Replacement Keyboard for Biesse NC410?

[southcoast]

Both ENTER keys are starting to malfunction due to heavy use. We are a production cabinet shop that operates 24 hours a day, 6 days a week. Biesse says they dont sell the keyboard by itself. You have to replace the whole computer (controller). I just work on the IT side of my company, so I dont know JACK about machines. Thats why Im here. Please help if you can. Thanks

[ger21]

I'd open the control cabinet and see if you can somehow hook up a regular keyboard to it.

[Al_The_Man]

According to some links, it appears it runs on a PC style control, so, as Gerry said, it might include a regular keyboard, sometimes the KB is soldered directly to the board or have a special connector, but that could be overcome, if you sub a regular PC keyboard, temporarily, you may want to look at Input Technologies industrial keyboards, they come in all types including complete membrane covered with tactile feedback etc.
Al.

[southcoast]

I looked to hook up a regular keyboard but no such luck. i have to replace this one, we had a tech from Biesse come out, and he said I had to order it from the mfg. HSD USA. I guess its $16,000 for the WHOLE unit, they dont replace parts on the controllers.

[southcoast]

Still looking for a resolution to this issue. Please help if you can.

[quentin]

hi I have a rover 13 that I put back together after the previous owner disconected the umbilical cords from the machine to computer. After spending lots of time with customer support, who incidently do not have machine wiring diagrams. the one tech that I used cost $1000 dollars for the day and achieved nothing. I can honestly say that I feel your pain. I am very carefull about handeling my machine because I am terrified about needing spare parts. I have noticed that most of the parts on the machine are actually supplied by different vendors and it is possible to order lots of different parts by finding the actual manufacturer rather than going direct through biesse. I would suggest prying off one of the keys and looking at its physical contact point with the board it is probably a wear point. I would then try and bridge the contact points with a piece of wire see If I have a cuircuit. I have the same controller and will look at mine.
Incidently I am contemplating doing the same change as you to some kind of generic controll so that my machine does not need the 16 000 dollar treatment.

[quentin]

Hi I took my "enter" key off and there is a chance that there may be a build up of dust, under its rim holding the key up from making contact. its just a thought.

[Zumba]

Wow, sounds like Biesse is an even crappier company than I had originally thought. Most expensive "enter" key on the planet.

Anyway, what is the layout like on their keyboard? If it's pretty standard, I would try to splice some wires and hook up a typical PS2 keyboard. Worst case, reconnect the old keyboard.

[quentin]

Most of these industrial companys are not really geared towards the smaller scale end user. there is no money in it for them. The technical back up service that biesse offers is excellent and their over the phone technicians are endlessly patient. Its ordering the little bits and pieces that gets expensive. The key board on the controller is a non standard key board but, if you pry off the keys and compare them withany other generic keyboard they look identical. Your suggestion would probably work nicely I think.

[vid1900]

If the keyboard has carbon coated rubber contacts, you can recoat them with the Circuit Works CW2605 keypad repair kit:

http://www.newark.com/product-detail...log/29687.html

I've used that stuff many times, it works great.


If it has the brass ring contacts, you could take them off of 2 of the function keys that are never used. The enter key, just like the space bar, often has 2 contacts.

Lets see some pictures, if you can.