Tek 2335 Oscope/curve-tracer ?

[Dave]

Got a question I am sure someone here can answer. I was about to embark on
a project of building a curvetracer (from an old PE mag) and sat down with
my Oscope to see how I would hook it up. Can't figure it out. How to you
hook up one channel for the X axis and the other for the Y axis? I think I
am working with a pretty standard scope, dual trace with various options,
but haven't got a clue as to how to do this. Anyone have any ideas or
advice?

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

 

[Dave]

"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns9463D5EFB220Cjyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt2hdu$vtg@library1.airnews.net:

Got a question I am sure someone here can answer. I was about to
embark on a project of building a curvetracer (from an old PE mag) and
sat down with my Oscope to see how I would hook it up. Can't figure
it out. How to you hook up one channel for the X axis and the other
for the Y axis? I think I am working with a pretty standard scope,
dual trace with various options, but haven't got a clue as to how to
do this. Anyone have any ideas or advice?

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com




rotate Time/div knob to the end with the X/Y marking,and IIRC,use Ch1 for
X
input,and Ch2 for Y input.The front panel should indicate the proper
channels and time/div position for X/Y mode.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Well, thank you Jim. I never thought about looking at the time/div knob to
see if it had a special position for this option. Ch. 1 is marked X and Ch.
2 is marked Y, but I had no idea as to how to avail myself of that option.
I will check that out. Thank you very much.

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

 

[Dave]

"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns9463D5EFB220Cjyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt2hdu$vtg@library1.airnews.net:

Got a question I am sure someone here can answer. I was about to
embark on a project of building a curvetracer (from an old PE mag) and
sat down with my Oscope to see how I would hook it up. Can't figure
it out. How to you hook up one channel for the X axis and the other
for the Y axis? I think I am working with a pretty standard scope,
dual trace with various options, but haven't got a clue as to how to
do this. Anyone have any ideas or advice?

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com




rotate Time/div knob to the end with the X/Y marking,and IIRC,use Ch1 for
X
input,and Ch2 for Y input.The front panel should indicate the proper
channels and time/div position for X/Y mode.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Well hell. I checked the s/div knob and it does NOT have such a position at
either end. It goes from .5S/div (channel a only) to .5 uS/div, and that's
it. There are two sets of buttons labeled Vert and Horiz, with buttons for
either channel in each group, but they don't seem to do anything like X/Y
for Ch 1 or Ch 2. Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

 

[Jim Yanik]

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt2hdu$vtg@library1.airnews.net:

Got a question I am sure someone here can answer. I was about to
embark on a project of building a curvetracer (from an old PE mag) and
sat down with my Oscope to see how I would hook it up. Can't figure
it out. How to you hook up one channel for the X axis and the other
for the Y axis? I think I am working with a pretty standard scope,
dual trace with various options, but haven't got a clue as to how to
do this. Anyone have any ideas or advice?

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

rotate Time/div knob to the end with the X/Y marking,and IIRC,use Ch1 for X
input,and Ch2 for Y input.The front panel should indicate the proper
channels and time/div position for X/Y mode.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

 

[Jim Yanik]

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt2lvm$4j0@library1.airnews.net:

"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns9463D5EFB220Cjyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...
"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt2hdu$vtg@library1.airnews.net:

Got a question I am sure someone here can answer. I was about to
embark on a project of building a curvetracer (from an old PE mag)
and sat down with my Oscope to see how I would hook it up. Can't
figure it out. How to you hook up one channel for the X axis and
the other for the Y axis? I think I am working with a pretty
standard scope, dual trace with various options, but haven't got a
clue as to how to do this. Anyone have any ideas or advice?

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com




rotate Time/div knob to the end with the X/Y marking,and IIRC,use Ch1
for
X
input,and Ch2 for Y input.The front panel should indicate the proper
channels and time/div position for X/Y mode.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Well hell. I checked the s/div knob and it does NOT have such a
position at either end. It goes from .5S/div (channel a only) to .5
uS/div, and that's it. There are two sets of buttons labeled Vert and
Horiz, with buttons for either channel in each group, but they don't
seem to do anything like X/Y for Ch 1 or Ch 2. Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

Well,I guess you'll have to find a service manual or operators manual and
see what they have to say.It might be some combination of vertical mode
buttons to enable XY input mode.



--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

 

[Walter Harley]

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in message
news:bt2lvm$4j0@library1.airnews.net...

