Posts: 2,344
Threads: 53
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Spencer MA USA
I called them this morning and asked if they had parts in stock and the answer was no. The person I was speaking to was responsible for the their eBay Store, so I remarked that they showed having sold 56 of them with 14 more in stock. Given the number of them out there, I said they should get a few of the 120º diamond and 1/16 ball penetrators in stock because they're easy to lose or damage and they can expect to get more calls like mine soon.
She told me it will be a couple of days before they get a response from their supplier in China. No surprise there. I'm going to check with MSC just in case they actually stock the parts I need.
Posts: 2,344
Threads: 53
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Spencer MA USA
Latest update: I had bought a quality diamond penetrator for Rockwell C scale readings, from am eBay seller for $45 shipped and it arrived today. I could have bought a Chinese made OE style (not sure if it would be exactly the same as the OE) for just over $30 from eBay sellers in Hong Kong or mainland China, but I'm wary of sending money off that far.
This evening I headed over to the shop to see if I could calibrate the tester to the standards supplied with it. Unfortunately that was not successful. The instruction manual is sparse on information about set up and calibration but I did the best I could. I did get it to repeat readings on the 47Rc test sample, but when I tested the 30Rc sample it was way off.
Checking around the interweb I did find a story from one fellow who has the same machine and also couldn't get it to repeat. I guess I'll have to follow his lead and take it all apart, upgrade a few pieces and reassemble before I'll be able to trust it's readings. Looks like another project for the back burner. Oh well.