Oscilloclock.com

Handcrafted Scope Clocks with circle graphics

Tag: Scope Clock

  • The Oscilloclock Core

    The Oscilloclock Core

    Over the years, folks out there have reached out to me with all sorts of crazy ideas about cases and housings for scope clocks and custom CRT displays. Here are some interesting examples:

    • The console of a vintage pipe organ
    • An ancient grandfather clock
    • A cylindrical case made of some exotic wood
    • A “cathedral” style vintage radio

    Essentially, these people wanted just the innards of an Oscilloclock, which they would build into their own case. Could I help out?

    Absolutely! For people who want to roll their own cases, and who have experience handling high voltage electronics and CRTs, I occasionally prepare custom board sets that are lovingly hand-assembled, tested, and tweaked for optimum performance with a given CRT. Here we go:

    The Oscilloclock Core

    Oscilloclock Core, hand-crafted in 2015 for a discerning customer in Germany
    An Oscilloclock Core, hand-crafted in 2015 for a discerning customer in Germany
    The standard Oscilloclock Core layout, on a test acrylic mounting
    The standard Oscilloclock Core layout, on a test acrylic mounting

    I supplied this particular unit with an 8SJ42J Chinese-made CRT, just for testing purposes. This is a 3″ PDA tube with a highly restrictive rectangular viewing area, but the customer found it just great for checking things out!

    Oscilloclock Core - complete set for 8SJ42J - 03
    Oscilloclock Core - complete set for 8SJ42J - 06
    Oscilloclock Core - complete set for 8SJ42J - 02

    What comes with it?

    Here’s what’s comprises the typical Oscilloclock Core:

    • 1 x Fully assembled and programmed Control Board (optional on-board GPS)
    • 1 x Fully assembled Deflection Board (latest ultra-linear revision)
    • 1 x Fully assembled Power Board optimised for a given CRT (latest revision with options: onboard high-bandwidth blanking amplifier, rotation coil supply, auto fan speed control, unblanking plate modulation, and isolated bright/dim input)
    • 1 x Fully assembled CRT Board (optional; an external blanking amplifier recommended when the CRT cable is longer than 50cm)
    • 1 x Rotary encoder
    • 1 x Worldwide 9V power supply (high quality wall wort unit, commercial ratings)
    • 1 x Garmin GPS unit with 5m cable; wired to board-side connector (not required for onboard GPS)
    • 1 x Set of standard inter-board and CRT harnesses for testing and reference (10kV/3kV silicone melt-proof used for HV cables, other LV cabling also heat-resistant)
    • 1 x Cast acrylic test mounting assembly, fitted with the boards, ready for testing out-of-the-box with your CRT
    • 1 x Ceramic adjustment screwdriver
    • Service documentation (schematics, board layouts, complete Digikey BOMs, harness specs)
    • All components are latest available types sourced within the last 6 months, 0.1% or 1% tolerance resistors, minimum 2 x rated working voltage capacitors, all lovingly hand-mounted by myself
    • All boards sprayed with HV lacquer for moisture and arcing protection
    • 2-week satisfaction guarantee. But no long-term warranty on board-only purchases

    Naturally, the lengths of all harnesses and inter-board cabling can be customized according to the owner’s requirements. And there is also an Oscilloclock Core Cube arrangement, where the boards are stacked to reduce the length and width of the overall unit.

    What CRTs does it support?

    The Power Board and Deflection Board are increasingly flexible with each revision, but I insist on performing all configuration of the Core here in my lab. This allows me to tweak for maximum performance, and provide a proper satisfaction guarantee.

