CRT to LCD Conversion Kits for Industrial Machines

You can replace an industrial CRT with a working LCD in under two hours. Most maintenance teams do it without outside help. The trick is ordering the right kit before you start – not figuring it out on the shop floor.

If you’ve got a CRT on a Fanuc CNC, an Allen Bradley PanelView, or a ProtoTrak milling machine, the CRT is the weak point. Not the machine. CRT components haven’t been manufactured since around 2007. Whatever’s in your cabinet is aging. It will fail. The only question is whether you replace it now, on your schedule, or wait until the machine goes dark.

What a CRT to LCD Conversion Kit Includes

A conversion kit isn’t just an LCD panel in a box. A good kit is built for your specific machine – and it ships with everything you need to get from CRT to working LCD without hunting for separate parts.

Here’s what comes in a full kit:

• LCD panel – sized to match the original CRT’s display area. Industrial-grade, built to handle temperature swings and factory vibration.
• Mounting bracket or bezel adapter – this is what makes it a direct fit. The bracket puts the flat LCD panel exactly where the old CRT sat. A universal kit may need more work here.
• Signal converter (XVGA box) – needed when the machine’s controller outputs a CRT-format video signal that a modern LCD can’t read on its own. Not every kit needs one. More on this below.
• Power adapter – older CRTs used different power configurations than modern LCD panels. The adapter bridges that gap.
• Hardware – mounting screws, connectors, cable routing hardware.

Some kits arrive as a pre-wired assembly that drops straight into the CRT space. Others ship as component sets that need basic wiring to connect. Know which type you’re ordering before you buy. One requires a screwdriver. The other requires some electrical familiarity.

What Is an XVGA Box

An XVGA box – also called an SVGA converter or signal converter – is a small adapter that sits between the machine’s controller and the new LCD. Its job is to translate the video signal.

Here’s the problem it solves. Older industrial machines were designed around CRT monitors. The controller inside those machines outputs video in a CRT-compatible format – specific sync signals, refresh rates, and voltage levels that CRT tubes were built to handle. Modern LCD panels expect something different. Without translation, the LCD shows nothing, or shows a scrambled image you can’t use.

The XVGA box sits between the controller output and the LCD input. It reads the incoming CRT-format signal and converts it in real time into something the LCD can display correctly. You’re not touching the machine’s controller. The conversion happens transparently in the adapter.

Not every kit needs one. Whether yours does depends on the specific machine and controller – which is what the next section covers.

When You Need a Signal Converter – and When You Don’t

This is the question that trips people up most often. The answer is actually simple once you understand the logic.

You need a signal converter when the machine’s controller outputs a CRT-specific signal format a standard LCD can’t read. This is most common on older CNC controls – Fanuc 6M/T, Fanuc 10/11, Fanuc 15, and similar vintage controls. These machines were designed for CRT output. Their signal format needs translation.

You don’t need a signal converter when the replacement LCD is specifically engineered to accept the signal that machine produces – either because the kit was built for that exact model, or because the controller already outputs a signal that an LCD can read directly. Some controllers do this even if they’re still driving a CRT display.

Monitech’s machine-specific kits include the signal converter when the machine requires one. You don’t need to source the XVGA box separately if you order a kit built for your machine.

Direct Replacement vs. Universal Conversion Kit

These are not the same thing. They serve different situations – and the wrong choice costs you time on the shop floor.

Direct replacement kit: Built for one machine model or control family. The LCD size, bracket geometry, connector type, and signal handling are all engineered for that machine. You install it in the same space the CRT occupied. No bracket modification, no wiring research, no guessing about signal compatibility. It works, or we’ll sort it out. The tradeoff: it only works for that one machine type.

Universal conversion kit: Built to work across a range of machines by including adjustable brackets, a converter that handles multiple input formats, and configurable connectors. More flexibility, especially if you’re servicing several different machine types. The tradeoff is setup time – adjusting the bracket, configuring the converter, verifying connector compatibility. More decisions to make. More places for something to go sideways if you’re not familiar with the machine’s wiring.

