Keithley 2000 - handle measurements - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: manicdoc
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 12, 2022, 05:30:39 am
content: Hi,I've got a Keithley 2000 in the post, from symptoms I'm expecting a possible slight cap leakage and some related old age issues, but given what I've read on here anything is game...The only thing I don't have with it is the rotating handle, I have a capable 3d printer but don't have a reference handle to directly work from...So, is anyone willing to give me some critical measurements of an existing handle? i.e the handle length and radius from the axial center to the handlebar, etc.I'll see if I knock up a parametric model in FreeCAD and use a spreadsheet as the control.. in effect make a handle generator... Happy to make that available once done. thanks!

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2022, 09:03:58 am
content: Do you prefer Imperial or metric?Here's a quick set of measurements:

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2022, 09:41:58 am
content: This handle is available from Keithley as a replacement part

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2022, 09:57:00 am
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on August 12, 2022, 09:41:58 amYes, the part number is 428-329F, but where's the fun in that?

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2022, 10:45:45 am
content: Quote from: AVGresponding on August 12, 2022, 09:57:00 amBecause I would be afraid of using a self printed handle on a heavy instrument.Otherwise its a perfectly legit and fun task.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2022, 11:27:45 am
content: I wouldn't want to rely on PLA, but I'd expect ABS to be strong enough. In any case the K2000 isn'tthatheavy.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2022, 04:00:21 pm
content: Where's the fun ... loll Well a 3d printed handle may fail when you carry the meter ... seen thatSure you can choose the right filamentIf you want to tackle the challenge, that's fine, if you wan to take that risk, fine BUT ...I simply did not want to take chances, ordered 2 kits for my 34401a ...

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2022, 04:04:40 pm
content: Well the first thing I do with a bench meter is take the handle off anyway, so if I do have to carry it somewhere, that wouldn't be an issue!I wouldn't trust PLA for a carry handle, I would want to test an ABS one, and I frequently don't trust OEM handles if they look a bit old.

author: manicdoc
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 12, 2022, 09:28:55 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on August 12, 2022, 10:45:45 amIt's partly for learning/fun. The 3d printing strength comes down to the filament and printing orientation in relation to loading and how much fill and where.My plan was to print it flat (I think it will just fit on the bed) and go 100% fill on the ends with the X's (when slicing you can change the fill rate in different areas). The PLA filament I have is pretty strong. I'm also getting some resin (to fix up two multimeter cases, also in the post). I could then have the option to resin fill the handle using the tree fill pattern (this leaves a navigatable inner fill space, rather than one divided up).3d printing also allows you to add features onto the handle that were not present in the original, I've got some ideas on that.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2022, 09:36:31 pm
content: Let me know if you need any more measurements and/or photos.

author: manicdoc
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 12, 2022, 10:41:55 pm
content: Quote from: AVGresponding on August 12, 2022, 09:36:31 pmMuch thanks for that, I should be able to get started with those measurements. The beauty of using FreeCAD driven off a spreadsheet is I easily fine-tune using a base set of parameters and everything else gets derived.

author: manicdoc
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2022, 09:06:44 am
content: got started...