[QuadList] VR-3000 History--Pictures welcome!

[Tim Stoffel]

Ah! PVC plasticizer (materials like diallyl pthalate) leaching out of
the hose. Besides being damaging, this material can be mildly toxic,
especially for pregnant women.

Tim Stoffel

--

On Tue, 2012-08-14 at 21:53 -0400, Don Norwood wrote:
> Hi Ted:
>  
> Everything that is done to the machine is logged and the documentation
> is turned over to the client with the completed machine.  Some of it
> is routine....the dis-assembly to the extent practical in order to
> clean everything, tightening/replacing hardware as needed, etc.  Then
> there are problems specific to the individual machine.  In this case,
> several areas have physical damage including a circuit board with
> numerous components broken off and a broken vacuum regulator.
>  
> However, there is one problem that has been consistent in all of the
> VR-3000's that I've seen.  Because it can be very self-destructive,
> I'd urge anyone that has one of the machines to check for this, even
> if there's no intention of using the machine because it will only get
> worse over time.  The problem is with the deterioration of the vacuum
> lines.  As they age, they begin to "sweat", and what oozes out on the
> surface of the tubing will attack any circuit board traces that it
> comes in contact with.  It doesn't seem to harm the aluminum
> components of the machine, but it also dissolves the material that
> forms the head of the vacuum pump.  End result is that circuit boards
> have to be cleaned and repaired, and the vacuum pump has to be
> rebuilt.
>  
> I've included a few pictures to illustrate the problem.  This is a
> view of the tubing in the area of the vacuum pump and regulator.  The
> aluminum cover is the bottom of the take-up motor and the driver board
> for that motor has been removed.  The board normally covers part of
> this tubing, and so the solder side of the board comes in contact with
> the tubing.  You can see the sticky substance that is covering the
> tubing.
>  
>  
>  
> Here's the underside of the board with the "gunk" from the tubing....
>  
> 
>  
> And here is that board after it has been cleaned.  You can see that
> the solder has been eaten away at a number of places.  This is
> actually a mild case of this problem.  In more severe cases, the
> copper traces may be completely eaten away as well.  You'll notice
> that part of the dash "02" part number is completely gone.
>  
> 
>  
> So as you can see, this is a serious problem.  I suspect that this
> particular machine is not as bad as most because it is newer.  The
> extent of the damage also varies depending on exactly where the tubing
> is routed.  In the worst cases, as many as 8 boards have been damaged.
> So while each machine has its unique problems, this problem seems to
> be universal, and that's why I urge anyone that has a VR-3000 to
> address it before it gets any worse!
>  
> Don Norwood
> Digitrak Communications, Inc.
> www.digitrakcom.com 
>  
> ----- Original Message ----- 
>         From: Ted Langdell 
>         
>         ______________________________________________________________
>         
>         Sounds like fun, Don.  
>         
>         
>         Keep us posted on your progress.
>         
>         
>         As always... pictures are welcome... or links to videos posted
>         on YouTube, Vimeo and elsewhere. 
>         
>         
>         Ted
>          
> ______________________________________________
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