Mitutoyo digital micrometer won't zero

Green Rabbit · Jun 3, 2018

I have a 293-340 series Mitutoyo micrometer, and it started blinking dashes, like it lost the origin, and after few days (I didn't touch it) went blank. So I replaced the battery (turned out the old one leaked, not much mess, cleaned out fine, no rust)
However, with the new battery the micrometer won't zero. It keeps blinking dashes and does not react on the "Origin" button. No error code, nothing, just blinking dashes in all the numerical registers on LCD. The battery seems fine (a voltmeter reads 1.59v).
The micrometer was barely used but out of warranty already.
Any idea what could be wrong? Faulty button? I'm fairly comfortable opening it up for repair if needed

plastikdreams · Jun 3, 2018

Hold the origin button for a few seconds

Milland · Jun 3, 2018

plastikdreams said:
Hold the origin button for a few seconds

And sometimes you need something to press the button further in than a short fingernail will allow. A wooden match stick (narrowed), a zip tie tip, anything like that. I don't recommend using anything metal (like a screwdriver) for this task.

Green Rabbit · Jun 3, 2018

This is not helping unfortunately. I tried to apply quite a bit of force, short of breaking the thing, and held for up to 30 or so seconds. Nothing, it keeps flashing

plastikdreams · Jun 3, 2018

Try zero? I've never had one not work

Green Rabbit · Jun 3, 2018

plastikdreams said:
Try zero? I've never had one not work

You mean, the "zero/abs" button? Same, it does not react to it. The buttons do give positive click feedback when pressed. I also opened the front cover to access the board and contacts - it's clean, no dirt, loose parts, any other visible problems. Reassembled and it's still the same

plastikdreams · Jun 3, 2018

Weird, I've never seen one borked without being dropped.

Red James · Jun 3, 2018

You need to clean the contacts. The leaking battery has caused and oxidation on the battery contacts.

Conrad Hoffman · Jun 3, 2018

Maybe fumes got it. As above, the contacts need to be cleaned properly. Search, but I think it's a 50/50 mix of vinegar or lemon juice and water. If there's moisture in it, leave it open and dry it out. I've never had one apart (never seen one fail) but you might have to do a deeper cleaning and drying.

plastikdreams · Jun 3, 2018

If you decide to shit can the thing let me know, I have 4 and wouldn't mind some spare parts.

moonlight machine · Jun 4, 2018

Send it to Mitutoyo, reasonable repair prices and if it is not repairable they will sell you a new one for half price.

Ray Behner · Jun 4, 2018

Red James said:
You need to clean the contacts. The leaking battery has caused and oxidation on the battery contacts.

Pencil eraser works good.

Green Rabbit · Jun 4, 2018

Ray Behner said:
Pencil eraser works good.

Contacts are very clean, leaked battery left very little mess and it was mostly on plastic parts, it cleaned easily. So I could not visually find any problem in the contacts even when opened the cover, it all looked pristine

triumph406 · Jun 4, 2018

The first thing I would try would be another new battery.

Green Rabbit · Jun 6, 2018

So I made it work! Not entirely clear what the problem was, but most likely it was fumes or humidity issue. I let the micrometer to sit overnight with the battery cover open in a sealed bag with a desiccant, and after I inserted a fresh battery it zeroed like it should! I thought it was a battery in the beginning, but then tried the old battery, and it also worked. So not counting magic, I can only suspect some vapors that got inside...

JLarsson · Jun 6, 2018

Green Rabbit said:
So I made it work! Not entirely clear what the problem was, but most likely it was fumes or humidity issue. I let the micrometer to sit overnight with the battery cover open in a sealed bag with a desiccant, and after I inserted a fresh battery it zeroed like it should! I thought it was a battery in the beginning, but then tried the old battery, and it also worked. So not counting magic, I can only suspect some vapors that got inside...

You stumbled onto the near-mythical "smoke emission reversal procedure". Had you been watching closely the entire time, you MAY have seen small tendrils of gray vapor being pulled back into the unit. Skeptics attribute such reversals to operator error or dumb luck, but true believers continue to look for the day when ALL smoke emitted from electronics can be returned to the device from which it came.

Or it was what you said.

Glad you got it working.

plastikdreams · Jun 6, 2018

Good stuff! Those are pretty reliable units.

Milland · Jun 6, 2018

JLarsson said:
You stumbled onto the near-mythical "smoke emission reversal procedure". Had you been watching closely the entire time, you MAY have seen small tendrils of gray vapor being pulled back into the unit.

Don't let the British find out about this! If Lucas gets hold of this technology they'll create a true perpetual motion process and rule the world!

Strostkovy · Jun 6, 2018

plastikdreams said:
Good stuff! Those are pretty reliable units.

Well, apparently not that one

CarbideBob · Jun 7, 2018

Milland said:
Don't let the British find out about this! If Lucas gets hold of this technology they'll create a true perpetual motion process and rule the world!

Isn't "Lucas" now owned by ZF?
Weird how they went from a marketplace big boy to a customer considered unreliable brand but kept on.
Lessons to be learned in market dominance, branding and customer satisfaction.
Bob

Mitutoyo digital micrometer won't zero

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