Fast grind - Super systems - Any experience

[Mirror]

Does anyone out there have any experience with the Fast Grind product from Super Systems? We have an expectation of doing 15 - 20 jobs per day and cannot justify spending huge aamounts of money getting into surfacing. However since all money is precious, I dont want to waste it by getting something that may not perform.

Any other ideas for getting into low cost surfacing equipment would be welcome as well. We own an edger, tracer and blocker but have no surfacing equipment at all.

[mrmac]

I have had the system for 6 years and it works really well and is very easy to use. You can call me if you want more info 978 501 2925.
Ed

[Mirror]

Thanks. :)

I'll call you in a while. Its so much better having an unbiased referral rather than someone who has is referred by a company. You know they're only going to refer happy clients and I just wanted to get some reality.

[Bobbi]

I have a FastGrind 2200 in the office......it's covered in dust, hasn't been turned on in over a year, I personally don't like it, it creates inferior products (we're going toward premium lenses),and there is no way it's going to take only 15 minutes per pair, we're talking more like an hour at least,because we don't ever use it... who has the time for that????

[snowmonster]

I have a FastGrind 2200 in the office......it's covered in dust, hasn't been turned on in over a year, I personally don't like it, it creates inferior products, customer service is crappy, and there is no way it's going to take only 15 minutes per pair, we're talking more like an hour at least, who has the time for that????

You're the first person I've heard complain about this machine. Have you talked to Super Systems to see if there's a problem with it?

Would you be willing to part with it?

-Steve

[Kabir Chowdhury]

I would like to buy a "Reconditioned or Used Fastgrind 2200".
Please share your experience and if you like to sell one, please
contact:

kabir.chowdhury@gmail.com

Thanks for your kind attention and cooperation;)

[Mirror]

The fastgrind system requires lenses that you have to buy prebocked from Fastgrind who is located in America.

Are you sure you want to do that. They use a foam block that is proprietary to them.

[MarcE]

Here is my opinion on the FastGrind system. I don't own one, but looked into it did some research when I was thinking about purchasing.

Sell poly instead.

That's it. My opinion.

The fast grind system will only process CR-39, 1.50 trans and 1.56 material. If you want to make more money, stop selling this stuff and sell poly for more money. When we quote a lens price, we quote poly. That is our basic lens. That is the way savvy optical businesses do it. A poly upgrade is an easy sell because it is thinner, lighter, safer, has UV protection included and comes with a hard-coating. We can also grind to 1.0mm CT and it will be thinner than 1.67 until you get to about -5.50.
The other plusses for selling poly is it's suitable for grooves and drills, so it's hard to make a mistake with the frame design. (oops we sold this guy 1.56 sunsensors because that is we make in our fastgrind system and now he wants a drill mount)

A couple of other issues with the FastGrind:
1. No backside hardcoat
2. Yes, you can save money, but now YOU are providing 100% of the warranty (lab errors, coating errors, edging errors, refits, non-adapts, Dr redo). And the FastGrind system doesn't process any material that I would want to warranty in a grooved rimless let alone a drill mount. So when you are doing your ROI calculations be sure and subtract 30% of your jobs for grooves and drill mounts.
3. The FastGrind is a cyl machine and finer/polisher, not a generator. So you either won't be able to grind a thin center very accurately, or the blanks aren't very thick which won't allow for high Rx's. There is on old post on the board which talks about this.
4. It will take extra time. My thinking is that most opticals could make more money by using this extra manpower on the sales floor. How about some end-of-year phone calls to remind patients about their '06 vision coverage that may expire; organize a frame/trunk show; publish a newsletter; take pictures of patients who were trying on second pairs but passed and send these pictures to them 3-6 months later; review your insurance filings and payments to ensure that you are getting all you are entitled; spend extra time presenting sunglasses? Or how about this: use the thought of getting a FastGrind system to "encourage" your wholesale lab to offer a better rate or faster turnaround. It worked for me. You wouldn't believe the price I pay for Image uncuts.
5. If you invest, you are tying yourself to old technology. How will the FastGrind system look in 5 years when most labs are doing free-form generating with material/hardcoat matched AR and one-day turnaround?

BTW, this is coming from an owner of an Opticast system.

Good luck

MarcE, ABOC

[Fezz]

Sell poly instead.

That's it. My opinion.
Good luck

MarcE, ABOC

I would suggest Trivex/Phoenix/Trilogy instead.

Just my opinion.

I do agree with MarcE about the price you can get on the Image progressive. Why bother with FastGrind when these kind of deals are out there?

[Johns]

I would suggest Trivex/Phoenix/Trilogy instead.

Just my opinion.

I do agree with MarcE about the price you can get on the Image progressive. Why bother with FastGrind when these kind of deals are out there?

Fezz,

I think we must be related, or at least reading of the same map...

I had a salesman come in and try to sell me a similar system and he's talking about how much volume I do, and how much I'd save, so I started pulling out invoices.

I'm paying (on average) $3.50 more per progressive, and $1.79 per Ft28 than his system. I told him that he must be kidding! I met with him because I thought he would say the lenses cost $X to make, but they cost $XX!! If I'm paying $XX.2, why would I want to get involved with more employee time, more space taken up, and more hassles- all without a warranty.

Absolutely No Thanks!

[Fezz]

Great minds do think alike!

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

[erosthedog]

we have a fast grind. It will pay for itself in one to two years as advertised is the good point. You can do one hour on many jobs.

Bad point is there are many new materials and lens designs you can not do. We still order in 50% of our lenses for this reason.

[snowmonster]

I just bought a ton (literally) of used older style surfacing equipment for my office after considering FG for about a year.

We do a lot of poly, and I didn't like the idea of being tied to any one progressive that a company chooses for me. erosthedog's post sums it up best when they still order in 50% of their jobs.

The only advantages to the FG is that it's easy to use and small. Fortunately, I planned ahead when we moved into our new office space 11 months ago and had plenty of room for all the stuff we bought.

-Steve

[Fezz]

Way to go Snowmonster! If you want to get into surfacing...get into surfacing! Do it for REAL.

By the way, there is a thread in the Marketplace that has a tremendous good deal on surfacing and finishing equipment.

"Best Deal You Will Find"---Hipoptical.


I'm not the seller, nor will I profit from it, just a great deal!

[Johns]

It will pay for itself in one to two years as advertised is the good point. You can do one hour on many jobs.

..but f you pay about a very small fraction more, you can use stock and have them on the customer's face in less than 10 minutes!

[Thomasmvc]

I just posted my Fastgrind 2200 for sale in this forum.
If you are still interested I like to talk to you

[jaakbar]

if have the system please email me at bifokal@hotmail.com