Hi guys,
It is just killing me. Almost US $8000 wasted for repair, multiple shipping costs and a new set of cables. All wasted on Synrad 100W tube(repaired by Synrad plus new cables from them and shipping cost).
Both after repair and changing the cables the set(RF and head) is unstable. The first time after repair I had to use some force for a RF cable connection to the RF unit to tighten it and make it working. Worked a few weeks then stopped. I paid to my friend to fly from a different state to my place and try to test it and fix it. That's when he found some very bad soldering on the Start plug and inside the RF unit, fixed them but it did not fix anything.
As a last chance I decided to get a new set of cables and a new quick start plug. Received it last week, connected everything and it started working. I was more than happy until next day the same happened right on turning the machine on. Nothing works now, blue(SHT) LEDs is unstable, sometimes blinking(like shortening), sometimes OFF, sometimes RD LED is blinking showing a fault(5 times=RF not working). And even all these states do not repeat after I turn my laser OFF and then ON again The same behaviour as right before repair and a few weeks after.
So I have two options now:
1) sell the whole machine for a scrap(paid 45 000 AUD for it just 7 years ago plus extra 11000 AUD on repair). I do not think anybody will pay decent money for it without the tube working.
2)send the set back to Synrad to do repair again. Their repair is still under warranty so I hope they won't dare to charge me this time. However I am not in position to check their repairs and I do not think it is all impossible that they will say that we opened the RF and did some soldering on some connector pins after it stopped working after repair. And even if they do not notice resoldering part they could always say that repaired/replaced boards are ok, but something else broke and I have to pay for it again. Really do not want to spend anything on its repair and only can pay for shipping which is whooping 2500 AUD for me with return anyway.
This is just crazy and devastating for both my business and family finances.
And in case Synrad will try to charge me for the repair again is there anything can be done to them in legal terms considering I am in Australia and they are obviously in USA?
What would you do guys?