Teardown: IBM branded Fluke 8060A - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: idpromnut
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 27, 2014, 12:31:41 am
content: Just thought I'd throw a few pictures up. And for those interested, compared to my Keithley 196, this 8060A is spot on to the least significant digit

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2014, 12:37:42 am
content: I notice the blue cases (especially on ebay listings) seem to age/fair better than the beige color. The blue doesn't seem to suffer from sun or just age. The beige seems to turn color over time? Perhaps a treatment of “Retr0bright” is required?http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/Let's see if Dave Taylor has any input?

author: idpromnut
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 27, 2014, 12:38:55 am
content: Neat, I'm a pretty big noob when it comes to cleaning up old plastics and electronics :/ Thanks for the tip, and I'll wait and see if Dave has any input.

author: linux-works
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2014, 05:18:03 pm
content: I also have a pretty blue ibm 8060a. very cool device and, yes, the blue resists the 'ugly browning' that plagues most beige or off-white plastic gear. I don't love IBM (the company) but I like the novelty of it all, and the ibm I got was in quite good condition (outside, at least).I plan to refurb mine (recapping, I think is the only thing you really need to do).does anyone have a spreadsheet of part #'s from mouser (etc) that is already worked out and ready to go? I know that people have done this recapping a lot but not sure if anyone has posted an actual orderable BOM.I'm in the middle of a re-cap of my tek scope but I do plan to recap this device, too. if anyone has a BOM (or could give some info on parts they ordered) that would save us a lot of time. if no such BOM exists, then I may start one and submit the .xls file for the next guy's benefit.

author: Marvin
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 06:13:42 am
content: Can you take a peek under the shield from the top right corner? You don't have to remove the shield for this. With a flashlight you should be able to read the date code of the SC77174 chip dating the device.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2014, 05:25:08 am
content: This was mentioned in an AmpHour episode with an ex Fluke guy.IBM ordered a large number of special fluke version for their service people.

author: linux-works
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2014, 07:30:30 am
content: I could not help myself; I just bought a 2nd used ibm blue version of the 8060awhy do the blue ones stay so clean? the ones I see on ebay look like they never were used much. and the color stays nice looking even after all those years.I guess that will be 2 flukes I have to re-cap, now. but once done, they're done for the next 10+ yrs.

author: idpromnut
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 08:41:56 pm
content: Quote from: Marvin on February 28, 2014, 06:13:42 amSorry Marvin, I shall try and do that tonight!

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 09:08:29 pm
content: Cool! The Fluke 8060A is a great meter! Didn't know that IBM was still rebranding stuff like that in the "modern" era.A few years ago, I had a bunch of IBM branded Tektronix 453 scopes that I fixed up and resold. Early 60s era 50 MHz dual trace units, intended for field service techs working on IBM gear (System/360 stuff maybe?). Branded IBM on the front panel, and several "property of IBM" labels inside, as well. Legend has it that IBM was planning to design their own scope (and got as far as recruiting a few engineers away from HP and Tektronix to lead the effort), but Tektronix convinced them to contract it out to them at a low price to keep IBM from getting into the scope business and potentially competing with Tek! Apparently, their contract with IBM allowed Tek to market the scope to others, as well. One of the primary design constraints was that the scope had to fit under an airline seat as a carry-on, quite a feat of miniaturization for the era. The 453 was the first Tek scopes to make extensive use of PC boards, and was almost completely solid state. Only tubes were a couple of Nuvistors in the front end, 2 submini HV rectifier tubes, and the CRT. Later production replaced the Nuvistors with JFETs.

author: linux-works
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 09:11:38 pm
content: and yes, now, ibm is a nearly total disgrace. mass exodus from the company, low morale, continual outsourcing and local firing/remote re-hiring, etc. there was a recent slashdot article about ibm and new york and some friction in cutting back even more of the local workforce.ibm once had a good name. these meters were from that era. today, an ibm labeled meter would be a laughing stock.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2014, 04:25:35 am
content: Quote from: linux-works on March 02, 2014, 09:11:38 pmDoesn't look that bad to me ;-)

author: 6E5
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2014, 08:14:19 am
content: Shareholder Happiness != Employe Happiness

author: idpromnut
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 04, 2014, 08:43:11 pm
content: Quote from: Marvin on February 28, 2014, 06:13:42 am7th week, 1989

author: Marvin
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 08:01:40 am
content: Cool - that means that the IBM units were manufactured thru the years! I was afraid to bid on the IBM branded ones on eBay thinking they are all first year releases from 1981-82 (one large order filled) wich means that the cap replacement is almost mandatory. But 1989 is quite a recent one - probably the caps are in a much better condition in them than the early 1982 ones and don't even need changing. Thanks for the info!