Well hell. I checked the s/div knob and it does NOT have such a position
at
either end. It goes from .5S/div (channel a only) to .5 uS/div, and
that's
it. There are two sets of buttons labeled Vert and Horiz, with buttons
for
either channel in each group, but they don't seem to do anything like X/Y
for Ch 1 or Ch 2. Any other ideas?

What about the switches that set alternate versus chopped for the two
traces? Any options around there?

 

[Dave]

"Walter Harley" <walterh@cafewalterNOSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:bt49r5$rvd$0@216.39.172.65...

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in message
news:bt2lvm$4j0@library1.airnews.net...
Well hell. I checked the s/div knob and it does NOT have such a
position
at
either end. It goes from .5S/div (channel a only) to .5 uS/div, and
that's
it. There are two sets of buttons labeled Vert and Horiz, with buttons
for
either channel in each group, but they don't seem to do anything like
X/Y
for Ch 1 or Ch 2. Any other ideas?

What about the switches that set alternate versus chopped for the two
traces? Any options around there?

Not that I can determine. I guess, like Jim Y said, I need to find an
operator's manual. Or maybe I can talk to Tektronix customer support.
Maybe they can SELL me an operator's manual. I am sure that this scope will
to it, I just can't figure out how. Lots of projects in mind for when I
figure it out...

Thanks for trying.

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

 

[Dave]

"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns94646D243BC31jyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt2lvm$4j0@library1.airnews.net:


"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns9463D5EFB220Cjyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...
"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt2hdu$vtg@library1.airnews.net:

Got a question I am sure someone here can answer. I was about to
embark on a project of building a curvetracer (from an old PE mag)
and sat down with my Oscope to see how I would hook it up. Can't
figure it out. How to you hook up one channel for the X axis and
the other for the Y axis? I think I am working with a pretty
standard scope, dual trace with various options, but haven't got a
clue as to how to do this. Anyone have any ideas or advice?

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com




rotate Time/div knob to the end with the X/Y marking,and IIRC,use Ch1
for
X
input,and Ch2 for Y input.The front panel should indicate the proper
channels and time/div position for X/Y mode.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Well hell. I checked the s/div knob and it does NOT have such a
position at either end. It goes from .5S/div (channel a only) to .5
uS/div, and that's it. There are two sets of buttons labeled Vert and
Horiz, with buttons for either channel in each group, but they don't
seem to do anything like X/Y for Ch 1 or Ch 2. Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com



Well,I guess you'll have to find a service manual or operators manual and
see what they have to say.It might be some combination of vertical mode
buttons to enable XY input mode.



--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Yeah, I guess that's my only option. Time to talk to Tektronix customer
support. I'll look them up on the web.

Thanks for trying...

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

 

[Jim Yanik]

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt4pee$p81@library1.airnews.net:

"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns94646D243BC31jyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...
"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt2lvm$4j0@library1.airnews.net:


"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns9463D5EFB220Cjyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...
"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt2hdu$vtg@library1.airnews.net:

Got a question I am sure someone here can answer. I was about
to embark on a project of building a curvetracer (from an old PE
mag) and sat down with my Oscope to see how I would hook it up.
Can't figure it out. How to you hook up one channel for the X
axis and the other for the Y axis? I think I am working with a
pretty standard scope, dual trace with various options, but
haven't got a clue as to how to do this. Anyone have any ideas
or advice?

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com




rotate Time/div knob to the end with the X/Y marking,and IIRC,use
Ch1 for
X
input,and Ch2 for Y input.The front panel should indicate the
proper channels and time/div position for X/Y mode.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Well hell. I checked the s/div knob and it does NOT have such a
position at either end. It goes from .5S/div (channel a only) to
.5 uS/div, and that's it. There are two sets of buttons labeled
Vert and Horiz, with buttons for either channel in each group, but
they don't seem to do anything like X/Y for Ch 1 or Ch 2. Any
other ideas?

Thanks,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com



Well,I guess you'll have to find a service manual or operators manual
and see what they have to say.It might be some combination of
vertical mode buttons to enable XY input mode.



--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Yeah, I guess that's my only option. Time to talk to Tektronix
customer support. I'll look them up on the web.

Thanks for trying...

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

TEK customer support no longer supports these;they're considered
"obsolete". Don't bother trying.

