Repair or Replace our New Britain SC M4000?

[woodwhisperer]

An important vertical mill in our shop has a "New Britain SC M4000" controller and we can't get past a pale white start up screen. 2 repair guys have given up, but they are not used to Machine Controller repairs. Our regular repair companies who work on our Leadwell, Hardinge and other machines "don't do PC controllers."

We need a quick fix of the controller, or I guess we "move on" to ask an uncomfortable question: how about a new controller on that mill?

We're on the Jersey Shore in Neptune NJ near Asbury Park.

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[he1957]

If the controler is based on a PC motherboard then treat the repair as a PC. Strip it down to minimum and work forwards (or start where you are, remove parts, rinse and repeat).

How old is it? Do all cooling fans etc work (CPU and power supply fan(s) too?)?

Pale white screen sounds like the BIOS chip, video card or memory chips may need reseating. If the monitor is a VGA type monitor - does it work - try it on a PC to ensure it's not the monitor causing a problem.

If it is PC motherboard based you might be able to get a new motherboard and migrate the CNC parts to that (I'm guessing there may be some specialised plug-in board that connects to the machines machanical bits (motors/sensors etc).

Cheers,

HarryE.

[woodwhisperer]

Thanks Harry - I am just seeing this now. I will pass it on to the guy trying to repair the machine.
Leigh