I have been looking on the subject for a while and the HeiZ machine was a machine I was
investigating in my process. I have been in contact with several owners of these and there was
limitations which I did not like to much:
1: The machine was at the time I looked at it using a controller program which was
in DOS. I left DOS for a long time ago and was a no-go. The Win version of the program
had many supported language "buttons"/Interface, but the support and documentation was only in
German - not a single word in English on the web page (This was PCNC, I'm not sure
what they deliver now).
I found also the limitation of 15cm in Z range to be limiting since I would use a T slot table
on top of the "bed" hence limiting the cut depths for me.
2: One customer which tried to convert to Mach3 was told by Frank that Mach3 was unstable
with the machine. He damaged 2 controllers with a Z problem and concluded that the
supplied controller was not the optimum for Mach3. He was else happy with the machine
and would have bought a new one if the SW supplied was up to date. He did mention that
milling in Aluminum, he would not recommend to mill in a depth of more than
1mm as the Z axis flexes slightly when you start a big cut and then you get horrible
mismatch. The claim of massive 5mm cuts in ally where exaggerated I was told.
3: If you go for the "non-T" version the movement speeds might be limiting you when
you mill certain materials. To high RPMs and to slow movement might have you burning
for instance some plastics.
Point 2 and 3 came from owners of the machine and is a direct link to their experience.
Point 1 was my own view at that time, but if it works in Mach3 now it's great. I did however
find me a more sturdy machine with a industrial spindle for the same bucks I was quoted
for the HeiZ 1000T with all the bells and whistles.
As long as we all are happy with our machines we should be doing nothing else than
playing with out machines :-) I have some issues with mine which needs to be sorted so
nothing is perfect.
K  |