See previous posts about Long Term Product Support,or check TEK's site for
it.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

 

[Jim Yanik]

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt4pc0$p6n@library1.airnews.net:

"Walter Harley" <walterh@cafewalterNOSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:bt49r5$rvd$0@216.39.172.65...
"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in message
news:bt2lvm$4j0@library1.airnews.net...
Well hell. I checked the s/div knob and it does NOT have such a
position
at
either end. It goes from .5S/div (channel a only) to .5 uS/div,
and
that's
it. There are two sets of buttons labeled Vert and Horiz, with
buttons
for
either channel in each group, but they don't seem to do anything
like
X/Y
for Ch 1 or Ch 2. Any other ideas?

What about the switches that set alternate versus chopped for the two
traces? Any options around there?



Not that I can determine. I guess, like Jim Y said, I need to find an
operator's manual. Or maybe I can talk to Tektronix customer support.
Maybe they can SELL me an operator's manual. I am sure that this
scope will to it, I just can't figure out how. Lots of projects in
mind for when I figure it out...

Thanks for trying.

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

No parts or manuals from TEK,either;same reason,"obsolete" status.Check the
LTPS list at TEKs web site.
--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

 

[Dave]

"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns9464DDAC95310jyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt4pee$p81@library1.airnews.net:


"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns94646D243BC31jyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...
"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt2lvm$4j0@library1.airnews.net:


"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns9463D5EFB220Cjyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...
"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt2hdu$vtg@library1.airnews.net:

Got a question I am sure someone here can answer. I was about
to embark on a project of building a curvetracer (from an old PE
mag) and sat down with my Oscope to see how I would hook it up.
Can't figure it out. How to you hook up one channel for the X
axis and the other for the Y axis? I think I am working with a
pretty standard scope, dual trace with various options, but
haven't got a clue as to how to do this. Anyone have any ideas
or advice?

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com




rotate Time/div knob to the end with the X/Y marking,and IIRC,use
Ch1 for
X
input,and Ch2 for Y input.The front panel should indicate the
proper channels and time/div position for X/Y mode.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Well hell. I checked the s/div knob and it does NOT have such a
position at either end. It goes from .5S/div (channel a only) to
.5 uS/div, and that's it. There are two sets of buttons labeled
Vert and Horiz, with buttons for either channel in each group, but
they don't seem to do anything like X/Y for Ch 1 or Ch 2. Any
other ideas?

Thanks,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com



Well,I guess you'll have to find a service manual or operators manual
and see what they have to say.It might be some combination of
vertical mode buttons to enable XY input mode.



--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Yeah, I guess that's my only option. Time to talk to Tektronix
customer support. I'll look them up on the web.

Thanks for trying...

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com




TEK customer support no longer supports these;they're considered
"obsolete". Don't bother trying.

See previous posts about Long Term Product Support,or check TEK's site for
it.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Hallelujah (or something like that) I think I figured it out! That group of
buttons grouped under "vert"? They are not all radio buttons! There is a
line saying "XY" going from Ch 1 to Ch 2! You are supposed to push them
BOTH in AT ONCE! Now I really do feel stupid. Why did I not see that
before? How could I have missed it? (It's as plain as the egg on my face.)
I was thinking about what Walter H. said in his post, and sat down to study
the matter a bit more. There it was.

Maybe tomorrow I can pick up a few components and build a really simple
curve tracer to try it out with. I'll let you know how it goes.

I really do appreciate the help both of you gave me. Without typing it out
and thinking about the responses I got, I never would have seen it.

Thanks.

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

 

[Dave]

"Walter Harley" <walterh@cafewalterNOSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:bt49r5$rvd$0@216.39.172.65...

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in message
news:bt2lvm$4j0@library1.airnews.net...
Well hell. I checked the s/div knob and it does NOT have such a
position
at
either end. It goes from .5S/div (channel a only) to .5 uS/div, and
that's
it. There are two sets of buttons labeled Vert and Horiz, with buttons
for
either channel in each group, but they don't seem to do anything like
X/Y
for Ch 1 or Ch 2. Any other ideas?

What about the switches that set alternate versus chopped for the two
traces? Any options around there?

You hit the nail on the head, Walter. That group of buttons was where the
secret lay. There is a line going from Ch 1 to Ch 2 saying "XY", and when
you press them both in at once the display mode changes. Thank you.

