| Products > Test Equipment |
| please dont purchase PC controlled test equipment |
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| 2N3055:
--- Quote from: james_s on March 03, 2023, 11:43:39 pm --- --- Quote from: TomKatt on March 03, 2023, 11:08:28 am ---Yes, we did. While we also have equipment using industrial pc hardware like you describe, this unit was some oddball custom 386 base pc with MS Mobile Embedded in ROM on the board. We even sent it out to a repair shop that claimed they could repair it (they have done many other repairs for us) and they couldn't resolve it either. I'm sure from a technical pov it wouldn't be too hard to replace it with some generic pc system as the actual IO is run by PLC's in the cabinet, but apparently the manufacturer did not have any generic software that would interface with the PLC system as that software was all in the ROM. So their solution was $40K+ to replace everything when the saw went for around $60K on the used market. --- End quote --- Well that's annoying. It illustrates the issue with equipment that should last many decades relying on computer technology that becomes obsolete after just a few years. --- End quote --- First of all, what manufacturer is claiming a CNC machine will last 25 years? Or a scope?. They are very good if they provide any support more than 7 years after it was stopped being produced. This is a good example how it would be better if they made a machine run on off the shelf DELL PC for which you could find replacement. But they used custom MB, so only course of action is that manufacturer should stock hundreds of spare motherboards for repair of machines in supported period.. Which they don't.. As I said, people can like or not PC based T&M equipment based on preferences or use case, but reparability is actually slightly better than for fully custom hardware. |
| precaud:
What exactly is the issue? I still have almost every computer I have ever bought, starting in the early 80's with HP 9845B and Z-80 CP/M-based Eagle IIE's. They ALL still work fine. Most have never had any maintenance or repair, other than cleaning (it's dusty here) or replacing disk drives. Statistically, that makes them more reliable than the standalone equipment being suggested by the OP. |
| m k:
Wrong part have had too many working hours. |
| james_s:
--- Quote from: 2N3055 on March 04, 2023, 11:52:11 am ---First of all, what manufacturer is claiming a CNC machine will last 25 years? Or a scope?. They are very good if they provide any support more than 7 years after it was stopped being produced. --- End quote --- I don't know what the manufacture claims, but these machines cost hundreds of thousands of dollars new, the latest one is my friend's shop was just over $1M, they HAVE to last a long time. On average I think they have retired/sold/scrapped machines when they are around 20 years old, you run it until the ways, ballscrews, spindle, etc are worn out and the tolerance drops below what is acceptable, then sometimes you shift it to jobs that require less tolerance or sell it to somebody else doing lower tolerance jobs and it keeps running. A 10 year old machine can easily be worth $50k-$100k, it is well worth keeping them going. They still have a few much, much older machines in use but mostly manual stuff. It's annoying if you have to scrap an expensive machine that is not worn out because the controller has failed. |
| nctnico:
--- Quote from: 2N3055 on March 04, 2023, 11:52:11 am --- --- Quote from: james_s on March 03, 2023, 11:43:39 pm --- --- Quote from: TomKatt on March 03, 2023, 11:08:28 am ---Yes, we did. While we also have equipment using industrial pc hardware like you describe, this unit was some oddball custom 386 base pc with MS Mobile Embedded in ROM on the board. We even sent it out to a repair shop that claimed they could repair it (they have done many other repairs for us) and they couldn't resolve it either. I'm sure from a technical pov it wouldn't be too hard to replace it with some generic pc system as the actual IO is run by PLC's in the cabinet, but apparently the manufacturer did not have any generic software that would interface with the PLC system as that software was all in the ROM. So their solution was $40K+ to replace everything when the saw went for around $60K on the used market. --- End quote --- Well that's annoying. It illustrates the issue with equipment that should last many decades relying on computer technology that becomes obsolete after just a few years. --- End quote --- First of all, what manufacturer is claiming a CNC machine will last 25 years? Or a scope?. They are very good if they provide any support more than 7 years after it was stopped being produced. --- End quote --- AFAIK pick & place machines for electronics assembly see very long service lifes. From what I've read & heard it is not out of the ordinary to have machines serviced/refurbished that are 20+ years old. |
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