Hello,
Recently I got a HP8596E with faulty step attenuator (33321-60037). I have three qestions regarding the attenuator unit:
- what attenuator pads are incorporated into 33321-60037? The 20-dB one in my unit is made on white substrate, whereas the other ones are made on transparent glass substrates. Is this an original arrangement, or an effect of non-authorized repair?
- I believe that in these attenuators the plunger tips were originally secured with little epoxy drop, am I right?
- I have also noticed some lubricant remains on the contct strips. Which parts inside the attenuator were originally lubricated and with what kind of lubricant?
Regars,
RW
Though this message is old and may have been resolved, this information is for anyone else that may have similar questions.
For this model, it has a mixed bag. It has a DC Blocking card, 2 Alumina Substrate cards (10dB and 20dB), and a Sapphire Substrate Card which is translucent (40dB). There may be other sapphire cards that were added at a later or earlier date.
The flipper sliding assembly and parts of that are secured with epoxy. The flippers are secured with the ball end of pushrod/O-rings and is seated in a slotted cutout.
Since this is a programmable attenuator and not a manual cam operated one, there should be no lubricant migrating to the flipper assembly and the upper attenuator card header.
There may have been what they call, "trace lubricant" on some of the mechanical parts. It should not be enough to migrate to the contact strips. I do not know they type of lubricant.
Hope this helps,
Gary