Hi all,

Has anyone used machines by the Austrian (that's Europe, not Oz :p) based company STEP Four (http://www.step-four.at/e_index.html)?

I'm looking at the details of their "Basic" and "Precise" machines. Prices aren't too bad - certainly when you factor shipping + taxes for a machine from the US to here in the UK.

Hi,

I own one Basic 540. It works great. Good software.

Regards
Stephan

Hi Stephan,

Thanks for the reply.

I'm in two minds about a STEP FOUR machine. They've sent me an information pack, and their gear looks pretty good. However, from the specs they give, the machines look a little lightweight, and I'm now thinking they may be a little slow for my needs.

What sort of things do you cut with your machine?

Hi,

this is my equipment:

Step Four Basic 540
DOS Software (they have a Windows Version now :o )
Kavo HF-Spindel (hope this is the rigth word) max 50.000 rpm

90% I am cutting wood (1mm up to 15mm)
5% Plastic
5% Aluminium (4mm - 8mm)

I also cut stickers and foils.

max Speed I have used:

max moving speed 1300mm/min
max cutting speed 900mm/min

If you want more speed and a better gear, the Precise 760 is the better one.

I am very statisfied with the software. It was the main feature for buying these machine. Machine and software are working perfectly together. This makes it very easy to run the machine.

Regards

Stephan

max Speed I have used:

max moving speed 1300mm/min
max cutting speed 900mm/min


Hi Stephan,

Thanks for the reply.

This is the biggest problem I have with buying a STEP FOUR machine - I want to perform very shallow passes (so low load on the machine), but I need to perform many cuts.

At 900mm/min it would take literally days to finish some of the projects I want to make.

I've also been looking at some US made machines, like K2's 3925. For less cost, they have a machine which some people claim they're using to cut at over 5000mm/min. Obviously the problem for me is difficulties of getting support/replacement parts as they're so far away (conversely I could drive down to STEP FOUR's site, though it would be a long journey)!