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My DYI Quartz Tester

LittleWatchShop
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LittleWatchShop Distinguished Member

LittleWatchShop

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10 minutes ago, jdm said:

On the other hand probably the ideal all-in-one quartz tester doesn't exist.

I am in the process of building a custom tester based on the Accutron 600 test set.  I choose the 600 because I have a pristine 700 and dont mind hacking the 600.  I like the test set because of the huge 25ua meter!

I am designing a variable battery source using a miniature digital volt meter mounted on a 3D printed module that plugs into the hole in the 600 test set (where the leads are stored).  This is not a "does everything" tester either.  It will let me test for low and high battery voltages, and also test pulse current.

The picture shows the current state of the module--basically got the 3D print done.  The electronics will be trivial.

2021-12-21 07_03_55-20211221_070158.jpg ‎- Photos.png

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watchweasol Distinguished Member

watchweasol

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The combination quartz watch testers  are as jdm said over priced   I got hold of one and took it to bits, the cct board is or was then cobbled from somthing else to do the job and the wiring was terrible as was the soldering. I threw it away and only saved the transformer (line release) and built it to another case Its still working which is more can be said for the rest.  I tracked the originol to India but got no response from the people who made it, which was not surprising.

LittleWatchShop Distinguished Member

LittleWatchShop

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10 minutes ago, watchweasol said:

The combination quartz watch testers  are as jdm said over priced   I got hold of one and took it to bits, the cct board is or was then cobbled from somthing else to do the job and the wiring was terrible as was the soldering. I threw it away and only saved the transformer (line release) and built it to another case Its still working which is more can be said for the rest.  I tracked the originol to India but got no response from the people who made it, which was not surprising.

The hard part for me is the mechanical features.  Making probes, holder, mirror and all in a nice station. I am thinking about buying a mini mill to make parts for things like this. Crazy...I know

LittleWatchShop Distinguished Member

LittleWatchShop

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Posted (edited)

Some good ideas on the mechanical aspects for sure. 

His circuit is overkill IMO. I have not read or tested to confirm, but I would expect almost no real current drawn by a watch. Therefore the source resistance is no big deal. Using regulators to achieve 0.001 ohms source resistance is not necessary. What is important is an extremely low ESR capacitor in shunt with the watch. 

I am planning on using a shunt regulator and a resistor divider with a pot...a very simple design. At least, that is where my head is now.

Another thing I learned from the docs is the need to go all the way down to 0.8 volts.

Edited by LittleWatchShop
praezis Distinguished Member

praezis

Posted
Posted (edited)

There were even more simple probes, all you need imo.
Just an U-shaped wire, pointed tip on one end, 2 mm plug on the other:

Probes2.jpg.23dcb8a44da2a6f8a41617478dffc4c7.jpg

 

Usually a quartz is tested contactless, without opening the watch. A piezo receives its 32 kHz vibrations, processed by a narrow band (quartz filter) amplifier.

Frank

Edited by praezis
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  • 4 weeks later...
LittleWatchShop Distinguished Member

LittleWatchShop

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On 9/7/2021 at 4:28 AM, Plato said:

If money were no object then I'd buy a suite of Witschi equipment.

However, the closest I can afford is what I picked up on ebay a few years ago. A Portescap 5007. It has three probes so one for +V, one for gnd and the other to take measurements. I just had to make some leads for my PSU and scope. Under £30 including the connectors:

IMG_0004.thumb.JPG.b8b40bb89a5d53248b02fa68997846f1.JPGIMG_0005.thumb.JPG.665f5047b5f915ce9a41264073a05549.JPGIMG_0006.thumb.JPG.7ebebc27d5a00f0300c9a07f92d79433.JPGIMG_0007.thumb.JPG.ff3444585df34c17209bc84aec3b3212.JPG

@Plato, what is the diameter of the viewing window?

LittleWatchShop Distinguished Member

LittleWatchShop

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@Plato, is the mirror in your setup freestanding, or attached to the workstation?  I have printed a wedge to mount a mirror.  Not sure if I need to attach it to the workstation.

Do you ever test movements, alone, or just cased movements?  I am just pondering the movement/case holding features.

2022-01-22 09_17_45-20220122_091345.jpg ‎- Photos.png

LittleWatchShop Distinguished Member

LittleWatchShop

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I discovered that this thing NEEDS LIGHT.  I cannot see the face of the watch on the glass because it is too dark.

Using a COB LED that I salvaged from a light bulb (one of many) and a dual 2032 battery holder/switch, I cobbled together this solution.

2022-01-24 08_11_31-20220124_075332.jpg ‎- Photos.png

2022-01-24 08_13_23-20220124_075313.jpg ‎- Photos.png

2022-01-24 08_14_33-20220124_080841.jpg ‎- Photos.png

2022-01-24 08_11_15-20220124_075231.jpg ‎- Photos.png

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LittleWatchShop Distinguished Member

LittleWatchShop

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Posted (edited)
7 minutes ago, watchweasol said:

Hi Thats nifty all I use is a mirror and a frame with a bit of glass on the top, maybe should inprove it now looking at yours and do a better job  .

Do you have a 3D printer?  I can post the stl files.

Alternatively maybe I could design and print one to fit your glass and mirror and swap for barrels.

Edited by LittleWatchShop
watchweasol Distinguished Member

watchweasol

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Posted

Hi  My Nephew has a printer and he does bits for me when I need them  thanks for the offer though.    regarding the barrels, The mougin movement, size are approx  36.5 Diameter X 25.5 depth and the width of the ring teeth is 3.5 depth I have a couple of barrels.

LittleWatchShop Distinguished Member

LittleWatchShop

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1 hour ago, watchweasol said:

Hi  My Nephew has a printer and he does bits for me when I need them  thanks for the offer though.    regarding the barrels, The mougin movement, size are approx  36.5 Diameter X 25.5 depth and the width of the ring teeth is 3.5 depth I have a couple of barrels.

This is what I measured the other day while still in the movement.  Looks like what you have is a little different.

 

2022-01-24 11_56_31-french barrel.vsd - Microsoft Visio.png

  • 2 weeks later...
LittleWatchShop Distinguished Member

LittleWatchShop

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Strategy change.  For now, I wanted to have a variable voltage source to power watches.  This is not integrated with anything.  Just a standalone voltage source with readout.

That is a 10-turn pot, so I can make fine adjustments (though that is not necessary).

Not the best 3D print, however.  My printer has been giving me a few fits here of late.

2022-02-07 14_03_05-20220207_134759.jpg ‎- Photos.png

  • 4 weeks later...

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