I was thinking about your question and had come to the decision that there
had to be more there than I perceived. Sat down to look at it with a more
determined eye, and saw that line. Pressed both buttons in at once and the
display mode changed. As I said in my other post to Jim Yanik, Hallelujah!
(Or whatever is appropriate.)

Thank you, Walter, for that pointed question. In thinking about it more, I
found the answer. Tomorrow I hope to purchase a few components and build a
very simple curve tracer to test this theory out. I will let you know how
it turns out.

Thanks.

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

 

[Dave]

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in message
news:bt5gpf$8tp@library1.airnews.net...

"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns9464DDAC95310jyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...
"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt4pee$p81@library1.airnews.net:


"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns94646D243BC31jyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...
"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt2lvm$4j0@library1.airnews.net:


"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns9463D5EFB220Cjyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...
"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt2hdu$vtg@library1.airnews.net:

Got a question I am sure someone here can answer. I was about
to embark on a project of building a curvetracer (from an old PE
mag) and sat down with my Oscope to see how I would hook it up.
Can't figure it out. How to you hook up one channel for the X
axis and the other for the Y axis? I think I am working with a
pretty standard scope, dual trace with various options, but
haven't got a clue as to how to do this. Anyone have any ideas
or advice?

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com




rotate Time/div knob to the end with the X/Y marking,and IIRC,use
Ch1 for
X
input,and Ch2 for Y input.The front panel should indicate the
proper channels and time/div position for X/Y mode.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Well hell. I checked the s/div knob and it does NOT have such a
position at either end. It goes from .5S/div (channel a only) to
.5 uS/div, and that's it. There are two sets of buttons labeled
Vert and Horiz, with buttons for either channel in each group, but
they don't seem to do anything like X/Y for Ch 1 or Ch 2. Any
other ideas?

Thanks,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com



Well,I guess you'll have to find a service manual or operators manual
and see what they have to say.It might be some combination of
vertical mode buttons to enable XY input mode.



--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Yeah, I guess that's my only option. Time to talk to Tektronix
customer support. I'll look them up on the web.

Thanks for trying...

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com




TEK customer support no longer supports these;they're considered
"obsolete". Don't bother trying.

See previous posts about Long Term Product Support,or check TEK's site
for
it.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Hallelujah (or something like that) I think I figured it out! That group
of
buttons grouped under "vert"? They are not all radio buttons! There is a
line saying "XY" going from Ch 1 to Ch 2! You are supposed to push them
BOTH in AT ONCE! Now I really do feel stupid. Why did I not see that
before? How could I have missed it? (It's as plain as the egg on my
face.)
I was thinking about what Walter H. said in his post, and sat down to
study
the matter a bit more. There it was.

Maybe tomorrow I can pick up a few components and build a really simple
curve tracer to try it out with. I'll let you know how it goes.

I really do appreciate the help both of you gave me. Without typing it
out
and thinking about the responses I got, I never would have seen it.

Thanks.

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

Okay, pushing in both buttons at once does set it up for X-Y trace. One
other thing is now becoming obvious to me though, and that is that the
person who wrote the article I've been following from the October '97 issue
of Electronics Now was full of crap. All that circuit does is give me a 60
Hz sine wave, which fits in nicely with the 60 Hz hum that my unshielded
test probes produce. Now I am trying to figure out what schematic they
*meant* to draw. The article contains some nice pictures of trace patterns
for various devices, so maybe I'll be able to figure it out. Or maybe I'll
try to build a real curve tracer. I haven't decided yet. Still, my
original question, of how to get my 2335 set up for X/Y trace, is now
answered. I now remember seeing that button label and knowing what it
meant, but that was at least ten years ago. If you don't use it you lose
it. Hopefully I haven't lost it all.

Thanks for the help. Without tossing the question out and trying to answer
the questions I got back there's no telling how long I would have gone
before noticing the obvious.

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

 

[Jim Yanik]

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt85q9$t53@library1.airnews.net:

Okay, pushing in both buttons at once does set it up for X-Y trace.
One other thing is now becoming obvious to me though, and that is that
the person who wrote the article I've been following from the October
'97 issue of Electronics Now was full of crap. All that circuit does
is give me a 60 Hz sine wave, which fits in nicely with the 60 Hz hum
that my unshielded test probes produce. Now I am trying to figure out
what schematic they *meant* to draw. The article contains some nice
pictures of trace patterns for various devices, so maybe I'll be able
to figure it out. Or maybe I'll try to build a real curve tracer. I
haven't decided yet. Still, my original question, of how to get my
2335 set up for X/Y trace, is now answered. I now remember seeing
that button label and knowing what it meant, but that was at least ten
years ago. If you don't use it you lose it. Hopefully I haven't lost
it all.

