gravograph IS400 volume issues

[keysmith]

Hi Everyone,

In 2006 I bought a gravograph IS400, along with it i bought all the bells and whistles, long plate, extra font packs etc etc cost me the best part of $22,000 (i am in oz)

My machine has had a very sheltered life and has worked for no more than 100 hours.

In november i switched it on and sent a job through, however when i tried to engrave the machine just refused to move.

I contacted my local rep over here at gravograph who told me they would have a look in the new year, i took the machine to them in january this year and left it, I was informed yesterday that it needed two new circuit boards in the control head box, and the bad news...... Gravograph in france say they are no longer made parts for my machine, so the repair to my almost 9 year old machine will now cost $6,500, as they need to send a new type control head unit along with hand controller (my head unit is serial port, the new one has usb)

since buying this machine from them i have bought four IS200 engravers, two M20 gift engravers and recently a LS100 laser engraver, so many many thousands of dollars, i have always been a believer in gravograph longevity and quality of priducts as i started with automagic using gravograph pantographs and was a believer.

I know that gravograph australia cannot fix my machine, and i suspect it is not due to lack of part availability, but lack of expertise in the machines they sell, lack of technical skill in fault finding, i am now firmly of the opinion that they are nothing more than parts changers, plug and play masters.

I am not talking about a 20 or 30 year old machine here, it is a heavy duty machine built for volume and bought eight and a half years ago, it is still on the original belt!

I am not a person to rant and rave over nothing, after all things do break and need fixing, Gravograph here in australia have had a lot of money from me in the past, and when i need them to come to the party its "wounded bull time",

The moral of my story is Dont buy the best on the market as that will only prove to be the most expensive, i personally could have bought a cheap $1,000 machine from asia and chucked it out and replaced it every year for twenty years for the cost of this lump.

RANT OVER THANKS FOR BEARING WITH ME 

Does anyone out in Blighty know who can fix my machine, the head is pretty light weight so could be sent via DHL to UK, the mechanical side of the machine is perfect as i said less than 100 hour use.

Phil

 

 

[safelycrackers]

Marino 07889 731416 marino.manca@tiscali.co.uk

 

Can't go wrong with this guy. Knows Gravograph inside out

[hibsjo(SCO)]

i had the similar problem

needed new boards after component for old board becoming obsolete??

carry on!

[keysmith]

thanks Guys

will keep you updated

phil

[Dennis]

You are absolutely correct with your evaluation of Gravograph.  Here in blighty, it is exactly the same.  They are the nicest of staff, willing to help...but limited in their expertise and parts availability.  The moral of this story is to buy the machines with the longest possible guarantees...then scrap it, start again, not for the feint-hearted.  Alternatively, buy a Chinese machine and scrap it anyway, but quicker.   Another avenue to explore, I am working with some CNC experienced engineers to look at building new controllers working off Mach4 to control the machine...not difficult apparently.  Would be a good market for them if they develop it.

[SIRIUS]

Hi every one,

We have experience and knowledge for gravograph machines. We could repair electronics boards.

You can contact SIRIUS CES compagny at contact@siriusces.com

Regards

 

 

[JamesST]

It's swings and roundabouts. Buy top quality and if you have a good service team they should last a lifetime. Gravograph make quality machines and we are lucky enough in the UK to have good quality technicians that know how to to fix them. It's more about the support base available for your country,