USB Oscilloscope?
June 21, 2018 3:01 AM Subscribe
I've seen a couple usb logic analyzers on ebay; is it possible to get a similar two channel oscilloscope without too much cost?
We bought a laser engraver at work that seems to have weird power fluctuations, and I wanted to debug it. It seems that step one would be to make sure the power supply works properly, and to see if there are any voltage/current drops throughout a one hour period of constant engraving. I'd like to have the output of the tracking visible on the computer while monitoring the engraving.
This is just quick trouble shooting; any recommendations for a piece of a equipment <$50 that I can use for this?
We bought a laser engraver at work that seems to have weird power fluctuations, and I wanted to debug it. It seems that step one would be to make sure the power supply works properly, and to see if there are any voltage/current drops throughout a one hour period of constant engraving. I'd like to have the output of the tracking visible on the computer while monitoring the engraving.
This is just quick trouble shooting; any recommendations for a piece of a equipment <$50 that I can use for this?
Response by poster: That looks really good. I don't think voltage should be an issue, since i'll be looking on the transformed side, not the 240/120 side. Any suggestions for looking for probes?
posted by tedious at 3:39 AM on June 21, 2018
posted by tedious at 3:39 AM on June 21, 2018
If your inputs will be in the range supported by the scope (looks like -14v to +20v) then you probably don't even need probes. You can just attach wires to the headers on the board and directly to your source or use alligator clips.
posted by duoshao at 4:10 AM on June 21, 2018
posted by duoshao at 4:10 AM on June 21, 2018
By the way, the Gabotronics boards are available on Amazon as well if that's more convenient.
posted by duoshao at 4:17 AM on June 21, 2018
posted by duoshao at 4:17 AM on June 21, 2018
Best answer: Bit more than $50 but the cheaper end of PicoScopes will probably do you.
posted by parm at 10:50 AM on June 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by parm at 10:50 AM on June 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
You'll be working with higher voltages, which I can't comment on. I think you'd at least need different probes for that.
The Plain is just a small circuit board with no case, but it works fine that way, plugs into a USB port, and has free software downloadable from Gabotronics.
posted by duoshao at 3:34 AM on June 21, 2018 [2 favorites]