NIM Modules - NIM BIN

Shyam,

I don't know whether NIMs (bins or modules) are still made - I'll try to find out, as I have a few old contacts.

When I started work (after college) many of my first jobs involved designing/assembing/testing and in some cases delivering/installing/commissioning and customer training on NIM systems. I think the last one I designed was for determining the position of coincidence events, using the outputs of two opposed detectors (with some fast sums done by PROM look-up tables). A Z80 controlled the thing.

I worked for a company called J&P Engineering (long since defunct), but in my current job, I often walk into a lab and spot the blue anodized J&P panels. The Ortec ones are everywhere - I believe they continued manufacturing long after the demise of J&P. NIMs seem to go on forever.

Going back to what was perhaps the precursor of NIMs, I am still supporting some systems using Harwell 2000 series modules!

BTW is CAMAC still around? I have never used it or worked with it, but it used to be quite big (in application).

I have located this web site for Blank NIM Modules

http://www.wiener-d.com/products/16/82.html

Any other source who can make these or is already making them in low cost?

I asked around today, as I was working with an 'old guy' (like me!) who used to work on NIMs. His best idea was to try http://www.hytec-electronics.co.uk, a Reading-based company who've been around for a while.

BTW This site answered my own question -apparently CAMAC is still around!

Good luck - I'll keep looking.

Dear DG

Those NIM Modules from ORTEC come with nice Amphenol Power connector on the back panel and go in easily into rough and tough BIN rack. Some of my friends are asking me to pack the designs in those boxes. I am looking for some one who actually has mechanical fabrication in this line to help me at reasonable price as ORTEC spares come at very high cost, which I simply can't pay. I am looking for US$30-40 range blank module in aluminum. In India I can get at half the price but quality and precision is not so good.

If I change the module packaging design then it will become non-standard.

Hi lads- Im an ex EG&G manufacturing head- I used to make / test these things in one of ortec's plant in europe. The secret is in the precision fit and quality of the connector- best advise is to buy the connector from Amphenol and assenble the boxes ase you need them from kits- the NIM is rough and tough but surprisingly precise accuracy is required-you wont see any cut price boxes for this is normally hi end stuff used in nuclear field- they dont cut corners there! how many of these do you need anyway?

Frank

Dear Frank

I need about 100 boxes. Amphenol no longer supports those connector or do they? What is the current connector number or male and female in those large connectors?

Some people manufacture those in india but material is poor quality. I received some of those from OE Tech USA that were used for testing.

Hi Shyam,

Yes know about OE tech- they will sell em at 50USD each but I suppose 100 would be unlikley- hmm- so I will dig into the BOMs or look at the connectors I have on hand ( in existing modules ) and see what info can be found to assist.

-Frank

Hmm- my connectors are strangly devoid of part numbering- how about the ones you have? These parts are commercially availaible still as NIM production continuies. Keyword for searches is for standard TID-20893.

TID-20893 was / is NIM standard which also includes definition of signals on the backplane connectors. Generally people refer to this standard when someone interfaces the backplane connector to fast signals. Generally problem occurs as backplane is wired like an ordinary power source and not like high frequency shielded bus. Wires hang around from one connector to another like a jump wires. No signal termination was ever used and no filters were installed and all connectors were wired in parallel.

I tried to send communication through backplane but found that they were really not suitable for fast pulses. Phillips Scientific, however claimed that they could send fast signal that operated within 10ns. This what they state in their module catalog. This perhaps may be for their own bins and power supply wirings.

I think some manufacturers must have tried to improve the performance by using a PCB.

I am not sure which mixed signal bus for backplane is better in NIM modules. It is necessary to have some common platform else one has to mix two types of modules and busses in one system which is rather cumbersome.

Yes, Donald Orie is a very nice person and he sent me many of those from his research stock and they were all great. His help was great. I think he no longer have that many now. I needed blank panels as I place my own designs inside.

Perhaps I will ask one of the extrusion company to make those things for me but they will do so if I order in tons of material a truck load or container load. I don't have place to stock that much. I do only research and not much in commercial business.

I am still looking for these NIM Blank Modules. This one is Single width type. Blank does not come with those BNC connectors. It has only those end fixtures for mounting.