The gears on the drill/groove made alot of noise and it is 75% of our work.
The gears on the drill/groove made alot of noise and it is 75% of our work.
The new machine is the first one in the US with new software for trivex and a different wheel configuration than on any other machine for the high curve along with a different step bevel wheel. It is never easy to be first.
It can be told to do anything we want, but we need to learn to use it properly and the it will take some time. We do not have the Chemistrie software yet, longer drill bits, .8mm drill bits for Flair and a small polish issue on trivex. We also did not spend any time on high curve jobs, we needed to get some work done and ran out of time.
The install for a new office will be 3-4 days and he was with us for 2 days so far and will come back a few times to get it all perfect. Having a ME-1000 made the transition as easy as possible, we were able to utilize all our 2,500 patterns and drill points! The software is the same, but with many more layers to it.
We will be getting the high wrap tracer as soon as it is available in the US to get decent tracing on wraps. Pech Optical ran the pro to-type tracer and said it did the best job of any tracer they had, yet it was not ready for prime-time according to Nidek.
There is no way we could do 40 jobs on it now, the new software provide amazing smoothness in every process, but it is slow! It has to be the quietest machine ever built, you can lean on it and talk on the phone at all times in the process- ME-1000 had to leave the lab when drilling/grooving was running.
There is no slippage and we tested a -10 ft in super hydro trivex numerous times, the polish was no good but the axis was perfect. (That was for Barry) The machine actually splits polishing to 2 parts on larger lenses, but it left a small line that needs to be fixed.
I saved myself $2,500 on a filter for the stink and dust! We ran a hose from the machine to an existing exhaust fan in the lab while closing off the grill with cardboard; it works perfect!!! The smell and dust is 100% gone. The dog's and screens will not get all dusty and we will be able to stay in the lab while the 1.74 is running! It cost me $37.00 in parts and took all of 5 minutes to install. John will be proud of me!
My rep Jeff has been amazing! He is there to ensure it is perfect and it may take a few weeks to get it there, but it will be done!
I tried to upgrade for years, but it never made sense as my machine could do almost everything a new one could until now! I will save $10,000 per year to start on wrap edging fee's alone; they all had to be sent out and now we can do them better in 2-4 less days. We can now sell the Chemistrie clips and make an extra $1,000 per month per store along with some new frames to attach them. We can now offer 3D filters, sun, reading and computer clips to start. Facets are way cool and we will sell a few per month at $75.00. We can do wraps while they wait and get 4 extra sets of lenses per month for $2,000.00.
With selling the old for $15,000-great deal- the machine will pay for itself in the first year and the dog groomer will be happy!
If you show them the math, they may charge more than $55,000.00 + $23,000.00 for the tracer and it will still be necessary to buy. I have tried every machine at the shows and was never even considering anything but another Santinelli!
Craig- Happy with my new toy!
Craig:
Not sure I can get there as soon as I'd like, but Let's talk about a conference call on FRi with wour techs. I'll help them with wrap/chemestrie.
B
We do not have Chemestrie yet, but please call Gary at my office anytime that works for you. Let me know.
Thanks for the updates! Good stuff. (and way to watch the pennies!)
The Chemistrie can't be beat! The profits are awesome, and our competition are all afraid to attempt them in-house. (Our 7E handles them effortlessly) We have the contract for the largest school system in Ohio (4,000+), and the bus drivers are calling in droves! (Sold 6 yesterday-at one office!) We are the only game in town that is carrying them, and it is really putting us on the map!
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
How much do you guys charge for the Chemistrie?
$69 for "magnets"
$159.00 for *any* style sun layer
$229 for RX/SV computer layer
Trim stones: $20/pr.
$99 3D Layer
B
Sounds like so much fun! I know it's a good business purchase, but how cool to be able to do all those things! Must be very fun to play with.
When people ask, after I pitch the "layered-system technology", I tell them: "Very reasonable. You just have to decide if you want the magnets put in your lenses. Then any layer can be made for you at any time, now or later."
I also follow that "retro-fitting" magnets to existing lenses is possible, but less preferrable, and costs more: $99.00
Yes, magnets a la carte for new lenses into an existing frame that has a sun layer is $69.00
B
Last edited by Barry Santini; 04-26-2012 at 10:21 AM.
We sell ours for $149 w/magnets (non-mirror)
-$169 w/mags w/mirror
-$49 for mags only
-$99 clip only
(my rent is MUCH lower...)
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
Edge polish is looking good and the machine is amazing! We have not even used the shelf bevel yet as the high curve does a much better job than I would have thought.
The 8 base zyls snap right in and metal's get a nice thin bevel with no squishiness to the 8 base frames.
The work looks better than off an MEI and we just had it for 3 days! I did not think a non 5 axis machine could compete with the MEI but it produces amazing work and we were already happy!
Lab guy is off tomorrow andI will have a chance to play with it.
We can not believe an edger can do the work we are getting on the wrap work. We are just starting to play with the settings but we are now ordering 8 base work uncut and dispensing a -5 in 3 days. The machine actually gives you an accurate map of the lens and then has the ability to do what you ask.
THe high base curve wheel does an amazing job of allowing us to keep the temple from being pushed out but he lens thickness; we do need to hand polish if there is any lens sticking out.
This allows us to use trivex in a -8 to give the best optics, lightest weight while just cutting off the thickness. We would have used 1.67 or 1.74 prior with no problems, but this is a better optical device overall with trivex.
I may need to try facets on my new Vantage lenses.
Thanks for the updates Craig!
It sounds like an awesome machine!
Thinking about buying a nidek 9090. It's for a low volume office, but plan on doing some wholesale work later on. And thoughts?
I did not notice.
Just sat down with the Santinelli rep... I think a lex w/drill is in my future. I'll of course then have to ask craig for detailed scetches on that exhaust set up.
- Optician
- Frame Maker/Designer
- Teacher of the art of crafting handmade eyewear.
...nor the reliability.
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