Has anyone else had any problems with the new NJB jog boxes? We have had several go bad in the last couple years. You have to keep pushing the enable button harder and harder to jog the axis, until finally, no matter how hard you push the button, the axis won't jog. Hexagon says the whole jog box needs replaced. Does anyone know if the enable button can be replaced?
In a word? YES. Ours has begun to beep upon just picking it up, and sometimes jumps into turtle mode for a few seconds... then back to normal.
And yeah, many times one must apply absurd amounts of pressure to the enable button or else the machine moves herky-jerky. Your post makes for interesting reading in that ours came attached to a demo Optiv Performance 443, so figured it had just been dropped a few times during intense day-to-day roughousing at the R.I. training center. Now, from your info it seems the NJB may be defective from the get-go.
As for the ability to just replace the enable button? Am gonna go out on a limb here and say no. And even if it is replaceable?
I'll bet it's cost is an arm + leg. (maybe buy in bulk to reduce cost)
The boxes are simple. I replaced the enable button for about 8 bucks when Hexagon told me I had to buy an entire box. I'll look for the button I bought. It's a common item.
You can just find a button online and open the box and solder it in. Pretty simple if you know your way around electronics. Hexagon won't bother or even talk to you about fixing it, they'll just insist on selling you another box. If you've got $2k to spend then go for it if not like said above, can be fixed for under $20.
Thanks Mr.Tasty! We have been through several of these in the last couple years. I have had one apart, and the enable button just plugs in. Please let me know where you found the button. Hexagon just jacked the price up another 500.00 for the new ones.
The buttons look like they stick up a bit like the original, but in reality they are pretty flush. This doesn't bother me, but if you want one that sticks out more just look for a momentary button with the same basic specs. You can get all sorts of these things, in all colors and styles. so you can accessorize your controller!
The only pain in the a$$ is the buttons are potted in with a bunch of grey thread lock. Just use a small razor knife and pick away at it. Then ask the boss for a raise because you just saved him/her $1000.00!
I'm just being pragmatic and Hexagon doesn't offer any other choice. If they repaired these, took them for trade in value, or made the replacement reasonably priced, I probably wouldn't have bothered. In the end, the box is simple and a lot of the parts can be sourced out and replaced pretty easily. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
Cudos Mr. Tasty!! You are the man! I got the new enable buttons from your link on line. I installed one this morning and we are rockin'. Ya when they jacked the price up another 500.00 bucks, that was the last draw. I knew there had to be a way to just replace that button. We now have 3 backup jog boxes that we had bought in the past, to replace ones that had quit. I really do appreciate the forum more than I ever have. I am the quality hero! Probe on my friends.