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Sony Tektronix AFG310 16MHz Arbitrary Function Generator Japanese Mfg - $250 (Caledonia, MI)
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I specialize in lab electronics and metrology and tend to have a huge backlog of devices not yet listed. If you are looking for something specific, feel free to email me.
Purchased as part of a large lot of Test & Measure equipment from Grand Valley State University in Allendale Michigan, for sale is (1) Sony Tektronix AFG310 arbitrary function generator, SN J311696. Made in Japan. Thoroughly cleaned, professionally refurbished with care, and fully tested. Beautiful example of Japanese made test gear during their collaboration period with Tektronix.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DusEM8OzUY4
Full pictures: https://imgur.com/a/V1ijw46
This exact unit was the one I used as my personal bench waveform generator until I recently upgraded to a Hewlett Packard 83712B 20GHz CW generator as well as the dual built-in waveform generators that came with my new MHO98. Now that I'm using those it is time to retire this beautiful Japanese instrument and see it pass on to someone who will make good use of it.
I have refurbished a number of this specific model of function generator and it has become a preferred instrument for me for repairs and refurbs. Japanese manufacturing from this era gives very good quality. There are a number of common and semi-common items with this model that require attention, the most common being front panel button failure. This happens over the years as the carbon impregnation in the rubber backing gradually wears out and the conductive rubber pads gradually become less conductive, leading the user to need to press harder on the buttons, which speeds the degradation until the buttons stop working.
There are many methods to repair this, but my preferred fix is a careful cleaning with swabs and alcohol, followed by applying conductive copper foil tape (I typically use this as one option for short trace repairs) to the rubber button backing with care and precision using 2 sets of needlepoint precision tweezers. The foil sticks to the rubber quite well, but can still be removed and replaced without damage to the rubber keypad if needed.
Another common issue is over enough years and warm/cold cycles the glue that holds the front display plexiglass cover in place can fail and need to be cleaned off and replaced. In the case of this unit it had not failed yet, but I could feel that the bond was not strong, so I separated the display cover, cleaned the mating surfaces and re-bonded it with custom cut segments of ultra-thin double-sided PET tape that I keep in my lab stocks for this specific purpose.
Internally, a power protection varistor had blown, sacrificing itself to save the instrument from a power surge (as it was designed to do). I replaced it with the exact same Panasonic ERZ-V07D470 47-volt Varistor / ZNR Surge Absorber and cleaned the area thoroughly, removing all solder flux and leaving the board cleaner than it was before working on it.
I have cleaned this unit with care inside and out. Dust has been blown out of the interior and then spot cleaned with care for ESD precautions. I have cleaned the front panel with alcohol swabs, and carefully cleaned each BNC connector with foam microswabs and 99.9% anhydrous alcohol, including cleaning the center conductor pin receiver. The pins on the GPIB port have been cleaned with the same methods.
After a 30 minute warmup period I tested the AFG310 internal frequency reference accuracy with my Hewlett Packard 8563E Spectrum Analyzer using an external locked GPSDO frequency reference. With the AFG310 set to output a 10MHz Sine wave, the output peak registered at 9.999993MHz. I then verified that reading against my Agilent 53132A 12-digit universal counter, also with GPSDO-locked clock reference and got the same reading - a deviation of only 0.7PPM! That's strictly with the AFG310 internal reference, which is frankly incredible and a testament to Japanese engineering of that era.
I have tested the unit thoroughly and it is working excellently, just as it did back when I used it as my main bench waveform generator. I hope this unit will find its way onto the bench or workshop of someone who will get many years of use out of it.
NOTE: be aware of the following issues: There is a minor impact ding on the top of the case, left side (from your point of view when looking at the front of the instrument) near the front. There are minor signs of wear on the metal of the case. The case underside does show a patina on the bare steel. On the back plastic bracket, the corner of one of the plastic feet shows signs of a minor impact with slight flattening / deformation of the corner of that plastic. One of the rubber feet has a small nick. On the underside of the case, to the left of the serial number tag is the following engraving in small lettering "EGR 06-00-2". Overall this amounts to minor wear, but I always want to make sure my customers know what they are getting.
You will receive:
(1) Sony Tektronix AFG310 arbitrary function generator, SN: J311696
(1) Standard power cord, new in bag
All other items, devices, test fixtures, instruments, etc not listed above in "You will receive" which are shown are not included and only pictured to demonstrate the unit is functioning properly.
Working with and selling this kind of equipment is my hobby and passion - I both enjoy working with these instruments and take pride in delivering quality and accuracy to my customers. I take great care when packaging precision instruments - you WILL receive this function generator in the condition shown, guaranteed.