We are planning to buy a freeform lab. Which are the main names of manufactures?
We are planning to buy a freeform lab. Which are the main names of manufactures?
Schneider
Need more information to give you any semblance of an answer. Is this from the point of view of Essilor looking to add to their portfolio? Or are you just asking about equipment manufacturers?
How many jobs per day? Have you done an analysis of outsourcing vs manufacturing?
Maybe Rodenstock
Do not know much about freeform. Just starting to collect information. We have a regular lab where we process from 130 to 200 jobs only for our stores. We do from 40 to 80 progressive jobs. Outsourcing is not an option.Originally Posted by other_bill_fea
I has been avoiding freeform because believed that with the regular lab, a few lens suppliers and 6 different styles of progressive would be enough. We import the semifinished lenses and that takes about 2 to 3 weeks from the moment we place the order and receive the lenses. So we need a stock for at least 6 weeks on each style of progressive. You mention Essilor. It is one of our lens supplier among others.
Recently I has been feeling that we might need more freedom and has access to other progressive lenses without the need of larger stock of lenses. Not being tied to a manufacturer because we already have a large investment of lenses on stock from a particular manufacturer.
I suppose that there must be different sizes of freeform labs. Let say, for 80 jobs of progressive a day, which lab supplier should I look for?
Just found that Satis-loh is related to Essilor. Would like to know names of companies that manufacture freeform machinery and are not related to essilor.
Schneider, OptoTech
Thanks other_bill_fea.
I understand that Coburn also sell freeform machinery.
Could someone share information on Coburn freeform lab?
Those two were the only ones that I had first had experience with. Can't comment on the Coburn.
After looking at all or almost all, I only recommend the Coburn Cobalt or CTL-85. They are more versatile than most of the European made units.
What about $$$$?
Mostly cheaper than the Europeans
Cheaper of course but does not transfer the technology of Free form designs.Mostly cheaper than the Europeans
Machines can be offered through anybody but transfer of technology is also important.
OptoTech offers a lab with design software
Am I correct in assuming that you can technically make any free form design on any free form generator, as long as you have the design software and pay the click fee?
but some free form generators come with software built in that allows you to make free/cheaper in house free form designs? Or are you stuck with what you choose?
also, would some be as so kind as to pm me with ballpark figures for the coburn ctl85(and cost of upgrade to free form), optotech asm-60, and Schneider HSC sprint.
It is correct, that you can use any ff design softwqare on any generator as long as it is vca compatible to recie the data files for it. Software is also available as a fixed price, but you are not limited. Disadvantage is always to pay click to Zeiss. The ASM of OptoTech is an older model. Now the Flash is the generator in turning technology having different versions depending on output (Store version 12 jobs/h; Flash M/A approx. 25 jobs/h)
We have both Schneider and Optotech machines, and I've had good experiences with them both so far. They have both been able to run the free-form we have. If you have a specific free-form design you'd like to make, it's always worth double checking with the equipment vendor before you make a purchase.
It depends on your volume...if you are running 20 pair or less, consider the DAC rxd lathe. I own a RxD lathe and am happy with its capabilities. If I had to do it again, I would buy a DAC rxd lathe, a coburn hard coater system and a coburn soft lap system. If you need more than 20 pair/day look otherwise. I bust my butt to process 20 pair/ day with my current system.
Schneider, OptoTech, Coburn, Augen, Satis and Chemalux (their RxD lathe was designed by another company ages ago) currently make FF generators.
However, not all generators are approved to make all lenses: find the lenses you want to make first, then choose the generator to make them.
Schneider has the most approved lenses.
Why is that? That's a bold statement that does not jive with what the market says about the "European" made units - the market clearly favors the "European" made units, especially the share of the market that actually buys equipment....
Why is that? That's a bold statement that does not jive with what the market says about the "European" made units - the market clearly favors the "European" made units, especially the share of the market that actually buys equipment....
The "market" that you are talking about is based in Europe, therefore they will favour their own machines. The American machines from Coburn and Chemat/DAC will do things the Europeans can't do. Also, I think in general that they are more accurate.
Not entirely true
Coburn offers a few Digital (FF) generators and one polisher.
Cobalt DS - Generator
DTL 200 - Generator
CTL 85 - Generator
Cobalt DP - Polisher
They also have some other systems in the pipeline.
Their offerings are considerably less expensive than the "European" systems, have a considerably smaller footprint, and are just as capable.
schneider also don't overlook ar coater wich i recommend leybold
Installing a Vision-Ease MyCoat AR coater next week. I will post on how the install and calibration go. We are strongly considering the Schneider ProLab or the Satis Micro-Lab in the near future. Will keep you updated on the highs and lows (and we expect some of both).
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