med force tp-20 with a 2mmx40mm?

[Octopussjump]

Hey all... the battle for a new tp-20 module has finally come to a breaking point - literally.

The same old Renishaw STD force tp-20 that's been kicking around here for 3 years on a shop floor CMM (in other words people who don't know anything about probes or CMM's abusing the **** out of it, crashing it, and checking dirty parts with it) has finally bit the dust.

They crashed the cmm pretty good last night - actually bumped the ph10 head pretty good as well I'm told, but so far everything seems ok.

The module is shot though. It was already acting up quite often but now I can not keep the trigger functional. It will only work for a few triggers and then you get nothing till you take it off and manipulate it around a bit.

Now that it's finally broke, it might be easier to convince the bosses that we need to replace it. Thing is, since this module sees so much heavy use and abuse, does anyone think we'd be better off going with a heavier force module... maybe a medium instead of the standard?

I will be setting it up with a 2mm x 20mm stylus on a 20mm extension. (I think we do this because replacing the 2mmx20mm is cheaper than a 2x40 if you just buy the steel and not the carbide.)

Thanks for your input,
John

[kass_b]

Carbide is also heavier more grams, battling same problem. Use the steel because if i use carbide I get triggers in z direction.

[#2#]

I run a 2X20 with a 20mm extension on a std. force module all the time. Of course, I'm a little more careful with mine than it sounds like your guys are.

As far as abuse goes, I don't think a med. duty would do much difference. If they are crashing it hard, it's going to reduce life even if you get a medium or extended force module.

The only thing a med. force might help with is it might reduce false 'air' triggers. It also may have a slightly longer life span (abuse excluded) with that length tip.

While you are at it, I'd try to convince them to buy two modules - one for everyday use and one for a backup. If your cmm is used 24-7 having a backup module could prevent a delay in shipping product.

Until you get a new one, try cleaning the contacts and magnet on both your module and the probe body using the putty stuff. Also, inspect to make sure the probe body isn't bent where the module attaches. Check to see that when placed on the probe body, the module doesn't rock.

I've had a particularly hard hit push the terminals on the back of the module out a bit. This allowed the module to rock. I simply pushed them back in flush by pushing that side down on the rock. This 'adjustment' does not seem to have affected accuracy.

[Underspec]

I agree with Goodluck on using a STD force on that 2x20. The force doesn't have anything to do with the durability . Only time I ever used a heavier force was when it would false trigger on a a90b90 type angle using a STD force. And that was a 5mm ball with 50mm length.

I would stick with the steel. More durable and won't bend on you

[Snaggy]

I have a 2mm x 20mm stylus on a 20mm extension which I use in a med force module. I don't know if it is correct to do so, but my calibtration results are much better than when I used a std force module

[dwade]

I use 2x30 w/carbide shank on standard force modules on all of our CMMs and have no issues. I only use the med force and ext force on longer probes or with extensions.

I used nothing but carbide shanks because I'd rather break one than have some monkey bend one, try and straighten it and give me bad data.

[Underspec]

Octo, I'm sure everyone here has had to deal with incompetent monkeys. And we definetly understand the boss part. Retrain your monkeys and have them sign some kind of training document and have your boss file them. Always "CYA" (Cover your ***).

[dandrewsca]

Octopuss,
When pricing out the replacement module, check to see how much a tp20 kit is compared to 1 or 2 modules, you can specify which modules you want and it comes with 3 in the kit... so if you want get 2 standard and 1 medium or 3 standard. Also, see if your Renishaw dealer has a RBE program to Replace By Exchange, this is very cost effective but isn't advertised much... basically you give them your smashed module and they sell you a refurbished one that has been certified by Renishaw. Just a thought.

[#2#]

Octopuss,
When pricing out the replacement module, check to see how much a tp20 kit is compared to 1 or 2 modules, you can specify which modules you want and it comes with 3 in the kit... so if you want get 2 standard and 1 medium or 3 standard. Also, see if your Renishaw dealer has a RBE program to Replace By Exchange, this is very cost effective but isn't advertised much... basically you give them your smashed module and they sell you a refurbished one that has been certified by Renishaw. Just a thought.

My renishaw catalog (at least a year old) lists the RBE for a TP20 module at $750. A new one is only $932. I guess I'd buy new if your old one would still work. Then you could use it as a backup.

The TP20 kit with two medium force modules is listed at $3726. So, unless you need or want a new TP20 probe, it is $1862 cheaper to buy two modules by themselves.

[bw_bob]

My renishaw catalog (at least a year old) lists the RBE for a TP20 module at $750. A new one is only $932. I guess I'd buy new if your old one would still work. Then you could use it as a backup.

The TP20 kit with two medium force modules is listed at $3726. So, unless you need or want a new TP20 probe, it is $1862 cheaper to buy two modules by themselves.

They run specials all the time..............I just swapped out 2 TP2's for 2 TP20'S with 2 standard & 1 extended force module for each and it was about 2 grand total.

[nitpicker]

Sorry to reply to your 14 year old comment. Just curious as to how you catch these deals? Do you just have to luck up and be on their website while it is happening or are you on like an email list that recieves their advertisements.

[Underspec]

You can also trade in your old ones. I think it's called, "RBE" replace by exchange or something. They'll give you credit towards your new ones.

[#2#]

My renishaw catalog (at least a year old) lists the RBE for a TP20 module at $750. A new one is only $932. I guess I'd buy new if your old one would still work. Then you could use it as a backup.

The TP20 kit with two medium force modules is listed at $3726. So, unless you need or want a new TP20 probe, it is $1862 cheaper to buy two modules by themselves.

You can also trade in your old ones. I think it's called, "RBE" replace by exchange or something. They'll give you credit towards your new ones.

Right, but as I posted above, the difference of $182 is not much. When I replaced a couple of mine, my boss said "Just pay the extra, it is worth it to get a new one." Of course, if it was my money, I'd get the RBE but since it doesn't come out of my pocket, I'd order the new and keep the old (assuming it still works somewhat) as a non-ideal backup. That way if the new one dies a sudden death, I could keep working with the old one just as much as I was working with it before.