Methodology
Replacement information for obsolete industrial parts is often scattered, contradictory or commercial. SpareGraph records what the evidence actually supports — and labels everything else.
Time-aware supersession
Replacements are modelled as chains, not single links. A part may have had a historical successor at the time it was discontinued, while the current successor available today may be a different, later product. Both are shown with the date the supersession was documented, because the historically correct solution and today's recommended endpoint can differ.
Confidence levels
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Verified | Documented by the component or machine manufacturer, or confirmed by multiple independent sources. |
| Strong evidence | Supported by credible specialist or integrator documentation; not OEM-confirmed. |
| Candidate | Plausible replacement identified during research; not yet verified. |
| Requires verification | Must be checked against the actual machine before any purchase or installation. |
Evidence hierarchy
Evidence is weighted by source. A marketplace listing is never treated as proof of technical compatibility, and a used-machine observation is never treated as proof that every unit of a machine model shares the same configuration.
| Source tier | Description |
|---|---|
| OEM documentation | Manufacturer datasheets, manuals, migration guides, official lifecycle notices. |
| Machine OEM documentation | Machine-builder documentation naming the component in a specific model. |
| Official migration guide | A published migration or modernization path from a manufacturer. |
| Integrator case | A documented retrofit performed by a systems integrator. |
| Repair specialist | Findings from a repair or service organization. |
| Distributor | Distributor catalogue or lifecycle data. |
| Used equipment evidence | Observations from used machines or surplus stock. Never proof of universal compatibility. |
| Community / forum | Community reports. Treated as leads only, never as verification. |
Verification and staleness
Every published page shows a last-verified date. Information older than the re-verification window is flagged as needing re-verification rather than silently kept. Compatibility conclusions are always application-specific: motor ratings, braking, terminal functions, options and control configuration must be verified against the actual machine before purchase or installation.
See it applied on the Historical 10 research series.