Machine-Specific Examples

Fanuc CNC Controls

Fanuc CNC controls use CRTs across a wide range of series – 6M, 6T, 10, 11, 15, 16, 18, 21, and the 0 series. The A61L part number on the CRT label is what identifies the specific display you’re replacing.

Models covered: A61L-0001-0074 (Fanuc 6M/T), A61L-0001-0086 (Fanuc 10/11), A61L-0001-0093 (Fanuc 15), A61L-0001-0094 and A61L-0001-0096 (Fanuc 16/18/21). The Fanuc CNC controller stays untouched. Only the display changes.

Allen Bradley PanelView Terminals

Allen Bradley PanelView terminals from the 550, 600, and 1000 series – part numbers 2711-NL1, NL2, NL3, NL6 (PV550); 2711-B6xx, K6xx (PV600); 2711-T10xx (PV1000) – may need either a direct LCD replacement or just a backlight replacement, depending on what’s actually failed.

ProtoTrak Milling Machine Controls

ProtoTrak controls – MX, MX2, MX3, AGE, AGE2, AGE3, SMX, KMX series – are common in small and mid-size machine shops. Monitech’s ProtoTrak LCD replacements are designed as direct drop-ins. No machine modification. No reprogramming the ProtoTrak controller. The replacement goes where the original display was, and the control works exactly as it did before.

How to Identify Which Conversion Kit Your Machine Needs

This works for any industrial machine with a CRT display. Run through these steps before you order.

1. 1Find the part number on the CRT itself. The label is usually on the back of the tube housing or on the metal frame around the display face. On Fanuc machines, look for the A61L-0001-xxxx label. On Allen Bradley PanelView units, the part number (2711-xxx series) is on the back panel label and the front bezel. Write down the full number – every suffix matters.
2. 2Find the control series label on the machine cabinet. On CNC machines, the control series (Fanuc 16/18/21, ProtoTrak MX2, etc.) is labeled on the front of the control cabinet door. This tells you which control family you’re working with, which affects signal converter compatibility.
3. 3Check the machine nameplate for model and serial number. The nameplate is usually on the main machine body – not the control cabinet. Some machines share the same CNC control across multiple models. The nameplate helps you cross-reference when the control label isn’t clear.
4. 4Match the CRT part number to the conversion kit listing. Use the number from Step 1 to search the product catalog. A direct match means the kit is engineered for your specific display. If your part number isn’t listed but your control series is, call to confirm before ordering.
5. 5If the CRT label is missing or unreadable, use the machine model and serial number. Many machines can be matched by model alone. Or use Monitech’s photo search tool – upload a photo of the display and the surrounding control panel and we’ll identify the compatible part from the image.

What to Check Before You Order

Go through this list before placing the order. Each item catches a type of mismatch before it becomes a returned shipment.

• CRT part number confirmed – not estimated, not assumed from another machine of the same type
• Control series confirmed – the part number and control series should match (a Fanuc 15 control should have an A61L-0001-0093 display, not a 0074)
• Signal converter requirement known – does this kit include an XVGA box, or is this a direct signal-compatible replacement?
• Kit type confirmed: direct replacement vs. universal – if you’re ordering universal, do you have the wiring and configuration knowledge to complete the install?
• Physical fit confirmed – does the LCD panel size match the original CRT display area? Is the mounting bracket included?
• Power supply compatibility confirmed – does the kit include the power adapter for your machine’s voltage configuration?
• Installation access confirmed – can the control cabinet be safely de-energized and physically accessed? Lockout-tagout procedures in place?

Frequently Asked Questions

Find the Right Kit for Your Machine

If you know your CRT part number or control series, go straight to the relevant product page:

• Match My Fanuc Part Number – A61L Series Kits
• Find My ProtoTrak LCD Replacement
• See Allen Bradley PanelView Options

If you’re replacing multiple units, or working with a machine not listed here, call Monitech directly at 519-725-2222. Monitech has been specializing in industrial LCD replacement since 2006 and serves maintenance teams and machine shops across North America.