Yes I moved the tube to a different digit place. I figured it was on the way out however I had never seen this happen so I figure you all would know what is up.
This is a Tubehobby kit so it is a fixed mouser pins in a PCB. I also don't move the tubes or the clock for fear I will knock a tube or shorten the life of the tubes. Well have to go out to eBay and get some replacement tubes. Thanks for the help :) John On Feb 16, 12:04 pm, threeneurons <[email protected]> wrote: > > On Feb 15, 7:20 pm, Jeff Thomas <[email protected]> wrote: > > I totally agree with Gene. I was hoping someone else would > > recognize the phenomenon. A little too much of stress on a > > marginal biscuit frit seal, and it begins a slow return to > > atmosphere ;) > > From my limited experience with these PCB soldered in socket pins: > > http://www.mouser.com/catalog/catalogUSD/643/1603.pdf > > This may always be a major concern. Unlike 'real' sockets where the > pins float in the socket housing, these PCB insert type have no > lateral play. You're hoping for two things: (1) Your PCB pattern is > made to close tolerance, and also the nixie tube base pattern is made > to an equally close tolerance, and (2) whatever remaining > misalignment, can be accommodated by the elasticity of the pin. Both > pretty iffy, and very limited. These can inflict enough lateral stress > that can damage the tube. > > In old style sockets, the socket pin floated in the phenolic base > housing, so there was practically no lateral stress on the tube base, > at all. > > My suggestion, unfortunately not immediately applicable in this > instance, is for future users of these PCB socket pins. Layout two > concentric hole patterns. The inner one being the diameter of the > actual tube pin circle. The hole diameters, in this circle, being > large enough so that the sockets pins fit very loosely. These holes > have no pads. The outer circle ring has holes with pads, but they can > be quite small. Small enough to accommodate a 24 gauge (or smaller) > solid bare wire. This wire is soldered into the outer hole/pad, and > the wraps around the bottom of the socket pin (which is loosely fitted > in one of the inner holes). A one to one correspondence for each outer > hole/pad to inner hole. Your other board traces connect to the > appropriate outer hole/pad. This should emulate the older style > sockets. Its a bit of extra work. But the alternative could be an out- > gassed nixie tube. And they are getting more expensive. Your choice. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/neonixie-l?hl=en-GB.
