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lassoharp

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
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I've been looking for some good programs to work specifically with plate curves and loadlines that also has the ability to create your own from your data.

http://blackburnaudio.com/software.html

This one from Blackburn Audio looked promising but I haven't been able to figure out how to access all the functions they list in the description and there appears to be no tutorials or help indexes.  Their contact link is dead at the moment.

Anyone here ever tried/know their way around this particular program?

 
I give it an E for effort, but it doesn't seem to completely work.  Yes it plots a DC load line based on Ra & B+, but Rk doesn't plot a point on the load line.  Changing Rk seems to do nothing.
 
Yeah, I know what you mean.  It almost seems like an incomplete program - perhaps abandoned while still under development.

I tried generating some curves by plugging in data sheet values with poor results.

I like the idea they had here.  I really just wanted something that would allow me to do more accurate versions of traditional hand drawn load line technique in a small freeware package.  In other words, have the computer save the time/trouble of using printed sheets and endless redrawing/erasing. Very basic stuff.

I've heard a number of  discouraging posts as to the accuracy of more advanced SPICE circuit modeling software - enough to be hesitant on investing funds into one. 
 
The tube curves built into TubeCad is much more usable, but you can't input your own curves.  Fortunately most of the popular tubes are already loaded.
 
Cool.

I found this link here:

http://www.glass-ware.com/tubecad/

Looks like for sell only.  Worth the price you think?
 
The listed features seem to work. EDIT: The Rk field does nothing, but figuring Rk from a given bias point is easy.

I tried generating some curves by plugging in data sheet values with poor results.
I used the Matlab script from http://www.normankoren.com/Audio/Tube_params.html to create a 6DJ8 (= ECC88) model and compared it to an ECC88 datasheet. Any SPICE experts? If this gave better results, batch converting a collection of spice models for use with OpenCurves would be rather easy.
screenshotopencurves.th.png

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9646/screenshotopencurves.png

Too bad there is no documentation in the source code, a few people might be interested in adding some features.

EDIT2: The black curves are from the datasheet,  the yellow curves from OpenCurves. Not completely different  but not good enough either.
Sadly the script from Norman Koren does not work with the free MATLAB clone Octave.
 
Those look pretty good.

I have zero experience with the ins and outs of Tube design software or how to apply that script. I attempted to use the CREATE function and plug in data sheet values.

I tried to upload from the list the Zip file contains but my computer could not open it - directed me to MATLAB - hit some outrageous prices so I must be doing something wrong. ???
 
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