A number of factors conspire.
First, the materials are a big stumbling block. The porosity of the
materials is the main issue: the bigger the tube, the more stringent the
requirement becomes and the price goes up.
Second, the bigger the tube, the harder to execute the brazing between the
metal and the ceramic parts.
Third, the vacuum process becomes more prolonged and complicated the bigger
the tube. Implosions are quite frequent when evacuating the bigger tubes and
usually result in a throw away and end with a cadaver from which nothing can
be salvaged.
There are more points of the same ilk, but you get the picture!
All this, combined with an assembly precision equivalent to a Swiss watch,
all add to the final cost.
So, you see.......
Alex 4Z5KS
-----Original Message-----
From: amps-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com] On
Behalf Of Hardy Landskov
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 3:47 AM
To: dezrat1242@yahoo.com; amps@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] Why do tubes cost so much?
Bill,
I was sticker shocked myself when I wanted to buy a replacement 3-1000. I
talked to a manager of Eimac in Salt Lake City who basically said the 3-1000
was on its way out and the tooling, time, and resources necessary to do a
run of 500 tubes made it manditory they jack up the price.
Look at any business model and there are fixed overhead expenses plus
materials. A 6AU6 made by the millions compared to a 3-1000 in a quantity of
500. This is economics at its root.
Thanks for your contributions over the years....
73 Hardy N7RT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill, W6WRT" <dezrat1242@yahoo.com>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2010 5:03 PM
Subject: [Amps] Why do tubes cost so much?
>
> I have often wondered why big tubes cost so much. The material in them
> isn't all that great and I would think because they are larger they
> would be easier to assemble than, say, a 6AU6 which is very small and
> intricate but sells for only a few bucks.
>
> I'm not talking about really massive tubes that take a fork lift to
> move, but tubes on the order of an 8877 or the like.
>
> Anyone know?
>
> 73, Bill W6WRT
> _______________________________________________
> Amps mailing list
> Amps@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
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