DESIGN:
FXO Inc. can design a special test equipment for
any function. We have experience with
designing STE for spacecraft testing applications. The following are pictures of a recent
design:
.
This STE was used to test the
high speed clocks output from a spacecraft component in test. The CLOCK STE successfully captured clock
irregularities and stopped on error.
This STE was able to clear a flight box of a potential unverified
failure.
MODIFICATION:
FXO Inc. can upgrade a vintage piece of STE with
new components and computers to extend the special test equipment
lifetime. Examples are replacing a CP/M operating
system computer running PASCAL software with a PC type computer running PASCAL
or C code.
ATLAS:
We can write ATLAS test code for
your board or box test equipment.
TEST EQUIPMENT
DESIGN/UPGRADE:
Don’t throw out your vintage
test designs. FXO Inc. can upgrade these
designs to use the latest technology, while retaining much of the original test
software.
We’ve demonstrated this upgrade
on systems that formerly used HP-85 and Tecmar Computers. 95% of the original software was reused on
each project.
Our designs have used the
following vendors and equipment:
HP-85 replacement: We used ACME Portable computer, with National
Instrument IEEE-488 card controlling HP hardware, running HT BASIC software
(converted from HP BASIC). In this same
package, we provided for an X-Y plotter replacement. We used the Scientific Solutions LabMaster
DMA card to receive the X and Y voltages from a spacecraft component in
test. This A/D converter output the X-Y
Plot to the computer screen and is printed to an ink jet printer when the
capture of the plot is complete.
For HT BASIC see: http://www.transera.com/
For ACME Portable Computers see:
http://www.acmeportable.com/
For A/D converter modules
See: http://www.scientificsolutions.com/
HP-85B
UPGRADE:
The photo below shows the
successful replacement of an HP-85B running HP BASIC with an ACME Computer
running HT BASIC. We were able to make
better use of the GPIB Interrupts connecting to the HP3561A, network Analyzer,
and the HP5316B, Frequency Counter. This
use of interrupts allows our test to run 33% faster than without the
interrupts.
PLOTTER REPLACEMENT:
The photo below shows the
successful replacement of an obsolete plotter using an ACME Computer running
Python. Here, using the Scientific
Solutions Labmaster Series DMA card with optional BNC box, we were able to
capture the input signals for the X-Axis and Y-Axis (range of +/-10V each) and
display it to the computer screen.
After the data is taken, a handy Line Tool may be run to compute the
slope and X and Y intercepts by just a
few mouse clicks.
WIRE WRAP BOARD:
The photo below shows the SCP
Interface board built for Lockheed Martin.
This board was designed by Integral Systems Inc. over 15 years ago. FXO was brought in to build and test two
spare boards. The hard part of this job
was finding all of the programmable logic and oddball chips used in this design. We were able to find most of the chips. We redesigned using substitute parts that
meet the design specifications. This
board passed the diagnostic tests after putting it together and is in a standby
position.
HARD TO FIND PARTS
CY7C403
CY7C433
EP310
UDN2981A
PAL20R4
PAL20X8
PAL32VX10A
HP6N138
NE564
We found many of the parts using
Hong Kong Inventory (hkinventory.com).
This website allows you to list what parts you need. Vendors (mostly in
STE TROUBLESHOOT:
FXO is working with Lockheed
Martin,
SPACE QUALITY PROM PROGRAMMING:
FXO looks to work with Lockheed
Martin,
SERVICE CONTRACT ON EXISTING
SIMULATION HARDWARE:
FXO works with Lockheed Martin
to maintain two versions of spacecraft simulation hardware. FXO will repair any hardware defects with the
VME based simulation hardware and custom designed boards.
Request Quote or Rough Order of Estimate
from FXO Inc. on your design or upgrade.
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