I have heard there is an alternate (cheaper) source for Optronics edger cutter blade inserts, other than National Optronics themselves. I am just starting out and I need all the cost savings I can get!
Email me directly at PaultheOptician@gmail.com if you know someone! Thanks
Try Inland Diamond, I think they have or had them. Beware there are resharpened blades from other places that are NO GOOD!!
I checked it out once. don't remember if it was Inland, but if you buy the disposable blades from Optronics in a 12 pack, which we do, the price works out the same. The same is true with their vacuum bags when you buy in bulk.
I use the extended life blades. They seem to be more cost-effective than the standard ones, and don't waste your time on the polycrystalline diamond blades.
DragonlensmanWV N.A.O.L.
"There is nothing patriotic about hating your government or pretending you can hate your government but love your country."
We tried the extended life and didn't do well. As the blade got older, we started having problems with super hydroAR on thick poly. Since the blade lasts longer, we had an old blade in the machine longer, and we never seemed to get the number of cuts it was supposed to. We use the disposables and gett 300 cuts with a mixture of about 50% CR and 50% poly and hi index.Originally Posted by DragonLensmanWV
We get around 1300-1500 cuts with the extended blades. Have you gone into your material setup and make sure your motor is running at 100% RPM for all materials, which helps.
DragonlensmanWV N.A.O.L.
"There is nothing patriotic about hating your government or pretending you can hate your government but love your country."
Yes, but nothing seems to protect against AR damage and lens torqueing like a sharp new blade. The longer you keep the blade, the greater the chance of ruining a job as you get near the end...as I am sure you know. Sometimes I wish I had two edgers so I could do all CR on one and never change the blade, and do the hard stuff on the other and change the blade often...now how much would that cost???
If I'm getting 300 safe cuts on a disposable and you are getting 1400 on an extended blade...do you remember the cost difference between the two? We just hate ruining even one -8.00, Crizal alize, digital progressive poly transition with prism
What are you doing selling poly in a -8.00?:bbg:
I made a Trivex cycle for mine where I slow the feed and rotation down even more than the poly cycle. Takes awhile to do alens, but for the super delicate, it's worth it.
I believe the blade cost/cycle times is only slightly in favor of the extended life, but less work, so it's only a slight edge.
DragonlensmanWV N.A.O.L.
"There is nothing patriotic about hating your government or pretending you can hate your government but love your country."
You're absolutely right. ...poly...I should be shot.
Do you let your machine both sides of the lens, or just one?
I am using blades from turner tooling. They are bought from a distributor. they are disposable blades a pack of 10 are under $70 (not sure if we are getting LVP though). I get 450 cuts per blade.
I run about 250 jobs a day on three edgers all using these blades I use less then 30 blades a month
$70 per 10 pack*3 packs = $210
optronics blades run about $135 per coated blade or $135 per 10 pack of disposable blades
Coated blades claim 1500 cuts more like 1100. disposable blades about 300 cuts per blade or 3000 cuts per 10 pack
I run A LOT of thicker poly and getting heavier on the trivex
Switching blades has saved my lab over 10k a year in just blades
Good to know...thanks.
Kokila Patel - Tellico Tool - 865-458-4671 - Loudon TN
My husband owns a small lab, and he's been getting his optronics blades from Tellico Tools for years - good prices and good service.
I use blades from Triple T Cutting 1-856-768-0800. They are sold in "sets" of two for about $ per set. They work great
Last edited by PRECISIONLAB; 11-06-2010 at 12:20 AM.
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