Thread: Brother HS 70a HELP!

We have a Brother HS 70a wire edm in the lab (we are a university), running since 1997. Apparently the battery pack died this summer, now all parameters and info in the data bank are lost, we also get various errors associated with the lost memory.

After searching the forums we see there is no support for Brother EDM machines, we contacted Charmille and they don't have any info on how to recover the lost data.

Is there anyone out there who could help us recover the memory? Looks like all we need is the data bank files with all parameters, this could be an output file from any running HS70a machine.

Thanks in advance

CSUN Machine Lab

You may be a bit off on either the date of that machine OR the model!

In 1997 Brother was still with the HS3100, HS3600 or HS5100 series.
Then came the HS50A sometime in the late 99 or early 2000 or so
Then the last iteration came about in 2003-ish or so???

Anyhow, you may be on the right track by asking for a working machine's parameters, BUT!
You should also get a copy of the service manual. Hopefully, you may find someone at Charmilles with enough courtesy to at least check to
see if they still have one collecting dust in some corner in Lincolnshire.

This being EDM, while the basic parameters from another unit SHOULD get you back to limp-mode, you will absolutely need to get the generator
and servo parameters re-tuned.
The service manuals will have a section on what to calibrate and how.
I only have a 3100 and a 50A so cannot help any further, but you may get lucky and find a working 70A with a manual.

Originally Posted by csun

We have a Brother HS 70a wire edm in the lab (we are a university), running since 1997. Apparently the battery pack died this summer, now all parameters and info in the data bank are lost, we also get various errors associated with the lost memory.

After searching the forums we see there is no support for Brother EDM machines, we contacted Charmille and they don't have any info on how to recover the lost data.

Is there anyone out there who could help us recover the memory? Looks like all we need is the data bank files with all parameters, this could be an output file from any running HS70a machine.

Thanks in advance

CSUN Machine Lab

I purchased mine in '05 from Charmilles, IL

Inside the electrical cabinet there are two places that take AA batteries, three batteries in one place, two in the other.
If these batteries are not replaced you will loose the machine parameters and all programs.

I replace mine every year or two.