Darron Black
2018-01-24 18:56:48 UTC
I've got a xenon flash system providing the light for a flying image
capture of components on a pick and place machine. Here's the datasheet
(MVS-7020-04) http://www.visionlighttech.com/sap/datasheets/302-7020-10.pdf
Lately, it's taken to missing strobes. The pick and place was not
designed to handle missed strobes, and when that happens it throws away
ALL the parts on the head at the time.
I figured it was the bulb at first, and a brand new bulb appeared to
help for a bit... but it's back to failing again. I've replaced the
bulb a second time with very little improvement.
Since the xenon flash system is about ~16 years old... I figure some
capacitors may need replacing.
So far, I've really only got as far as the big capacitor attached to the
bulb itself. It's 12uF +/- 10% nominal, and two different meter
readings put it at 13.4 and 13.6 uF. It's of this type:
https://chicagocondenser.com/cmp/
It uses "polyester resin film and the finest grade Kraft paper
impregnated with mineral oil" (or silicone dielectric fluid, it's not
clear which)
Can this capacitor actually GAIN capacitance as it ages?
I don't really see a safe way to measure this system while active to see
what's going on. It's pretty high voltage, and then there's the
blinding levels of light output. It's got a door interlock to make sure
you don't do something stupid like try to run it open... so I haven't.
Any other suggestions? Does anyone else know of another common failure
mode for flash systems? The system is difficult to disassemble (or
reassemble, rather), so I'm starting with this cap.
Darron
***@griffin.net
capture of components on a pick and place machine. Here's the datasheet
(MVS-7020-04) http://www.visionlighttech.com/sap/datasheets/302-7020-10.pdf
Lately, it's taken to missing strobes. The pick and place was not
designed to handle missed strobes, and when that happens it throws away
ALL the parts on the head at the time.
I figured it was the bulb at first, and a brand new bulb appeared to
help for a bit... but it's back to failing again. I've replaced the
bulb a second time with very little improvement.
Since the xenon flash system is about ~16 years old... I figure some
capacitors may need replacing.
So far, I've really only got as far as the big capacitor attached to the
bulb itself. It's 12uF +/- 10% nominal, and two different meter
readings put it at 13.4 and 13.6 uF. It's of this type:
https://chicagocondenser.com/cmp/
It uses "polyester resin film and the finest grade Kraft paper
impregnated with mineral oil" (or silicone dielectric fluid, it's not
clear which)
Can this capacitor actually GAIN capacitance as it ages?
I don't really see a safe way to measure this system while active to see
what's going on. It's pretty high voltage, and then there's the
blinding levels of light output. It's got a door interlock to make sure
you don't do something stupid like try to run it open... so I haven't.
Any other suggestions? Does anyone else know of another common failure
mode for flash systems? The system is difficult to disassemble (or
reassemble, rather), so I'm starting with this cap.
Darron
***@griffin.net
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