Thanks for the help. Without tossing the question out and trying to
answer the questions I got back there's no telling how long I would
have gone before noticing the obvious.

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

Were you trying to duplicate one of those Huntron-tracker devices? I've
seen schematics for a similar device using a 6.3V filament transformer.

A real semiconductor curve tracer has a step generator for base/gate
drive,and TEK used a half-sine 120hz pulsed DC collector drive in their
575,576,and 577 curve tracers. Heathkit used to have a curve tracer kit to
be used with a scope,too.Maybe someone can scan their Heathkit manual for
you.

Would there be a market for a small,inexpensive curve tracer for
hobbyist/bench tech use these days?

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

 

[Dave]

"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in message
news:Xns9467CF11E4D19jyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21...

"Dave" <dbeane@genie.idt.net> wrote in
news:bt85q9$t53@library1.airnews.net:



Okay, pushing in both buttons at once does set it up for X-Y trace.
One other thing is now becoming obvious to me though, and that is that
the person who wrote the article I've been following from the October
'97 issue of Electronics Now was full of crap. All that circuit does
is give me a 60 Hz sine wave, which fits in nicely with the 60 Hz hum
that my unshielded test probes produce. Now I am trying to figure out
what schematic they *meant* to draw. The article contains some nice
pictures of trace patterns for various devices, so maybe I'll be able
to figure it out. Or maybe I'll try to build a real curve tracer. I
haven't decided yet. Still, my original question, of how to get my
2335 set up for X/Y trace, is now answered. I now remember seeing
that button label and knowing what it meant, but that was at least ten
years ago. If you don't use it you lose it. Hopefully I haven't lost
it all.

Thanks for the help. Without tossing the question out and trying to
answer the questions I got back there's no telling how long I would
have gone before noticing the obvious.

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com




Were you trying to duplicate one of those Huntron-tracker devices? I've
seen schematics for a similar device using a 6.3V filament transformer.

A real semiconductor curve tracer has a step generator for base/gate
drive,and TEK used a half-sine 120hz pulsed DC collector drive in their
575,576,and 577 curve tracers. Heathkit used to have a curve tracer kit to
be used with a scope,too.Maybe someone can scan their Heathkit manual for
you.

Would there be a market for a small,inexpensive curve tracer for
hobbyist/bench tech use these days?

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Hey Jim,

What I am working with is the schematic for something simply called a
component tester, that uses a 12v secondary to provide a signal which is
applied to a bipolar device, like a zener diode, the result of which is
traced on the screen of an Oscope in X/Y mode. Not really a curve tracer, I
now know, but that's what the traces various components gave reminded me of.
The schematic, which is not drawn correctly for the traces given and text
provided, basically gives you a horizontal trace of the voltage across the
device under test and a vertical trace of the current through that same
device (with the help of a resistor in series with the device.) A zener
diode would thus give a trace somewhat like a backwards Z. Capacitors give
an oval which varies in size and angle with the value of the device under
test, and a resistor gives a 45 degree angle of one length or another. Open
test probes are supposed to give a horizontal line and shorted test probes a
verticle line. At least that's what the article says.

I *think* I have figured out how to arrange things so it works that way, or
at least a step closer. Problem is most of my components are still packed
away, and the only source of new ones is across town by bus. I could order
from digikey, or someone like that, but right now all I need is a couple of
resistors. Doubt if they would be willing to process a <$1.00 order. Even
if they did, I wouldn't want to pay shipping on that, so I'l have to wait
until Thursday or Saturday to hit the parts depot.

Don't know if there's any market for something like this, if I do get it
working. Kind of doubt it, actually. I'm just trying to keep myself
occupied or I would be on to bigger things by now. I have two more articles
from PE and Radio Electronics of the same period that describes the building
and use of real curve tracers, and am probably going to try one of those
next.

It's been twenty years since I've had my shop set up, so I'm relearning a
lot of stuff. Do appreciate your interaction. Everything helps. Hope this
gives you a better idea of what I am attempting.

Thanks,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com