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Thread: New edger recommendations

  1. #1
    OptiBoard Novice
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    New edger recommendations

    I need to get a new edger and need some feed back.

    I am between

    santinelli lex1000 with the mini blocker

    brio silver +(5 yr warr)

    and ait maxima

    any feed back greatly appreciated

    dave

  2. #2
    Underemployed Genius Jacqui's Avatar
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    Why do you need new?? A good rebuilt/used would be as good in a office lab.

  3. #3
    Master OptiBoarder
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    Before you buy anything, contact a fellow Optiboarder, Opticlabrat. His company is a sponsor on Optiboard, and Leo is THE goto person for edging equipment and advice!


    Leo Hadley Jr.
    Sales and Marketing Manager
    Vision Systems Inc.
    local: 727-934-0130
    toll free: 866-934-1030
    www.Patternless.com


    :cheers::cheers::cheers:

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    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter Barry Santini's Avatar
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    Santanellis are fantastic machines (like my Lex 1000).

    But, they're really more like the Ferraris of edgers - fussy, finicky, expensive to maintain, and parts and consumable costs that will make you cry...

    Next time, its a Corvette for me (like my ol Kappa).

    FWIW

    Barry

  5. #5
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    I really like the AIT machine. When I came on board here, the previous optician just quit and I had no training. I was able to play around with the machine and after about 4 cuts had figured it out. Easy to use and maintain and it retains its cutting size really well. I have ran a few machines in the past that seemed to cut different sizes every lens.

    The only complaint I might have with the AIT is the tech support doesnt get back to you in a timely manner. The machine is well worth the money.

  6. #6
    OptiBoard Professional Excel-Lentes's Avatar
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    Leo Hadley Jr.
    Sales and Marketing Manager
    Vision Systems Inc.
    local: 727-934-0130
    toll free: 866-934-1030
    www.Patternless.com

    I bought a used Optronics 6E in January from VSI. They have quick phone support and very good intallation too.

    I would recommend checking with them before buying new.

    Good luck with your selection!

    -B

  7. #7
    Sawptician PAkev's Avatar
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    Second the AIT.......

    I have had a Maxima-mini bloc-teleform combo for nearly 10 years edging an average of 25 jobs/week in a small practice. Other than preventative maintenance and replacement of a few wear items it has been trouble free and dependable.

    Kevin

  8. #8
    OptiWizard
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    You really need to look at how close the local repairman is, and how good they are.

    It really varies by section of the country.

    My briot repairman is 30 minutes away. Very helpful.

    Another brand I had a few years back, the repairman was out of new York (5 hours). Poorer service.

    I was about to purchase another brand, then realized the repairman was also the salesman, and had been in optical a total of 8 weeks.

    Harry

  9. #9
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    Santinelli is is offering a 10K trade in right now if you have an old model. If you are buying a refurb or a new edger I also recommend VSI. They have excellent service. If you can swing a new machine, I would do it. In some cases you just buy other people's problems.
    Last edited by KStraker; 06-17-2009 at 01:06 PM.

  10. #10
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    I second the 6E from Optronics. If you want to do drill mounts in office I'd go for the 7E from Optronics.

    I've used the same 6E for 10 years and have never had it down for more than one day, the necessary parts came FEDEX next day early.

  11. #11
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter Barry Santini's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KStraker View Post
    Santinelli is is offering a 10K trade in right now if you have an old model. If you are buying a refurb or a new edger I also recommend VSI. They have excellent service. If you can swing a new machine, I would do it. In some cases you just buy other people's problems.
    Yeah like I said:

    It's the same as getting a $10K discount off a new Ferrari.

    It's stil alot of dough!

    Barry

  12. #12
    Vision Equipment OptiBoard Corporate Sponsor Leo Hadley Jr's Avatar
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    WOW...

    Thanks for all the recommendations. It feels great to be recognized like this. We take a lot of pride in what we do.
    Give me a call anytime to discuss new or preowned edgers. I deal with all manufacturers so I can share the pros and cons of each. I can provide you an honest and unbiased view. I must warn you though, I am easily impressed with technology so, I really like all of them. :bbg:
    Leo Hadley Jr
    Vision Equipment
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    www.visionequipmentinc.com

  13. #13
    Ophthalmic Optician
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    I've got to say that I have both the 7E, and the Combimax.

    I had the opportunity to fill in for a vacationing employee at the office that has the Combimax, and was surprised at how easy it was to operate a machine that I hadn't used in over 3 years.

    -Easy on screen instruction.
    -Easy blocking with no "jump".
    -Great sizing.

    It was like settling into a comfortable easy chair.

