Acu-rite not Accurate!!!

[gus]

hmm I was betting on the scale mismatch, maybe I still am.....

[One of Many]

On page 2-3 where it shows all the resolution dip switch settings, it does show this display to be compatible with english and metric pitch scales. I'd expect an error or fault detected if a scale was not maintaining alignment. At least poor repeatability would be an obvious accumulated pulse failure.

Does your display have the RAD/DIA option? If not, then DIP S1/S3 #10 may not have been used. If it does, then the error seen could be doubling?

As stated in the Acu-rite FAQ, there is a difference between 10uM/.0005 and .0005/10uM scales. While both will achieve .0005 resolution, they are different base pitches.

It would seem that you only have 2 options for your scales to match up. Either all(S1/S3 7-9) off/open for a .0005 english pitch or the 7on/8off/9on for the 10uM/.0005 metric pitch. Could it be switches 6, 7 and 8?

S1/S3, #1-6 error comp, all should be off anyways for now.

1" travel distance= 1.2535/1.266" counted or converted, shown on the inch displays?

Hmmmmmm, perplexing, yet it doesn't sound inch/metric relative, at second glance.

DC

[bill south]

Hey DC/Gus;
I've tried all the combinations with switches 789 and even 678 (had the same idea). However, one thing you mentioned kinda nagged at me. It was the reference to the different type of scale configurations available. And Gus, you must be close to correct with the mismatch of scales vs. reader theory. So, with that in mind, I went back to the FAQ and looked at the only mention of the absolute zero II scales. And guess what! "metric".
I would almost bet that the reader is set for inches and the scales are reporting a pulse count for metric (has to be).
So, somehwere inside that old reader (in all its glory) is a switch or jumper which should make this thing understand and interpret the scale input. This weekend I'm going to dissassemble the reader and gain more access to the switches and jumpers. I'll just move things one at a time and see if it makes any difference. I would almost bet that's the problem though!
Anyway, as ususal, it's been a learning experience and another great day on the forum!!!
Have a great day.
Bill

[One of Many]

That part of the FAQ states the difference are, as in assemblies. The reader head and glass scale are created as a E or M pitch pair. Not adjustable, nor interchangable. All configuration compatibility appears to be done at the display.

If these scales worked with your older system, they should work with this display, unless something is wrong with the display or other changes not mentioned yet.

Were the connectors for the Absolute-Zero scales the same as the AR-5? I thought the AR-5 was a round and the Absolute-Zero was 9pinSub-D.

DC

[bill south]

Hey DC;
The connectors are the same (round amphenol type). That was most likely the reasoning used by my supplier on compatibility.
Yet, with my limited knowledge on glass scales, they should be compatible and interchangable. I'll still almost bet the farm that there is a jumper or switch which tells the display to "look" for a different input and rescale accordingly.
Heck, if not, maybe I'll just strap motors on Molly (my bridgport) and hook her up to Mach. Thanks for all the help.
Bill

[gus]

if it is an inch metric issue, then I would think that it should give you a rational output in one mode or the other. IOW, if it is a metric scale and the box wants english, in english mode it should give you the appropriate metric number, or twice or half or something

[bill south]

Well............... I called the manufacturer! Well, maybe I didn't call but I did email Acu-rite technical support asking for suggestions. I included the same information as we have been sharing, using the guidelines conveyed by Gus, in that, I was detailed with the symptoms and my findiings and answered "all" of their quesitons.
In short, after work I performed a "magic" fix as recommended by "Betty Whipple" a service rep from Acu-rite. I sprayed the switches with contact cleaner and reperformed some simple dial indicator tests. Y is dead nuts and the X needs a bit of scale alignment (.003) error.
Wow, I was shocked how such a simple solution was available. I guess I forgot the first rule. Try the simplist solution first.
Acu-rite systems maybe expensive for us hobby folks, but the service you get from them is first class. Wow, still impressed!!!
Thanks agian guys.
Bill

[One of Many]

I wondered about that too, considering you had no immediate response in resolution changes as I have seen. Somewhere in my editing earlier posts, I had that written to try flushing and verify contacts in them, but omitted it since I second guessed these types of switches were less likely to become contaminated internally while inside the display housing.

This still makes another good lesson in troubleshooting....never trust a switch!

Congrat's! Glad to hear the mystery is solved.

DC

[c-fex]

acu-rite has a controller called mill pwr, if you had to make a comparison between centriod and mill pwr where would you begin, their both 3 axis?