AnsweredAssumed Answered

Cal and Verif kits foam

Question asked by jfphp on Nov 1, 2015
Latest reply on Jan 4, 2016 by drkirkby

Like • Show 0 Likes0
Comment • 2

I have some old but still usefull calibration and verification kits with A suffix and the foam is seriously degraded. Forme some models B and C I use, I was able to buy the foam parts from Keysight but I am puzzled by reproducing the various and strange holes in the foam. Any idea ? Is anybody selling new parts ? Thank you

No one else has this question

Outcomes

2 Replies

am95405 Jan 4, 2016 8:37 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
If you post the models, we may be able to help. The service guide or users guide for that model should list all the parts and probably has pictures.

Also, the holes could be for options (extra adapters, etc) that were not purchased at the time. Or for floppy disks!
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
drkirkby Jan 4, 2016 10:20 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I've replaced the foam in a number of kits, and warn you there are some things you need to be aware of. I've done at least the following kits

* 85050B 18 GHz standard 7 mm calibration kit
* 85050C 18 GHz precision 7 mm calibration kit
* 85052B 26.5 GHz standard 3.5 mm calibration kit
* 85054B 18 GHz standard N calibration kit
* 85051B 18 GHz 7 mm verification kit
* 85055A 18 GHz N verification kit
* 85053B 26.5 GHz 3.5 mm verification kit.
* P11644A P-band waveguide calibration kit.

All my kits have had boxes which say "HP", but I bought foam when the company had changed to Agilent.

Here are a few things to watch out for.

1) In older kits, if you look at the boxes, the internal dimensions of the lid is normally a bit larger than of the base. You will not normally notice this, but check, and you will often find this is so.

In more recent version of the kits, the base and lid have exactly the same dimensions. This means if you buy a foam pad set (base + lid), the base will often fit, but the lid will not.

2) Some of the parts have changed dimensions, despite the part numbers are unchanged. For example, the airlines in older 85053B verification kits are a bit longer than the airlines in the current 85053B kits shipped. The part number of the airlines are unchanged, but the lengths have changed a little!

3) The design of the connector gauges in an 85054B have changed slightly, so they don't fit the foam perfectly. The little knobs on the size have changed position by about 10 degrees, so they don't fit in the holes very well, although its acceptable to me.

4) You can't actually buy a foam pad set for the 85051B 7 mm verification kit - you need to buy the complete box, as the foam is not sold separately. But, the foam pad for the base of the 85055A type N verification kit will fit the box ok, and the 7 mm parts can be made to fit. The APC7/7 mm attenuators are a big fatter than the N ones, but you can squeze them in. The 7 mm airlines are a bit shorter than the N ones, so the APC7 ones fit with a lot of space at the end, but if you are careful you can cut some foam from a part you pulled out, and put that in.

I suggest that you measure the internal dimensions of the lid and base. Take a note of them, and get Keysight to confirm if that is the same as what will be supplied. If you find the lid is bigger on your kit, then its not worth buying the foam for the lid.

As Afsi says, extra holes are often for adapters, disks, tapes etc.

I attach a couple of pictures. One shows how an 85050B arrived at my house, after I purchased it used. The other shows how the kit is now. It took me quite some time to get all the right parts. In fact, I bought another kit which had the bits I wanted, and sold off the rest of it.

NOTE. If you look very carefully at the picture which shows the 85050B in the condition it arrived, you may notice that the thickness of the walls on the lid are just a little thinner than the base. It is not too obvious unless you measure it, or fit the foam, and suddenly find there's a gap all the way around.

Dave

Edited by: drkirkby on Jan 4, 2016 6:18 PM
Attachments
- 85050B.jpg1.1 MB
- 85050B-as-it-arrived.jpg320.5 KB
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions

Cal and Verif kits foam

Outcomes

Attachments

Related Content

Recommended Content