    Typically I work with the owner to recommend a CRT based on preferences such as size, colour, and aesthetics. However in cases where the owner already has a CRT in mind, and I don’t have the particular CRT or a close equivalent, I ask the owner to send me one to test against. Or, I simply procure one; after all, one can never have too many CRTs!  (Though my better half does not agree…)

    The current Oscilloclock Core board revisions meet the following operating parameters:

    • Maximum cathode to deflection voltage of 2175V
    • Maximum accelerator voltage of 3525V for PDA type CRTs
    • 6.3V heater, max 0.7A
    • Support for “Deflection Blanking” CRTs (see treatise here)
    • CRT rotation coil supply (+/-5V)
    • Precision deflection amplifier capable of driving +/- 275V with 0.1% linearity

    Like what you see?

    Check out the Availability page for more information, and of course see the Gallery for some unique CRT creations – many with an Oscilloclock Core at their heart!

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  • The Oscilloblock’s new home

    The Oscilloblock’s new home

    Fresh off the press – some photos of the Oscilloblock – Summer Dusk edition in its new home! The owner is clearly a huge Nixie tube and neon aficionado, but this is his very first CRT clock. What a fitting environment!

    Oscilloblock Summer Dusk Edition - Owner photo 3
    Oscilloblock Summer Dusk Edition - Owner photo 2
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  • Presenting the Oscilloblock!

    Presenting the Oscilloblock!

    Ahh, summer – it’s well and truly over. But one person in the world is able to enjoy the warm, cheery feeling of summer every single day: the proud new owner of this beautiful Oscilloblock – Summer Dusk edition!

    Truly the best thing to come out of the lab this summer – the Oscilloblock!

    The Exterior

    This playful timepiece features a Lego art case, painstakingly designed and constructed by Oscilloclock lab’s junior technician from a whopping 548 brand-new Lego parts sourced from around the globe. No expenses spared! Even the control knob is actually a Lego Technics gear. And just in case the owner wanted to take it apart and build it all over again, we included a 140-step Lego building guide in the package. Good luck!

    Oscilloblock - Lego building instructions collage

    The Oscilloblock features a good-looking 1970’s 3-inch (75mm) flat-faced CRT from Toshiba, with the iconic scripted logo in great condition on the base. At the rear is a scarce brown bakelite CRT socket, which are very hard to find complete with the rear insulating cap! The harness consists of tough 3kV tolerant silicone-sheathed cabling, shielded over most of its length to reduce electromagnetic interference.

    Oscilloblock Summer Dusk edition - rear view
    Wow, these vintage bakelite CRT sockets are hard to find!
    Oscilloblock - a beautiful vintage Toshiba CRT
    No doubts about authenticity!

    One design goal was to have more than 90% of the CRT’s surface area completely exposed for viewing and touching, as opposed to encasing it in acrylic. Borne from this was a tremendous achievement for 2015: a new CRT ring support structure!

    Oscilloblock - Beautiful CRT Rings
    Acrylic rings with super-tiny pocket holes… cast and machined in Japan!

    Internals

    The internals of the clock are equally exquisite. A set of latest-revision Oscilloclock control, deflection and power boards drive the CRT at 2.1kV, providing a crystal-clear, ultra-bright trace. And of couse, every figure and character is generated using silky-smooth Circle Graphics.

    Oscilloblock - side by side
    The CRT assembly simply lifts away for showing off the internals! But DON’T TOUCH…
    Latest-revision boards.
    Latest-revision boards. 250+ components. All hand-mounted!
    On-board GPS for accurate timing - anywhere in the world!
    On-board GPS for accurate timing – anywhere in the world!

    Operation

    There is only one control. It’s intuitive. It’s fun. It’s simple! Visit my YouTube channel to see various Oscilloclocks in operation.

    But not everything is obvious, and Oscilloclocks all ship with an Operation Guide, with content specific to each and every unique unit. Here’s a snippet from the Oscilloblock’s guide:

    No Oscilloclock model ships without a decent Operation Guide!
    No Oscilloclock model ships without a decent Operation Guide!

    Like what you see?

    There’s really no limit to what can be done with a CRT and an idea! It was my son’s idea to use Lego, and he is proud to know there is nothing in the world quite like this Oscilloblock. See the Gallery for other equally unique creations.

