[time-nuts] time-nuts Digest, Vol 54, Issue 76

[Ed Palmer]

I had already started on this idea.  Unfortunately, the seam is so small 
that the blade just isn't penetrating.  It's almost like it was a 
friction fit to begin with.  The case appears to be 20 ga (~0.04") 
tin-plated steel.  It just has no give to it at all.  When I started, I 
was cutting through solder, but now I think I'm just skating across 
steel.  I'll keep at it.  Maybe I'm closer to getting it open than I 
thought.

Ed

> Message: 7
> Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:21:16 -0800
> From: Dan Rae <danrae at verizon.net>
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Wenzel Oscillator Repair
> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> 	<time-nuts at febo.com>
> Message-ID: <4974FCDC.9030600 at verizon.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Ed Palmer wrote:
>   
>> >  Does anyone 
>> > have any hints & tips on how to open or repair one of these soldered-can 
>> > oscillators? 
>>     
> Ed, I have opened and repaired several sealed oscillators, OCXOs and 
> TCXOs, as well as crystal filters, with some success.  In fact the 
> Isotemp OCXO in my  homebrew GPS standard is still going strong after I 
> replaced the TL431 regulator in that ten years ago.
>
> What I do is to use a box cutter type knife on the seams, side by side, 
> repeatedly scraping out as much of the solder as possible.  After a 
> while the seam can usually be opened up enough to break any remaining 
> solder towards the corners.  I think the fact that this avoids any 
> prolonged heating is probably the main advantage of using this method.   
> It takes time, but so far I have not found one that wouldn't open in the 
> end... 
>
> Do I have to say: be careful and always work away from your fingers?
>
> It works for me at any rate, and by not using heat you avoid any extra 
> damage :^)