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November 15, 1965 Electronics
 [Table of Contents]
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics.
See articles from Electronics,
published 1930 - 1988. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
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It is easy to not notice
the ingenuity that has gone into making even seemingly simple components designed
and perfected by supplier companies' employees. That fact that we tend to take them
for granted and assume that they "just work" when incorporated into our own higher
level designs is a powerful passive endorsement. Potentiometers (pots) are a prime
example - particularly high-end models like these three Bourns Trimpot® examples.
I installed hundreds of the leadscrew-actuated and worm gear-actuated pots on military
grade circuit boards during my time in the 1980s at Westinghouse Electric's Oceanic
Division in Annapolis, Maryland. An inspection of the cut-away drawings reveals
the thought that went into making the devices robust, reliable, and even fool-proof
(lots of fools handle these things). Particularly clever is the "no backlash idling
spring" mechanism that not only minimizes the amount of adjustment screw rotation
that occurs without a change in resistance when reversing direction, but also prevents
damage when the wiper carriage is run to the end extremes and the user keeps turning
the screw.
Bourns Potentiometers
 Bourns Quality Design insures Built-in reliability
and performance.
Trimpot® Leadscrew Actuated Potentiometers were introduced by Bourns, Inc.,
in 1952 to meet the need of the aerospace industry for a rugged, high performance
miniature adjustment potentiometer. These units pioneered such potentiometer qualities
as small size, accuracy, multi-turn adjustment and stable settings, as well as rugged,
sealed construction for reliable performance in severe environments.
 Bourns Worm Gear Actuated Potentiometers,
in the popular square configuration, were developed to add packaging versatility
yet assure the same high performance and reliability as the Trimpot Leadscrew Actuated
Potentiometer line. These units, in 1/2" and 3/8" sizes, available with stranded
insulated leads or printed circuit pins, feature all-sealed construction, excellent
resolution, and an exclusive clutch-action wiper which prevents damage from forced
adjustment.
 Bourns Single-Turn Rotary Potentiometers
combine many of the leadscrew actuated and wormgear actuated potentiometer features
in micro-miniature and subminiature circular configurations. Available with solder
lugs and printed circuit pins, these units operate up to 175°C, are encased
in a lightweight, all plastic case, and have excellent shock and vibration stability.
Micro-miniature types -smaller than a transistor - are available; while sub-miniature
types combine high performance with nominal cost.
Posted August 16, 2023
(updated from original
post on 9/3/2018)
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