ADFToolmaker
Cast Iron
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2012
- Location
- Hamilton, New Zealand
Hi,
We have a sink EDM with z axis scale reliability issues. It appears the rubber sealing material in the ends of the scale has degraded, and is flaking off into the path of the reading head. After we clean the flakes out it works ok, then eventually we start losing position again. We don't get error codes, just the displayed position drifting from the actual position.
The scale connects to the machine control (Creator CR-5) rather than a normal DRO display.
The offending scale is a mitutoyo 529-433 AT11-N200
We are told this scale has been superseded with 539-203-30 AT113. There is one available new for $560 + $100 shipping. (only one in the world right now we are told, if someone else buys it we are in for a long wait) I don't begrudge the supplier or Mitutoyo this pricing, we use mostly Mitutoyo DRO's and are usually happy to pay what it costs. Trouble is we are not 100% sure the scale is all that is wrong, and this machine is at the end of it's life and scheduled for replacement. The new machine is still months away so we want a stop gap repair. Are there lesser (cheaper) brands of scale that can be adapted to this model? If we have to pay the $660 then so be it but I have often wondered how compatible the different brands and models are for someone who does not mind swapping some wires around.
Thanks in advance
Andrew
We have a sink EDM with z axis scale reliability issues. It appears the rubber sealing material in the ends of the scale has degraded, and is flaking off into the path of the reading head. After we clean the flakes out it works ok, then eventually we start losing position again. We don't get error codes, just the displayed position drifting from the actual position.
The scale connects to the machine control (Creator CR-5) rather than a normal DRO display.
The offending scale is a mitutoyo 529-433 AT11-N200
We are told this scale has been superseded with 539-203-30 AT113. There is one available new for $560 + $100 shipping. (only one in the world right now we are told, if someone else buys it we are in for a long wait) I don't begrudge the supplier or Mitutoyo this pricing, we use mostly Mitutoyo DRO's and are usually happy to pay what it costs. Trouble is we are not 100% sure the scale is all that is wrong, and this machine is at the end of it's life and scheduled for replacement. The new machine is still months away so we want a stop gap repair. Are there lesser (cheaper) brands of scale that can be adapted to this model? If we have to pay the $660 then so be it but I have often wondered how compatible the different brands and models are for someone who does not mind swapping some wires around.
Thanks in advance
Andrew