How to match an obsolete industrial part
Most “obsolete” automation parts are still sitting in U.S. OEM or surplus channels — they just dropped off the local catalog. The match is the full manufacturer number, not a generic description. This guide is what we use when a plant sends a photo and needs the line running again.
Request a quoteWhat to send so we can match the part
- 1
Photograph the nameplate
Capture the full metal or printed plate: manufacturer, complete part number, revision or series letter, voltage, and any barcode. Avoid glare; take a second shot of the side if the number wraps.
- 2
Photograph the installed unit
Show connectors, mounting flange, shaft or coupling, and labels on the cable. For boards, photograph both faces and the slot or chassis it sits in.
- 3
Note the machine context
Drive model, CNC or PLC family, and whether you need an exact OEM spare or a form-fit equivalent. Quantity and how fast the line is down change which stock we search first.
- 4
Request a quote
Email sales@tisolutionglobal.com or use the quote form. We search OEM channels first, then equivalent replacements, and reply with price and lead time — usually within one business day.
Exact OEM vs equivalent replacement
Use the exact OEM number when the part talks to a closed protocol (Fanuc pulsecoder, Heidenhain EnDat, Yaskawa serial encoder, CompactLogix series letter). A “same PPR” encoder or a look-alike PLC card will not commission.
An equivalent is reasonable for commodity hardware: VFD DC-bus capacitors with matching µF and voltage, some resolvers, and certain motors if flange, shaft, brake, and feedback already match. We say so on the quote before you buy.
Where obsolete stock actually is
Distributors delist a Sigma-II motor or a Simodrive 6SN while North American surplus and OEM leftover still hold the unit. The same pattern shows up on A860 pulsecoders, 1769 CompactLogix I/O, and Tamagawa TS52xx encoders.
We quote from those U.S. channels. If nothing exact remains, we say so and propose the nearest OEM successor — not a generic substitute.
- Servo motors and servopacks (Yaskawa Sigma, Mitsubishi HC/MR-J, Siemens 1FK)
- Encoders and pulsecoders (Heidenhain EQN/ERN, Fanuc A860, Tamagawa TS52, Sick DFS/SKM)
- Drives and VFDs (Sinamics, Simodrive, ABB ACS, PowerFlex)
- PLC and HMI boards (Allen-Bradley 1769 / 1756, Fanuc A16B / A20B)
Obsolete-part FAQ
Get In Touch
Have a part number for an encoder, motor, drive, or obsolete board? Contact us for a sourcing quote.