    Everything begins with an idea…

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  • VectorClock Reloaded!

    Fresh from Oscilloclock Labs – a new VectorClock creation, commissioned for the office of a world-famous film and television director:

    Tek 520 VectorClock - S/N 002 (image published with permission of the owner)
    Tek 520 VectorClock – S/N 002 (image published with permission of the owner)

    This unit is based on an original Tektronix 520 vectorscope, which is the predecessor of the 520A that was used in the first VectorClock, described here. This custom conversion employs several key enhancements, and performance has never been better!

    Be sure to check out videos on my YouTube channel.

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  • Tek 520A VectorClock!

    Tek 520A VectorClock!

    Television broadcasting has switched from analog to digital – and if you’ve got a nice HD TV, you’ll be loving it!

    But with that transition came the death of an entire breed of equipment – the Vectorscope.

    Tektronix 1420 Vectorscope

    Just to be clear, these are not monitors for playing ancient video games using vector graphics!!  No, the Vectorscope is (was) used to give a delightful view of the ‘vectors’ inside an NTSC or PAL video signal, describing the color components of the signal.

    If you were lucky enough to be a TV broadcast technician, you’d use your Vectorscope all the time to check your vectors’ amplitudes and phase. You would even give your vectors names like ‘Jack’ and ‘Jill’, and check up on their relationships daily, just as any responsible guardian would!

    But above all, you would marvel every single day at the beautiful hardware you were using, and the complex circuitry involved. Take a look at my Tektronix 526 Vectorscope, which has oodles of delicious tubes to heat my shop on a nice winter’s day:

    Tektronix 526 Vectorscope

    Well, it all went digital and there is no longer any need for analog color signal analysis. But dry your tears… There is something even better:

    Announcing the Tek 520A VectorClock

    This lovely Oscilloclock reincarnation of a Tektronix 520A, sold at Maker Faire Tokyo 2013, allows its new owner to forever relive the magic of NTSC, PAL and SECAM analog color.

    Tektronix 520A VectorClock - brilliant blend of the old and new!
    Tektronix 520A VectorClock – brilliant blend of the old and new!
    See more related videos on my YouTube channel

    The Tektronix 520A has a stunning built-in array of lights for illuminating the CRT graticules. By simply removing the bezel and external graticule, the Tek 520A morphs into a deliciously moody timepiece!

    Tek 520A VectorClock - Glorious Glow

    Normally, I shun CRTs with built-in graticules. Their lines detract dreadfully from an Oscilloclock image. But here! The Tek 520A’s internal vectorscope graticule is round! What better way to accentuate a Circle Graphics driven display?

    Silky smooth Circle Graphics on steroids!
    Silky smooth Circle Graphics on steroids!

    Under the Cover…

    The Tek 520A is solid-state. It can be left on 24 hours a day and not fail for many years. This makes it a perfect match for my Maximum Re-use + Minimum Invasion policy: nearly all existing circuits – HV power supply, deflection amplifiers, blanking – are put to use, with just a few (reversible) tweaks.

    Tek 520A VectorClock - Maximum re-use, Minimum invasion

    The Oscilloclock Power Board is mounted neatly next to its own dedicated low voltage supply. A small relay board can be seen below, for controlling the Tek’s main power unit. All cabling is HV-tolerant and neatly fastened with high-temperature cable ties.

    Tek 520A VectorClock - Control Board mount and cabling

    Of the more interesting reversible ‘tweaks’ needed for this retrofit, here we see a delightful little trimpot pretending to be a transistor. Quite an act, I would say!

    Tek 520A VectorClock - an unorthodox transistor replacement

    Like what you see?

    If you love big, looming Vectorscopes and need to have one put to good use in your living room, Contact me. And be sure to subscribe from the front page, to track all the other exotic experiments and unique timepieces targeted for 2014!

    Credits to [Quinn] in Canada, for providing the initial inspiration for the Tek 520A VectorClock project!

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