Metcal tip heater warranty

[mikeselectricstuff]

So it seems Metcal Will replace tips whose heaters have failed while the plating is till good, but takes a little effort.
Took a bit of  back & forth with Metcal UK, who first tried to fob me off saying I should go via the distributor I'd bought from.
I pointed out this was not realistic as  I'd bought tips over many years from different places, and they have no serial numbers so couldn't trace to purchase records even if I had them.

They grudgingly agreed & asket that I send them for inspection, along with a prepaid return envlope (!)
A couple of weeks later I received 2 packages via UPS with all but one tip replaced, together with my prepaid address label!

Worth the hassle - about £340 of brand new tips (at RS prices)

[tszaboo]

I didn't see that happen all that often. We run half a dozen Metcals in the production line, and I think most gets used up, and don't see heater failure at all. But maybe I take a look at the discard pile.
Do you think they would replace hand pieces of which wiring heats up?

[Psi]

I don't know about Metcal ones, but I've had 3x of the 100% metcal compatible Thermaltronics tips die way too soon. They may all come from the same factory, not sure.

If so, then yes, there does seem to be some reliability issues here. They shouldn't die this often.
Think I even posted about it on here a few years back.

I didn't see that happen all that often. We run half a dozen Metcals in the production line, and I think most gets used up, and don't see heater failure at all.

Do you use blue, yellow or red temp tips on the production line? 
It feels temp related to me. i've only ever had red and yellow die, never blue.
I also wonder if it could be related to damage/stress from changing tips while it's powered. That's not something that happens much on a prod line but happens a lot in hobby use.

[mikeselectricstuff]

I went through my big pile of tips acquired over about 20 years, some as ebay job-lots - similar amount of Metcal and Thermaltronics with bad heaters, about 8 of each out of maybe 100, though I've only bought Thermaltronics in recent years.
Unfortunately Thermaltronics don't advertise a lifetime heater warranty

[jonpaul]

I desingend the Metcasl SP-200 500 kHz resonant in 1990.

When iproject finished and in prod, Metcal gave me a few stations and tips.
 many decaes later all the stations and every tip still works fine.
We turn off  when not soldering and clean the tips often with wet sponge clearer.

We use ONLY 63/37 Eutetic or 60/40 solder.

Just muy experience,

Jon

[mikeselectricstuff]

I only use leaded, so the plating seems to outlast the heaters except for the small tips.
A while ago I tried leadfree and it just ate up tips.

[tszaboo]

I don't know about Metcal ones, but I've had 3x of the 100% metcal compatible Thermaltronics tips die way too soon. They may all come from the same factory, not sure.

If so, then yes, there does seem to be some reliability issues here. They shouldn't die this often.
Think I even posted about it on here a few years back.

I didn't see that happen all that often. We run half a dozen Metcals in the production line, and I think most gets used up, and don't see heater failure at all.

Do you use blue, yellow or red temp tips on the production line? 
It feels temp related to me. i've only ever had red and yellow die, never blue.
I also wonder if it could be related to damage/stress from changing tips while it's powered. That's not something that happens much on a prod line but happens a lot in hobby use.

I believe they are running the SFP series, which is the standard temperature for lead free. Not sure about the colors.

I went through my big pile of tips acquired over about 20 years, some as ebay job-lots - similar amount of Metcal and Thermaltronics with bad heaters, about 8 of each out of maybe 100, though I've only bought Thermaltronics in recent years.
Unfortunately Thermaltronics don't advertise a lifetime heater warranty

Yeah, I wouldn't notice numbers like that.
Our workers have the tendency to just run the tips way past their lifetime, running tips that I would have thrown out already.

[Psi]

We use ONLY 63/37 Eutetic or 60/40 solder.

I only use Kester 285  63/37

I should check tip temp with Flir when in the holder for few min, perhaps it's not reducing power sometimes when placed back into the holder. That would reduce lifespan.