older scopes with selenium rectifiers.


Is this the only time that a Tek design was moved from PCB back to ceramic strip?
During the lifespan of the 310, Tek evolved its color scheme.  The original 310 scopes had a case painted with a blue metallic hammer tone color.  Later units moved to the crinkled “Tek Blue” color still in use today.


* [http://w140.com/tek_310a.pdf Tektronix 310A Manual (PDF)]
The scope cabinet was hinged to allow it to be opened like a book and operated for access to the circuitry for service purposes. The 310 and 310A were convection cooled, and required free access to air through the cabinet vent holes to avoid overheating. It contained a thermal cut-out to protect it from damage if the supply of cooling air was inadequate. The scope has feet on the rear panel to allow it to be operated on the floor with the front panel facing up, but the manual warns against prolonged operation in this orientation. Shortly after introduction, Tek offered a Fan Base accessory, which the scope would sit on and provide forced air for better cooling. While the scope had universal primary wiring options, the fan base did not. Separate models were available for 115 VAC or 230 VAC operation.
* [http://w140.com/tek_310a.djvu Tektronix 310A Manual (DjVu)]
* [http://w140.com/tek_310_rough2.pdf Tektronix 310 Manual (rough, PDF)]
* [http://w140.com/tek_fcp/tek_type_310_factory_cal_proc.pdf Tektronix 310 Factory Calibration Procedure (PDF)]
* [http://w140.com/tek_fcp/tek_type_310a_factory_cal_proc.pdf Tektronix 310A Factory Calibration Procedure (PDF)]


Like most old Tektronix devices the mains transformer holds an indefinite(!) warranty, so hold an eye to that.  The device goes away on ebay here often for 30€ to 60€.
Fun on
*But its not quite clear what the "indefinite" means, live long for the device, the first owner, the company (Tek), the universe, or the transformer itself? ;-)
Fun off
==Links==
* [http://richardsears.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/tektronix-310a/ Richard Sears: Tektronix 310 and 310A]
* A Tek 310 restoration @ YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef-6Vfx1oiY Part 1] / [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HG49aX_TlM Part 2]
==Pictures==
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Tek 310 on base.jpg|310 on fan base
Tek_310A.jpg|310A Front view
310A_right.jpg|310A Right internal
310A_foldoff.jpg|310A Folded off internal
310A_left.jpg|310A Left internal
310A_top.jpg|310A Top internal
310A_bottom.jpg|310A Bottom special slot to access sweep trigger tubes
Tek_310A_Underside2.jpg | 310A Bottom special slot to access sweep trigger tubes
310A_back.jpg|310A Rear view
warranty.jpg|310A indefinite warranty to the Tektronix manufactured transformer
310 1.jpg|310 right front
310 2.jpg|310 front
310 3.jpg|310 rear
310 4.jpg|310 model
310 5.jpg|310 right rear
Tek 310 base.jpg|fan base in '57 catalog
Tek 310a left internal.jpg|310A Left Internal
Tek 310a right internal.jpg|310A Right Internal
Tek 310 ibm prop.jpg|310 made for IBM
Tek 310 top inside.jpg|310 top inside
Tek 310 left inside.jpg|310 left inside
Tek 310 right internal.jpg|310 right internal
Tek 310 rear.jpg|310 rear
Tek 310 bottom.jpg|310 bottom
Tek 310 right external.jpg|310 right external
Tek 310 left external.jpg|310 left external
Tek 310a top clean.jpg|310A top
Tek 310a rear2.jpg|310A rear
Tek 310a right internal2.jpg|310A right internal
 
ANUSM89B_1.jpeg|Frontview AN/USM89B from Hickok
ANUSM89B_2.jpeg| Sideview AN/USM89B from Hickok
ANUSM89B_3.jpeg| type-plate of AN/USM89B from Hickok
 
Tek ncr 310a case.jpg|Case for 310A
Tek 310a in ncr case.jpg|310A in case
Tek 310a with case.jpg|Tek 310A with case
Tek 310a carrybag left.jpg|Carrying bag for 310, left
Tek 310a carrybag top.jpg|Carrying bag for 310, top
Tek 310a carrybag exposed.jpg|310A inside carrying bag, exposed cushion
 
</gallery>
</gallery>
[[Category:Monolithic tube scopes]]

Revision as of 07:00, 28 September 2020

Manuals – Specifications – Links – Pictures

The Tektronix 310 is a compact portable oscilloscope introduced in 1955. It is a 4 MHz single-trace, single-timebase scope with a 3" (7.5 cm) round CRT.

