Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: older encoders safe to use?

Those grain of wheat incadesent lamps used in the BEI encoders have a service life. The $650 Journey Tree mill had one that was burnt out. I found a 25,000 hour replacement and it only cost $1.98 plus s/h.
Dan Mauch
economical 3D scanner software and kits
low cost stepper and servo motors.
cases for Gecko drives
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www.camtronics-cnc.com
www.seanet.com/~dmauch

----- Original Message -----
From: vrsculptor
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 7:27 PM
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: older encoders safe to use?


Steve,
Older BEI's used an incandescent grain of wheat bulb. With age bulbs
dim and die unlike LED's. One of the encoders on my old mill (1985)
was DOA. To avoid problems I switched to USDigital.com encoders for
about $40/axis and you get to choose your resolution. Also... if you
are using G320's they can power US Digital encoders. I think BEI's
draw too much current and require a separate 5 volt source.

If your machine uses them I would also recommend changing out the
encoder couplings. Mine were the nylon banjo type and they failed. The
plastic gets brittle with age.

Roger





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