Genrad 2515

[malcolm]

I can't believe it! I got hold of some specialised computer equipment yesterday. It was made in 1984 and hadn't been used since 1995. When I got it home it booted up a bit but not all the way - couldn't find all the discs. I'd planned to clean various connections over the weekend, but demonstrated it to a friend just now and it sprang into life and works perfectly.

Cool - that's why you should buy quality stuff! This stuff is renound for being reliable so I chipped in around £500 just assuming it would still work. Thankful it does now. Here's a pic of the beast.

 

[Drains]

That's nice Malcolm. What's it for? (looks v. well built btw. Built this side of the world?)

 

[malcolm]

Built in the US. It's crammed with seperate cards that are themselves crammed with black transistor looking things. Old world stuff.

Oddly enough, the software is the same type that I use today. It's called IDEAS, though the version on my toy is 2.5, and the version on my laptop is 10. It was designed by a group called SDRC who my Genrad 2515 was originally supplied to.

It's for recording and analysing noise and vibrations. I'm planning to use it to model how a Renault 4 vibrates at different frequencies. Should be able to give me an animated wire frame video of it bouncing on it's wheels at about 1.5 times a second, then the rear door swinging from side to side at about 5 times a second, then the whole chassis bending up and down at maybe 20 times a second.

 

[Welderpaul]

It's for recording and analysing noise and vibrations. I'm planning to use it to model how a Renault 4 vibrates at different frequencies. Should be able to give me an animated wire frame video of it bouncing on it's wheels at about 1.5 times a second, then the rear door swinging from side to side at about 5 times a second, then the whole chassis bending up and down at maybe 20 times a second.

what are you planning to do to have yer Renault 4 bouncing on its wheels and the chassis bending up and down.....?!!!!

 

[Drains]

Should be able to give me an animated wire frame video of it bouncing on it's wheels at about 1.5 times a second, then the rear door swinging from side to side at about 5 times a second, then the whole chassis bending up and down at maybe 20 times a second.

Jolly good. So, er... why?

Si

 

[Drains]

what are you planning to do to have yer Renault 4 bouncing on its wheels and the chassis bending up and down.....?!!!!

Drive it down the road! You ever been in one?!

 

[malcolm]

It's for fun mostly, and also to help me improve the Renault to make it easier to live with rather than buying a proper car.

All stuff vibrates at all frequencies all the time. Often only a tiny bit, but in a car driving down the road it's enough to feel it happening, especially on the steering wheel. You can measure what's happening just by tapping the edge of the bumper mounting lightly with a soft hammer and placing a few accelerometers around the place. That sort of test helps figure out why the steering wheel vibrates, and what can be done to make it vibrate less.

 

[weldequip]

Malcolm... you need to get out more! Maybe a hobby, like drinking or women, or both. (You could still be on the forum whilst the two evils are in the background!!)
weldequip

 

[malcolm]

It is a hobby. (Though maybe a slightly unusual one). Maybe I'll meet lots of drunken female RT-11 enthusiasts that can help me with my command line.

 

[Haze]

lol small chance i think

 

[nellway]

Bouncing up and down on it's springs....

Reminds me of a Saturday night at Avalon beach in Sydney, all the Holden utes parked in the car park after the school disco....

You didn't need Hal there to tell what caused those vibrations!

 

[bill_gj]

Now, now, chaps - I had an inkling that Malcolm was a Top Man and this just goes to confirm it. Sounds to me like he has a pretty neat 'retirement' going on there.

I spent many a happy hour associated with such goings on in my own job. We once had the 'pleasure' of showing some senior American managers what we were up to. A couple of them foolishly agreed to ride in the data acquisition vehicles and came out looking very ill indeed.

 

[w6pug]

Malcolm, I also have a working GenRad 2515, with 16 channel expansion ports .. I used to program one when I was in USN 30+ years ago.
I do not have system manual or TSL2 programming guide - would it be possible to get a photocopy or pdf of yours (and of course I am happy to reimburse you). Would love to see the SDRC software - have not seen their stuff in decades. I will get pix of mine tomorrow and post (guess I should also post a pix of my small shop so you can see)!
I would rely appreciate any help you can provide with manuals .... not easy to find here!
Thank you ! Cheers, Doug

 

[malcolm]

Do post photos of yours. Does it have any useful software? Mine has run into trouble with what sounds like a failing bearing in the hard drive. I bought another (ex Semens research I think) with a good hard drive but have no clue how to transfer the software across to it.

The manuals for mine were thrown out years ago before I got the machine. I only have a small booklet by SDRC with the commands for using the modal software.

 

[Robotstar5]

That's what I like about this forum, the diversity, from sticking lumps of metal together to analysing vibrating R4's!
Did you set it up on your Renault?.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Picoscope have just released a NVH kit, seems like everyone is at it now.

 

[w6pug]

Do post photos of yours. Does it have any useful software? Mine has run into trouble with what sounds like a failing bearing in the hard drive. I bought another (ex Semens research I think) with a good hard drive but have no clue how to transfer the software across to it.

The manuals for mine were thrown out years ago before I got the machine. I only have a small booklet by SDRC with the commands for using the modal software.

Hi Malcom!
I do have some software that I need to inventory and will try to send you list by next weekend. I also have some 5.25in floppies with software and drive. The drive has GenRad product number on it so I am looking for 2nd drive to copy disks. I used to know RT11, but it has been 30 years so I will no doubt have some learning curve. Will share what I have as I learn to duplicate it. Also am researching places I know who used 2515 to see if one of them has a manual; will update you of my progress. Feel free to use my email address. From here (CA in US), VERY slow to type on the forum server ...
A promised, attaching photos of mine. I am also amateur radio operator; you can see more about home and hobbies here: www.qrz.com/db/w6pug.
Please keep in touh - we will figure out how to share what we have ... just takes some research. Take care- Doug
Please keep in touch

 

[w6pug]

That's what I like about this forum, the diversity, from sticking lumps of metal together to analysing vibrating R4's!
Did you set it up on your Renault?.

Hi Robostar5 - I was a welder long before I went into Navy (and as far as DOING something, welding more rewarding; if you look at link I sent Malcolm, you will see it is somehow all related. Got back into shop adventures so I could make custom antenna parts, and I guess I sorta dropped off deep end. Good friend, Richard in Melbourne AUS tries to keep me reined in, but I am having too much fun and get to meet kool people). Just to keep a bit of welding credibility, I had to help a neighbor move a 300# piece of basalt stone for his landscaping. Wound up modifying this dolly and it worked GREAT, and nobody got hurt. Reason I qualify "nobody got hurt" is that my neighbor's wife paid a LOT for that particular stone, and it was of no small concern that if we broke or damage the rock, either the rock would hurt us or she would (or both) ... all went well :-)

Take care, everyone! Doug

 

[malcolm]

Work once had a shelf full of manuals, the 5.25 inch floppy drive and a thermal printer. They threw them all out because they had to save space and only kept the Genrad.

I'll send an email when I get home later in the week.

 

[w6pug]

pix of my home shop so you guys don't throw me out of the forum :-)