Sponsored by Conquest Imaging
By Michael Davis
We’ve all been there. A control panel is not functioning, and you send it in for repair. A few days later you receive a call stating that the part is not repairable, and you will have to order a new one. This is even more frustrating when a full replacement is substantially more than an exchange. What happened? Why is it not repairable?
Many companies return a piece of hardware on exchange with the expectation that there is no physical damage to the hardware. If a cosmetic piece is cracked, disfigured or broken, it cannot be repaired. An example would be a control panel for a Siemens S2000. These come in with chunks out of them. At that point, all we can do is scrap the housing and order a new panel. This purchase price must then be added to the customer’s final cost.
When we receive a control panel that is not damaged, we can begin the refurbishment process. We will replace any defective electronic components, thoroughly clean the cosmetics and boards, replace the membranes and fully test the panel. This process comes with a substantial cost savings to the customer. The best way to keep your cost of repair down is to remove the hardware you want to exchange carefully. Bent pins, missing plugs and damage can make the hardware unrepairable.
Here are some tips to ensure proper removal of the hardware.
- Ensure all the fastening hardware is removed. All of the screws and clips need to be removed.
- Ensure that every cable is disconnected. Some cables are more difficult than others to disconnect.
- Lift or slide all hardware in a straight line avoiding contact with other hardware.
- If you feel any resistance, stop and check to see why. Some hardware has hidden fasteners that are easily missed.
- If you have never removed this part before, please refer to the service manual for guidance. If a service manual is unavailable, contact technical support. Conquest Imaging offers free technical support 24×7.
- When packaging the parts for shipping, make sure it is fully protected. Electronics need to be in an antistatic bag. And the box needs to be fully padded with a minimum of 1 inch of room on each side of the hardware.
As always, take it slow, no need to rush removing the parts.
These steps will insure that the part you are sending for repair or exchange will arrive undamaged and repairable.
For more ultrasound technical tips and tricks, or to view technical support videos visit www.conquestimaging.com. Conquest Imaging Technical Support is available 24/7/365 at 866-900-9404.
Mike Davis is a Technical Support Specialist at Conquest Imaging.