    I really like the 7E as well, as it's got more bells and whistles, but for an average office that is doing less than 45 jobs a day, I'd say the Combimax would fit the bill fine.
    Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry

  14. #14
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    I like the Optronics 7e. Their phone support is free, and they talk you through technical problems and parts replacement. And no water. I don't want to say this too loudly, but parts are almost affordable. In 5 or so years, I have had to buy one computer board for it at about $900, which we were able to install easily. My brother uses AIT, and he recently had to replace a similarly looking board for $2500.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by eyedoccnj View Post
    I need to get a new edger and need some feed back.

    I am between

    santinelli lex1000 with the mini blocker

    brio silver +(5 yr warr)

    and ait maxima

    any feed back greatly appreciated

    dave
    Get the Santenelli 9000. Which ever model grooves and polishes. Get it from Leo. The NO Optronics is so expensive to maintain. Those servo motors are so expensive.

  16. #16
    OptiBoard Apprentice OptiBoard Bronze Supporter
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    i think the 7E is the best machine for the money. works great i happen to find out that Davis lab only uses optronics edgers

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by tvdoodles View Post
    i think the 7E is the best machine for the money. works great i happen to find out that Davis lab only uses optronics edgers
    The Essilor NO 7E may be OK for low production situations. It is not a machine to run all day.

  18. #18
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    I have just bought the Briot Accura, which i think is almost the same as the Silver. It seems very good.

    The automatic chamfer is not very good, I just do it by hand. I have had an Essilor Kappa in my previous business and it had a much better chamfer function and a better blocker - but the price was significantly higher.

    The large blocks and soft edging function are very good for slippery multicoats. Better than the Kappa IMHO. The smallest blocks are still quite big and can get in the way when grooving very small lenses, so the blocks may possibly need to be cut down a bit.

    It cuts a large bevel like the WECO bevel. The Essilor Kappa cuts a smaller bevel which looks better, but is not as easy to fit.

    I've just got it but it has successfully cut everything I've put in it so far. No slipped lenses, no stuffed up jobs yet.

    I've heard the Nidek (Santinelli) is very good, but doesn't last very long. This from the Briot rep - possibly biased? :)

    Make sure you get an edger that grooves - otherwise no point. The Briot comes with a dedicated Trivex wheel option - as opposed to a generic Poly/CR/Trivex wheel.

    I think the main difference between the Briot and the other two you have selected is the blocker. The Briot has a very simple blocker which is actually quite usable, but not as easy to use as the others.
    Last edited by tonyl; 06-24-2009 at 07:34 AM.

  19. #19
    Ophthalmic Optician
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    Quote Originally Posted by gemstone View Post
    The Essilor NO 7E may be OK for low production situations. It is not a machine to run all day.

    We have a night shift that comes in to edge 4 nights a week, in addition to the regular crew that edges all day,so I can safely say that our 7E edger runs 75 hours a week w/out any issues.

    On the other hand, our 11 year old Combimax has been going at least 40 hours a week for the last 10 years, and that also has given us no problems.

    I think that a lot of the results you will get from any edger are directly dependent on the maintenance, and the environment in which the machine is used.
    Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry

  20. #20
    Vision Equipment OptiBoard Corporate Sponsor Leo Hadley Jr's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Johns View Post
    I think that a lot of the results you will get from any edger are directly dependent on the maintenance, and the environment in which the machine is used.
    True~
    Leo Hadley Jr
    Vision Equipment
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    www.visionequipmentinc.com

  21. #21
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    I had a small issue with our edger and called VSI for service today. Even though I was a little frustrated, and it may have showed slightly, they still solved my problem in 5 minutes. Even though it isn't Leo's problem, he still hooked me up with the right person to talk to and helped get our machine back working 100%. Thanks again for the great service!

  22. #22
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    I love Santinelli (Nidek) I would say Lexus of edgers.

    Heres the Ferrari
    http://www.meisystem.eu/mei/en/prodo...ry/mei641.html

    Notice no price! If you have to ask.........

  23. #23
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    re: edgers

    I own both a NO and a Briot edger, and they are good for different things. If, for example, I'm edging a Trivex lens, the NO is the way to go. Glass, on the other hand, requires a wet edger.

    The NO edgers seem to be more easily user-maintained.


    A quick story: I worked at a superoptical in the 90s which had both wet and dry edgers, and there was a newish guy who seemed to be given too much responsibility at the end of the day. While the more senior people were doing maintenance, paperwork, etc., this guy was given the last jobs to run. In one week he put a pair of plastic lenses into a heat treater AND he ran a glass lens in a Horizon II (dry edger). The sound that made ...ouch!

  24. #24
    OptiBoard Apprentice Optomitrix Prime's Avatar
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    Wave Ferrari price for sure!

    If this cost under 25k for part and shipping i would definitely purchase from Italy!
    - until then I'm gonna stick to my reliable 7070pcm!

  25. #25
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    What did you eventually choose?

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