[labnetwork] Dektak 3030ST: CRT Horizontal Sync Issue ? Seeking Advice and Service Manual

Fri Aug 21 02:46:07 EDT 2026

Hello Yoji,
It sounds like my "magic touch" made it to your Dektak!!  Something to consider  is if the system was powered off for a while, the issue could have been temperature related, just a few hz difference in monitor sync and camera sync.  It is recommended that the Dektak power remain on; you can lower the image brightness of the monitor and turn the sample illuminator off with the brightness knob.  Calibration will be off slightly as well until temperature stabilizes, ~ 1-2 hours. 
Feel free to contact me directly any time; I worked at Sloan Technology when this product was developed.  I suppose I know them better than most. 
Best regards,
Dennis CulverCulver ConsultingC/O Recycled Goods3820 N. Ventura Ave. Ventura, CA 93001. USABIZ (805) 648-1184

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Dear Dennis,

Thank you very much for your detailed and helpful advice.

Interestingly, when I powered on the Dektak 3030ST today, it was working normally — the display was stable and there was no horizontal scrolling.

As a reference, I measured the waveforms at U22 pin 1 and J-6 pin 3 using an oscilloscope, and both showed clean, stable sync signals as expected.

I am not sure why it has recovered, but I will keep your troubleshooting advice in mind. If the issue occurs again, I will follow your instructions step by step to isolate the problem.

If you don't mind, I would like to contact you again should any further issues arise with the Dektak. Your expertise has been invaluable to us, and we feel very reassured knowing we can rely on your support.

Thank you again for taking the time to provide such thorough guidance. We truly appreciate your support.

Best regards,

Yoji Yasuda

***************************************************
東京工芸大学　工学部工学科 電気電子コース
准教授　安田　洋司
〒243-0297　　神奈川県厚木市飯山南5-45-1
10号館4階薄膜デバイス研究室(引っ越しました)
電話/FAX：046-242-9560
e-mail： yyasuda at t-kougei.ac.jp

From: Dennis Culver <djculver at aol.com> 
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2026 3:59 AM
To: yyasuda at t-kougei.ac.jp; labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu
Subject: Re: [labnetwork] Dektak 3030ST: CRT Horizontal Sync Issue ? Seeking Advice and Service Manual

 Dear Yoji,

Hopefully, I can help you isolate this issue.  

In video # 1, (mixed video), the Dektak 3030ST sign-on screen is not scrolling, it is synced. Cycle the video

key to video only. If the image is stable, not scrolling, then the monitor is receiving sync. If you cycle to

camera only, if it is rolling, either the sync signal for the camera is missing or the camera is defective.

If you unplug the BNC connector for the camera video, and the scrolling stops when you cycle through the

screen options, (video only, camera only, mixed), then we can deduce that the sync signal to the camera

may be absent or the camera is bad.

The Dektak video circuit is a modified NTSC; black & white horizontal sync is 15.750 khz.  The Dektaks need

external sync as the horizontal sync rate is 15.735 khz, same rate as the color horizontal sync rate(?)  You

will notice that both camera vertical (60.00hz) and horizontal sync are generated on the SHI PC card, schematic

attached, from U17, connected to the camera cable through connector J-6 pin 3 for horizontal.  You will

notice that the raw H sync signal comes from the MEU to U22 pin 1.  The horizontal sync delay is to sync

the camera H sync to the monitor, to prevent horizontal scrolling of either image.

You can troubleshoot the sync signals using an oscilloscope.  TP-5 is ground and the signal can be viewed

at connector J-6 pin 3 brown Methode style connector.  You will also notice the camera "auto iris" signal at J-6

pin 6.  This signal is "white data" from the camera to servo lamp brightness when you zoom in/out or to

adjust the lamp to the sample.  If the horizontal sync signal is present at J-6 pin 3, suspect the camera 

external sync input defective. If the signal is absent, follow the signal back.  If there's no H sync signal at

U22 pin 1, there's an issue on the CPU board in the MEU.  (I'll try and locate the appropriate section of that CPU 

board for you).  With only the power connector on the camera connected, you can plug the camera cable

into a composite monitor (75 ohm) and view the camera image as the camera will default to 15.750 khz, 

internally generated.  The lamp brightness should work normally using the brightness knob on the front of 

the scan head.  The Javelin cameras do fail in this manner.  Sadly, you can only replace the camera with the 

EXACT same model. 

Hopefully, this will help you get your Dektak back up and running!

Best Regards, 

Dennis Culver

Culver Consulting

3820 N. Ventura Ave.

Ventura, CA 93001 USA

On Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 12:38:18 AM PDT, yyasuda at t-kougei.ac.jp <yyasuda at t-kougei.ac.jp> wrote:

Dear LabNetwork members,

I am a researcher at a university in Japan working in a thin film laboratory. I am currently experiencing a serious display issue with our Dektak 3030ST and would greatly appreciate any advice from members who have experience with this system.

--- Current Symptoms ---

1. The CRT screen image continuously scrolls horizontally and cannot be stabilized.

2. White and black screens appear alternately. see attached files.

3. A horizontal band appears from the top of the screen and drifts continuously to the left.

4. When the EXT SYNC cable is disconnected, the camera lamp remains on continuously and the camera image is displayed normally. However, the horizontal scrolling on the CRT persists.

Based on symptom 4, we believe the camera itself is functioning normally. We suspect the issue is related to the H-SYNC signal circuit on the CRT board, possibly caused by accidental adjustment of the H-HOLD or horizontal frequency trimmer.

--- What We Are Looking For ---

1. Has anyone experienced a similar issue with the Dektak 3030ST and been able to resolve it?

2. Does anyone have access to the service manual or circuit diagram for the Dektak 3030ST, particularly the CRT display and horizontal sync adjustment section?

3. Any guidance on which trimmer controls H-HOLD vs H-POSITION on this unit would be extremely helpful.

Thank you very much for any help you can provide.

Best regards,

Yoji Yasuda

Tokyo Polytechnic University
e-mail： yyasuda at t-kougei.ac.jp

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