Xpantastic!

Hi folks.  Something has happened that'll make every Xpander owner
shudder.  I have an Xpander that has suffered some damage in transit.
Two VFDs have gotten themselves physically broken.  The protruding tab
at the bottom of each has broken off.  Ouch!

I'm looking for new displays or a whole display board (handy if you
have a dead Xpander and don't want to desolder).  Does anyone have any
or know where I can get some?

P.S. Yes I know VFD displays is redundant.  Sorry about that.  I just
wanted a clear subject.

Thanks in advance!

-- 
James.

Hi, here are the specs:

Xpander Displays

Part Number = FG405A2 or FG405B2-9DM
Description = Alphanumeric Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD)- 14 Seg w/Dec., 
Underscore
Manufacturer = Noritake
Package Style (Basic) = DIP
Color = Blue Green
Number of Digits = 40
Character Height (mm) = 5
P(D)seg Max.(W) Power Dissp. = 28m
Vsup Nom.(V) Supply Voltage = 10
Lv Typ.(fL) Luminance = 200
@Vsup (V) TEST CONDITION = 45
Package = DIP

Detailed Document:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/xpantastic/files/Documents/

David Hawkins from Noritake-Itron tells the following: "We have a 1-row x 40 character x 
5mm VFD glass and module available, but they are totally different from the FG405A2 and 
FG405B2-9DM as on the latest products the Driver IC is built in to the glass envelope. I 
have attached the specifications for both the DN4015B VFD glass and the CU406-
KTW220A VFD module for your information. To try and build a 40 character display using 
other Itron products is not really practical, there is a significant amount of glass area 
between the display areas. It would look very strange unless you can split the message in 
two?"  So, we are needing an adapter for any other type of display. John Pallister in New 
Zealand had some plans to build such electronics maybe later.

... Try to ask people you know have owned Matrix-12 or Xpander. Some still have got 
spare parts. In practice, it is almost impossible to find these displays anymore anywhere, 
unless you'll buy an other Xpander for spare parts.

I however was most lucky to got one new display from Theo Bloderer, but it was the only 
one he had, so don't disturb him anymore. See: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/xpantastic/files/Pictures/

I have been told that a repair guy bought the whole last stock of dislays from the factory 
of Noritake. You'll find his contact information below. According to my experience he is 
not anwering to emails. If you are lucky enough to get into contact with him, please, ask 
him to make several of his spare displays for sale here! You are not the only person badly 
needing these components, which obviously are not available due to this guy. I was told 
that he is selling the parts only, if you'll let your Xpander be repaired by him. Please, let us 
know, if you find out something else.  

ARMEN'S REPAIR SHOP
251 W 30th St 1st Floor
New York NY 10001
Tel: 212-563-4514
Fax: 212-563-5310
armenpounch@...

this sounds like a job for chipforbrains!


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________________________________

To: xpantastic@yahoogroups.com

From: akva@...
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:51:57 +0000
Subject: [xpantastic] New Displays; Re: WANTED: Oberheim Xpander VFD displays







Hi, here are the specs:

Xpander Displays

Part Number = FG405A2 or FG405B2-9DM
Description = Alphanumeric Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD)- 14 Seg w/Dec.,
Underscore
Manufacturer = Noritake
Package Style (Basic) = DIP
Color = Blue Green
Number of Digits = 40
Character Height (mm) = 5
P(D)seg Max.(W) Power Dissp. = 28m
Vsup Nom.(V) Supply Voltage = 10
Lv Typ.(fL) Luminance = 200
@Vsup (V) TEST CONDITION = 45
Package = DIP

Detailed Document:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/xpantastic/files/Documents/

David Hawkins from Noritake-Itron tells the following: "We have a 1-row x 40 character x
5mm VFD glass and module available, but they are totally different from the FG405A2 and
FG405B2-9DM as on the latest products the Driver IC is built in to the glass envelope. I
have attached the specifications for both the DN4015B VFD glass and the CU406-
KTW220A VFD module for your information. To try and build a 40 character display using
other Itron products is not really practical, there is a significant amount of glass area
between the display areas. It would look very strange unless you can split the message in
two?" So, we are needing an adapter for any other type of display. John Pallister in New
Zealand had some plans to build such electronics maybe later.

... Try to ask people you know have owned Matrix-12 or Xpander. Some still have got
spare parts. In practice, it is almost impossible to find these displays anymore anywhere,
unless you'll buy an other Xpander for spare parts.

I however was most lucky to got one new display from Theo Bloderer, but it was the only
one he had, so don't disturb him anymore. See: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/xpantastic/files/Pictures/

I have been told that a repair guy bought the whole last stock of dislays from the factory
of Noritake. You'll find his contact information below. According to my experience he is
not anwering to emails. If you are lucky enough to get into contact with him, please, ask
him to make several of his spare displays for sale here! You are not the only person badly
needing these components, which obviously are not available due to this guy. I was told
that he is selling the parts only, if you'll let your Xpander be repaired by him. Please, let us
know, if you find out something else.

ARMEN'S REPAIR SHOP
251 W 30th St 1st Floor
New York NY 10001
Tel: 212-563-4514
Fax: 212-563-5310
armenpounch@...









_________________________________________________________________
The other season of giving begins 6/24/08. Check out the i’m Talkathon.
http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TXT_EML_WLH_SeasonOfGiving

Since replacement displays are now effectively unobtainable, 
another option worth investigating is the repair of displays 
that are broken in the manner you describe (i.e. not 
actually smashed). It should be possible to replace the gas 
and re-seal the display, which would hopefully restore some 
visibility.

I have a broken display that I plan to try and have repaired 
in this manner, but it is currently too far down my "to-do" 
list. The first step is to confirm the type of gas 
originally present.

The other alternative is to build an adapter from the 
original VFD display to a newer panel (e.g. OLED) that could 
be driven from the same signals. If I had unlimited spare 
time, I'd tackle this as well, since I know my Xpander 
displays won't last forever...

Cheers,

John :^P

James wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi folks. Something has happened that'll make every Xpander owner
> shudder. I have an Xpander that has suffered some damage in transit.
> Two VFDs have gotten themselves physically broken. The protruding tab
> at the bottom of each has broken off. Ouch!
> 
> I'm looking for new displays or a whole display board (handy if you
> have a dead Xpander and don't want to desolder). Does anyone have any
> or know where I can get some?
> 
> P.S. Yes I know VFD displays is redundant. Sorry about that. I just
> wanted a clear subject.
> 
> Thanks in advance!
> 
> -- 
> James.

-- 
John Pallister
john@...

Great.  Thanks for the info envia94, Chase, and John.  Interesting and
helpful stuff.

John, good luck with your repairs.  I hope you post about it if/when
you try refilling the displays.  I'm curious how that works out.

Thanks!

-- 
James.