Briot Alta?????????

[jeffsoptical]

:idea: I'm currently using a Briot Accura Cx (blue disk) edger. I'm thinking about upgrading to the new Briot Alta edger with all the bells and whitsles. What has everyone heard about this edger? Please give any suggestions.

Thanks,

Jeff

[JA OPTRONIC]

The Alta is a great upgrade from the CX. Especialy if you do more then 1 drill mount a day.
The safety bevel and grooving quality has defently improved compared to the blue disk cx.

The percision and felxability of the alta will blow your mind. You can place the bevel exactly were you want it.

[ASenior]

What type of 3 piece mounts are you selling? And how many private pay drill mounts are you selling a week? Have you looked at ALL the "in chamber" drilling edgers out on the market? (This is Briot's second drilling edger, was there something wrong with the first one?)

I do not have a "drilling edger" to sell you, so I am playing devil's advocate with a grin on my face.

I left dispensing about 3 years ago to sell edgers. The last edger I purchased for the Doc's I worked for was a descision based on the name, and I wish I had ask to trial more than one company. I purchased an edger that safety beveled and grooved, I was selling mainly the Silhouette style "compression" mount, so a digital drill press was very accurate and somewhat fast (2-3 minutes per pair to drill.) Also keep in mind I was doing only 5-6 drills a week since we had only been open 9 mos.... why am I telling you all this??? aside from the fact that I tend to ramble on........... If it where me I and I had to have a "drilling" edger, I would trial Briot, Santinelli, Gerber, AIT, and MAYBE Optronics....... Then I would narrow it down to the top 2, then put them in my shop side by side for a week. Then purchase the best one. We sells Reps think and say our machines are the best...... "THE PROOFS IN THE PUDDING"

And I would tell them all exactly what you intend to do.... if any of them bock at "being in the race", tell them that you won't look at thiers. I know I wouldn't be afraid of the competition.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

[f2chow]

ASenior,

Not to go OT but what in your opinion (I know you're biased in a way) are quality edgers that one should consider (feel free to list yours too :) )? What should someone who's about the put down a bunch of money look for?

[jeffsoptical]

My former Briot tech. swears that the newer edgers can block progressives, bifocals, and single vision without having to manually line up the lenses. I find this hard to believe especially on a high cyl. progressive lens with an oblique axis, ie. 45 degrees. Have they got edgers so smart that I can actually put someone with zero experience and get the job done perfect?

[Thumbs]

The GerberCoburn Kappa system uses image recongnition software so the power of the lenses don't matter. It blocks based on the image of the progressive markings and for flat-tops, it blocks using the image of the seg.
Only single vision lenses are measured for power and it can block within a power range of +12.00sph to a -15.00 sph with a cyl to 6.00 automatically. It does not recongnize prism, but once you mark the lense with a lensometer it can be blocked manually or it will block with image recongnition using the three dots as reference points.

[LENNY]

The GerberCoburn Kappa system uses image recongnition software so the power of the lenses don't matter. It blocks based on the image of the progressive markings and for flat-tops, it blocks using the image of the seg.
Only single vision lenses are measured for power and it can block within a power range of +12.00sph to a -15.00 sph with a cyl to 6.00 automatically. It does not recongnize prism, but once you mark the lense with a lensometer it can be blocked manually or it will block with image recongnition using the three dots as reference points.

I think its +- 6.00D

[Thumbs]

Lenny,

It accurately will analyze and block the power range of lenses I described, but the display on the blocker will only display up to +-6.00 w/3.00 cyl.

[LENNY]

Dont you think its a little stupid?

[Thumbs]

The reasoning I received is that any automatic blocker that reads power should not be used as an automatic lensmeter for power verification because they are not lensmeters. I agree with them and have always preferred to verify power manually.

[OptiChick21]

(This is Briot's second drilling edger, was there something wrong with the first one?)

I currently use/have the Briot Axcell, a drilling edger. I believe the difference is my edger drills only at ONE angle. The new Briot Alta is supposed to drill at different angles according to lens type, for better mounting purposes.