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works very well. While the probe is out, the accessory
[Editor’s note: EDM Today would like to welcome Tom
VanValkenburgh of TommyV EDM. Tom specializes in
pump should turn off, and you should receive a “clean
service on Fanuc Wire EDMs. He has 28 years of service
tank empty alarm.” Please check the probe for algae;
it will be black and slimy. If you have algae, I
experience. Just within the last year, Tom has struck out
recommend buying an algae-killing light for ponds,
on his own and formed TommyV EDM. We wish Tom
which can be found online, and placing it in a
great success in his service business and look forward
clean tank.
to more submissions.]
4) While the probe is out and the accessory pump is off
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(put the machine into E-Stop if you are unsure), please
check and clean your Wye strainer(s). A dirty Wye
strainer will cause poor ﬂ ow to the resin bottle, and it
Q: The resistance lamp is ﬂ ashing and is lower than the
will not be able to bring the resistivity back up. I have
set value of 5.0, or I have a warning/alarm message that
been on several service calls in which a customer has
changed out several resin bottles, but the resistivity
says “2066 Exchange the ion resin.” Do I need to change
the bottle?
won’t come up, and it was due to a dirty Wye strainer –
see Figure 2.
A: You might think the answer is yes, but it could be
premature. Before changing the bottle, I recommend the
following checks:
1) Have you recently added make-up water? Tap water
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will lower the water’s resistance. Have you recently
changed the ﬁ lters? Some ﬁ lters are washed with a
detergent that will lower the water’s resistance.

2) If possible, check the output of the resin bottle. If the
resistivity is lower than the set value, water should
steadily ﬂ ow out of the bottle, and ﬁ ll a gallon-sized
bucket in around 30 seconds. I would then check the
Figure 2 Wye Strainer
water in the clean bucket with a meter like an “Aquapro”
AP-2 meter, which can be
found online for less than 5) If you were able to check the resin bottle output with a
meter, and it was over 16 micro Siemens, then change it
$40. A new bottle should
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out. If you cannot check it with a meter, but your
have an output of close to
strainers are clean and you haven’t added make-up
0 micro Siemens (over
water recently, then change the bottle. Often a bad
1,000,000 ohms), but a bottle
bottle will also make the water smell a little ﬁ shy.
is bad if the water measures
over 16 micro Siemens
(about 62,000 ohms).
Q: What is the purpose of the Deionizing (DI) bottle?
3) Then check and clean the
A: Water is a universal solvent that allows the ion
resistivity probe – see Figure
1. Always be sure to ﬂ oss
Contrary to popular belief, water does not conduct
between the tines with a rag Figure 1 Resistivity Probe particles to distribute evenly, and it is also an insulator.
electricity, but rather the ions in the water do. Because wa-
or Scotch Brite. A mild acid
ter is an insulator and a universal solvent, we can control
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like Beaver Lime Go Green
how well the water allows electricity to pass through it.
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