Problem- Roeders Tec RXP500 laser is doodoo

[frazz]

This is a problem with the tool changer laser on a rxp500 from roeders, but I can't imagine it's much different than on any other machine with a laser component in the tool changer. Does anyone have any experience/advice in how to go about solving or diagnosing this problem? The techs haven't been too helpful and the manual is worthless. Here's the deal: laser is inaccurate in measuring tool lengths and diameters, sometimes will not 'see' a tool and log it as broken or (my favorite) measures the tool as shorter than it really is and continues to cut with it, the diameter measurement is NEVER correct and is always small (usually 0.0015'' or more). Resources for parts? calibration methods? shots in the dark?

[frazz]

I see that people keep looking at this post but no replies yet. I'll throw out a few ideas I've had over the last few days here and hopefully someone will tell me if I'm heading in the right direction.

There is a protective plate over the laser lens (glass or maybe lexan) and that could be scratched and hence defracting the laser beam. I clean it off with isopropyl when the laser gives bad measurements and that used to do the trick, but now it's never correct so I'm wondering if that covering/plate got scratched. I hope so, that sounds easy and inexpensive.

Also, there was a tech here a couple weeks ago who replaced the scale on the x-axis and that's about the time the laser went bad. There are a couple other weirdo things that are going on since he was here, such as one of the tool spots in the changer is no longer recognized when called out in a program. Do you think there could be a setting/parameter in the software that needs attention?

[frazz]

Could it be something with the servo indexer and refresh rate? It cuts to nice tight tolerances, but maybe just when it runs the tool measuring sub-program the contoller program loses track of where it is?

Oh, BTW, the laser measured a tool to be shorter than it really was yesterday and jammed the tool clamper to all hell and now the machine is down. HELP!!!!!!!