I have had an m3 for 15 years with just the occasional problem (servo amp etc..) about 10 months ago I had to replace the pendant ($1000!!!) now im getting a harware lock error that says "SWI HARDWARE KEY IS BUSY OR NO KEY IS ATTACHED. MAKE SURE THE KEY IS SECURELY CONNECTED TO PORT LPT1 THEN RETRY OPERATION" I've replaced both serial cables, and reseated ALL connections on the control and the slave unit on the back. Southwestern says the control needs to be replaced, which i find hard to believe after ten months of use by a machinist who is OCD about keeping his machine spic and span. I was wondering if anyone has run across this before. Thanks for any help you can provide, right now we cant afford to throw out another grand to have the same thing happen in ten months, I cant even get them to sell me a warranty.
Thanks!