The Hickok company produced a clone of the 310 under a US military contract as the AN/USM89B.

Key Specifications

Bandwidth 4 MHz (3.5 MHz below 0.1 V/Div, AC coupled)
Rise time 90 ns (100 ns below 0.1 V/Div, AC coupled)
Sweep 0.5 μs/Div to 0.2 s/Div 1-2-5 sequence
Deflection 10 mV/Div to 50 V/Div, 1-2-5 sequence (below 0.1 V/Div only AC coupled)
Input impedance 1 MΩ // 40 pF
X input 1.5 V/Div, 500 kHz, 100 kΩ
Z input 20 Vp-p at rear "CRT Cathode" binding post
Calibrator 0.5 Vp-p to 100 Vp-p, 1-2-5 sequence; 1 kHz
Power 175 W

Internals

Cooling

The 310 is a tube scope and uses 175 watts, but it does not have a fan. Therefore, it tends to run hot, particularly when used in a hot environment with still air. It has a 165 °F (74 °C) thermal cutoff switch in series with the primary of the power transformer. For extended use in one place, a tilted fan base, the FB310 (part number 016-012) was available. The fan base blows air upward through the perforated bottom panel of the 310.

The 310 is hinged at the rear, allowing reasonably convenient access to the circuitry despite the fact that the components are packed more densely than in other Tektronix scopes of the era.

310A

There is also a revised version, the 310A, introduced in 1959. The 310 uses printed-circuit boards but the 310A returned to ceramic strip construction. P2 phosphor was standard. P1, P7 and P11 were also available.

Is this the only time that a Tek design was moved from PCB back to ceramic strip?

This is a nearly true pure vacuum-tube scope, but in the power supply there are some silicon rectifiers and in the circuit is one germanium point contact diode. It is sometimes very useful because it contains a 1 kHz calibrator output with up to 100V level combined with a step attenuator.

Early examples of the Tektronix Type 310A used commodity 3WPx CRTs. At some point in production, they switched to a Tek-made CRT, part number 154-366, which is compatible with the 3WP2.

Unlike later Tek instruments, where the incremental model designated by an “A” suffix only occurred with a significant specification or performance enhancement, the original 310 and 310A were essentially identical. They even shared the same manual and schematics. The main difference was the wiring construction.

The original 310 pioneered the use of circuit board construction, rather than the trusted ceramic strip point to point wiring. The circuit boards were two sided, however plated through hole technology to interconnect the layers had not been invented yet. Rather, all of the holes for component mounting and interconnect contained a rivet which was expanded in a press before the components were installed in the board. The rivets themselves were not soldered to the copper foil traces, and relied on the pressure from the crimp to make contact. This proved to be extremely unreliable, with many intermittent connections resulting in high warranty- and after-warranty failure.

The 310A model essentially used the identical circuit design, but returned to the trusted ceramic strip construction method.

The 310A also replaced the selenium plate rectifiers in the power supply with silicon diodes. Tek offered a retrofit kit, to be installed in the service centers, to upgrade older scopes with selenium rectifiers.

During the lifespan of the 310, Tek evolved its color scheme. The original 310 scopes had a case painted with a blue metallic hammer tone color. Later units moved to the crinkled “Tek Blue” color still in use today.

The scope cabinet was hinged to allow it to be opened like a book and operated for access to the circuitry for service purposes. The 310 and 310A were convection cooled, and required free access to air through the cabinet vent holes to avoid overheating. It contained a thermal cut-out to protect it from damage if the supply of cooling air was inadequate. The scope has feet on the rear panel to allow it to be operated on the floor with the front panel facing up, but the manual warns against prolonged operation in this orientation. Shortly after introduction, Tek offered a Fan Base accessory, which the scope would sit on and provide forced air for better cooling. While the scope had universal primary wiring options, the fan base did not. Separate models were available for 115 VAC or 230 VAC operation.

Like most old Tektronix devices the mains transformer holds an indefinite(!) warranty, so hold an eye to that. The device goes away on ebay here often for 30€ to 60€.

Fun on

  • But its not quite clear what the "indefinite" means, live long for the device, the first owner, the company (Tek), the universe, or the transformer itself? ;-)

Fun off

Links

Pictures