HL-8 scanning head

[Ferrera12]

I am unsure of how to fix this problem I have with the Linatrol HL-8 optical tracing head.
When going over the drawing it doesn't read the lines but on occasion reads the edge of the paper. The odd time it will sense the line and start to move on its own but once i remove my finger from the start button on the picopath the machine stops. I have just replaced all the bulbs in the head so it doesn't have to do with that.

[Alan Bradford]

Hi,
What are you tracing your lines with?
The HL-7 & 8 tracers require India Ink.
A Sharpie will not reflect enough light for the tracer to lock onto.

Did your system come with a manual?
Westinghouse had a very good service section and a test pattern printed on a page towards the rear of the manual.
Can you trace the test pattern?
If yes it is your ink and if not then try to adjust the Eye using 'Adjustments' section in the manual.

If you do not have a manual then contact Wescan Systems in Burlingtom Ontario.
They made the HL7 and still support it.

www.wescanltd.com

Robin is the service guy there.

Even though I am an old timer I never got into the tracing machines.
Mostly I took eyes off and replaced them with CNC's.
You can cut faster, and more efficiently with a CNC.

Good Luck,

[Ferrera12]

Hi Alan,
I have tried multiple different pencils, pens and markers.

Thanks for letting me know there was a test page in the manual that will be what Im going to try and trace next.

I have been incontact with Robin from Linatrol about this and he said I should have replaced the bulbs with the OEM bulbs that they sell. Is there a difference I just put regular bulbs that matched the specs for the ones that were in there.

There is a picopath on the machine.
Its an oxyfuel set up currently but Im going to add the plasma to it. Any experience doing this?

[Alan Bradford]

I do not think the bulb makes that much diffrence as long as it is the right part #.
It may just need a tune up.
I have never done one in all my years.
I always managed to convince someone else to do it.
If you are not comfortable with making the adjustments then,
A good service contact in Canada is:
Bill Dell
Sector Technology
777 Walkers Line
Burlington, Ontario
CANADA L7N 2G1
Tel. (905) 333-3881
Fax. (905) 333-5880

As for the Picopath, there were 5 different CNC's made by 3 diffrent companies, as the product line was sold and resold.
I am going to assume you have a Koike Aronson (Airco) machine. they were the biggest customer for Linatrol equipment.
Some of the earlier Picopath uniots had a problem with Plasma HF starting noise.
Can you post a picture of your machine and CNC?

[Ferrera12]

The bulb part numbers are the same.

Thanks for the service contact.

I have posted several pictures. The small print on one of the pictures says Koike Sanso.

[linatrol god]

Where in Canada are you located?
If there is a problem with the head you can always send it in for repair & calibration.
The problem could also be in the signal processor card.
On this card there is a red LED that will flicker whenver a pattern is sensed, is this LED off or flickering?
Other problems could be, a weak photo cell, dirt inside the head and on the lens, dirty or cracked mirror.
The biggest problem I find with the tracing heads is when they are opened up by people trying to fix them themselves. These should never be opened.
As far as the light bulbs are concerned, the original type are the best because there are no seams in the glass, therefore no shadows are cast onto the pattern.

[Alan Bradford]

Looks like you are in good hands withthe Eye problems.
I did not know about the seams in the bulbs.

The IK-1200 was made by Kioke in Japan and then I think their US division (Koile Aronson) in Arcade NY, put the Westinghouse Eye/Drive on it.
The Picopath is a Creonics D-11 CNC. (They made all the Picopaths)

I believe this machine is friction drive and was intended for oxy fuel cutting only.

Unless you cut slow, it is not a good machine to put Plasma on.
Plasma wants to cut fast, to get a good cut, and the eye/drive cannot go very fast on that unit. The friction drive tends to slip and your parts are cut incorrectly.

The D-11 cnc is now supported by Wescan. They bought the product line from Allen-Bradely (Parent of Creonics).

[Ferrera12]

We are located in Sarnia Ontario.
Is there any way we can get it repaired and calibrated cheap?

On the face of the box there is a green light that shows when it is senced but I have not noticed a red one unless it is inside.

So ordering the light bulbs is a must then?

What do you mean "friction drive"? The drive system on there appears to be linatrols Warp drive. It is gear driven.

What would the best option right now? Money is an issue.

[Alan Bradford]

If your maghine has rack & Pinion drive then that is good.
Friction drive is a motor driven wheel that pinches a steel bar to drive the machine.
It was on lots of the cheaper machines and the IK-1200 was made both ways from what I understand.

I thought you said you had a Max-200.. Wrong Link
What is the maximum drive speed of your machine?
What type and thickness range of material do you want to cut?
Plasma has a window for good cut quality. Too slow or fast and the cut quality starts to drop off.
You will need to size your plasma to give you good cut quality within your speed range.

As for interfacing the plasma, that depends on how your machine is wired.
Some Westinghouse systems are wired for plasma and some are not.
Koike wired them for the options purchased.
They were all different.

Do you have a wiring diagram for your machine?
It may take a few relays to interface the plasma or a special interface.
I cannot tell you how to connect it, but I know I can do it, as I have added plasma to many Koike maciines in the past.


I am not saying that to get work as there are also others who can do it.
I do not get to the Detroit area much any more, and at $130/hr it doesnt qualify as cheap.
I am locaded in New Hampshire USA so a special trip would be expensive also.

Maybe there is a Westinghouse expert nearer to you.
I know of one near Buffalo, but his rates are similar to mine.

Good Luck,

[Ferrera12]

No you were correct in saying it is friction drive.
I am unsure of the max drive speed. We are reconsidering adding the plasma.

Do you know of anywhere we can get cheap parts for the picopath one of the buttons came off and would be ideal if a magnet was not used.

[Alan Bradford]

I heard there was a guy in Vermont who may be able to help you.
I will try to find him and get his information to you.
I am on the road this week and will let you know this weekend or next week when I get back to the office.

[Ferrera12]

Thanks Alan
Much Appreciated