ML Riechers Systems Engineering

Taking the Time to do the Firmware Right.

( Availability, Pricing, and Terms and Conditions)

By 1997 COMCO concluded that the old ARC 1000 had had its day, and decided to replace it with a "boxed" version of the Mark Series Register Control, but, other than that, keeping to the goals of the Mark Series Register Systems. Starting late 1997 COMCO Pro-Glides and later Presses shipped with this Register System.

COMCO is, of course, still selling this system. You can get it on a new Press, or have them retrofit it to yours. If you don't already have this system, phone them today. You'll be glad you did.

In general, replacement parts for this system, such as motors, photo-eyes, power supplies, and so on, are readily available from COMCO, from third party suppliers, or off the market. Since you can buy these from a number of sources, we don't sell them.

The heart of the System is the Register Box, shown here:

On Print Stations, the Register Box is normally mounted just behind the Print Station, (on the Gear Side) with the Display and Keyboard Module "remoted" to the Operator Side of the Press. That configuration makes it somewhat easier to plug the motor cables, photo-eye cables, and "Communications Bus" cables into the Register Box, because these cables are often "lead out" to the "back" (Gear Side) of the Press.

That is not always true, however. You'll find some Register Boxes mounted intact (that is, with the Display and Keyboard Module still in the Register Box) on the Operator side of the Press. And the Register Boxes are almost always mounted that way for Die and Slitter Stations.

The main components of the "box" are:

1.  The Display and Keyboard Module, (which is often "remoted" from
    the "box")

2.  The Registration Controller (one of our rse-2c or rse-2d boards
    specially programmed with the COMCO Registration Program

3.  The Step Motor Driver,

4.  and, to hold everything together, a Flex circuit, to which are
    attached most of the Circular Connectors.

Usually, very little. We've had units in the field for over 10 years, still going strong. But, what we see is:

1.  Blown communications drivers.  This is usually caused by Operators
    or Maintenance People failing to remove power from the Register
    Box before disconnecting the "Communications Bus" cable or the
    cable to the "remotely mounted" Display and Keyboard Module. (This
    has become less of a problem since, years ago, we started using 60
    volt protected drivers).

    This can be a particularly insidious failure.  Please see my note
    on  Problems with Differential Signaling.

    Also, please don't forget that the problem could be with the
    "host" computer, rather than any of the Register Boxes.

2.  Blown Motor Drivers.  Goes without saying.  Any semiconductor chip
    that gets hot is bound to go before the others.

3.  110 Volts AC or more, applied to any Register Box connector pin,
    or any component in the "box."  The results are usually
    spectacular.

4.  Maintenance or Operators inadvertantly grounding current carrying
    pins, traces, or wires.  The usual result is to "burn out" a
    circuit board trace.

5.  Lightning Hits.  Infrequent, but can cause bizarre behavior.

6.  Maintenance or Operators puncturing or tearing the "Flex"
    circuit.  The "Flex" circuit is good for carrying signals and
    current, can be bent in bizarre ways, and prevents wiring
    mistakes.  However, this material is fairly delicate, and wants to
    be handled gently.  That's a prime reason why we'd just as soon
    keep most people's hands out of the "box."

7.  Failed Encoder Receivers.  Some years ago some Encoders were
    fitted onto some presses that drove at 12 volts instead of 5.
    Since the 12 Volts is still less than the Never Exceed 13 volt
    input limitation on our receivers, that's normally not a problem.
    However, one suspects.

8.  Everything else.  Stuff happens.

Sometimes we get certain components of the box back, usually with the notation: "BROKE, doesn't work." That's fine, as long as why it doesn't is obvious. But usually, it isn't. The most agonizing diagnosis we can come to is "NPF - No Problem Found," which is what we often come to under these conditions. So, we want the "box" back as a unit, not in pieces. That way we can check out the various components, decide which are failing, and which are not, and repair the defective components. Let us do the error analysis.

More Information

For more information, please see our page on Availability, Pricing, and Terms and Conditions.

Contact Information

M. L. Riechers Systems Engineering     Voice:  +1-513-844-2220
530 Main Street                        Fax:    +1-513-844-2279
Hamilton, Ohio 45013-3222, USA         mlr(at)rse(dot)com

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