I have a slightly used Ability Systems controller from a Digital Tool router for sale. Please make offer.

That looks like harware from Anahiem to me - not software ! =)

License to use Ability Systems Indexer LPT software was sold to Digital Tool customers at a price tied to the condition that it would not be transferred, so I hope that only the Anaheim Automation unit pictured is being sold and not the software. That said - this Anaheim Automation translator was used on 8' x 4' wood routers, and is suitable also for retrofitting machines like knee mills. It powers up unipolar type stepper motors (six leads, or eight leads configured to six leads), typically NEMA 34, and I believe is capable of about six amps per motor.

The conglomeration of wires extending into the little circuit boards that are visibly mounted to the steel plates, as well as the circuit boards themselves, can probably be eliminated so that the translator can be hooked up in a manner similar to the Anaheim Automation unit shown on our home page at www.abilitysystems.com.

This looks like a four axis unit, though it appears as if only three axes were being used. I don't know if the driver card for the forth axis is in there, but I am sure that the seller has this information. It looks like a potential for a real bargain - though like anything used, risks are involved. If the buyer decides to outfit this thing with some new Ability Systems software, I can provide some informed advise in getting it operational.

As a matter of fact I do posess the Ability Systems Indexer LPT software as sold to Digital Tool customers, and I'm NOT about to release that system apon the public. In fact it was the Ability Systems Indexer LPT software & the reluctence of it's manufacture to support it's products, that prompted me to invest in a Larken controller upgrade and StarCam software. (Both of which I'm very pleased with!)

Today I referred a potential customer to cnczone and your advertisement in an effort to help both you and him. We sell brand new Anaheim Automation drives, but I try to be aware of potential bargains that are out there, especially for individuals that I perceive to be operating on a limited budget. I expect that you will be receiving an offer from him soon.

If you are a licensed user of our software, then I sincerely apologize for the difficulty that you had in obtaining support. We generally close down a week during the year and on certain holidays, but are generally available for questions and support over the telephone. I currently handle all of the telephone support and I try not to cut people off, so often times the line is busy.

If you had received your Ability Systems software from any other source than directly from Digital Tool, Ability Systems, or an appropriately licensed OEM of Ability Systems software, then you are in possession of unauthorized software.

Considering the costs, and the exposure to liability that exists apart from a definite end user agreement, we have maintained and still maintain a policy to decline support for unauthorized software - but instead we inform that the software should not be used outside of our Program License Agreement

I understand how easy it can be to become caught unaware of this when purchasing used equipment, so I wish you success with your new controller, and I hope that the gentleman that called me today will make you a reasonable offer to take the Anaheim Automation unit off of your hands.

Sincerely,
Arthur Volta
Ability Systems Corporation

CNCPRO


I HAD to comment here. I find it VERY hard to believe that you say Ability Sytems does not support its products. I run my machine on Indexer and G Code controller and have in fact recieved some of the best software support I have ever recieved from ANY software company. I in fact ca honestly say that a large part of my machines success is due to the functionality, and support I have recieved from the company.

Did you actually purchase the software or get a copy with some used equipment ? Ability Systems is a fine company and I have a hard time seeing someone post on here that they do not support thier software.... I can definately say that this simply is not so......

Sincerely

Tom M

are you selling the stepper controler?
and what would you take to get that off your hands?

roonster71
khome1 (at) pacbell.net

Sorry roonster71, I sold the complete system.

for a long time it has been buying Indexer LPT and Gcode, sent diskettes to me of 3 1/2 and the knapsack, after installing it and unistall it, so that it did not work sends several post office to them and they did not make nor case, I advise nobody buys nothing to this people.
to excuse the errors is of translator

Thank you for your comments. Since I am usually available to answer the telephone during business hours, and (usually) answer my Email several times a day, there seldom remains questions that our customers must seek advise on forums to answer - So I welcome all comments, good and bad.

Ability Systems' products are extremely adaptable and accommodate a great range of value added OEM applications. But because of this they lend themselves to a particular type of support problem. I don't know if you are the same party that has presented me with this problem, but since my negative experiences have been extremely rare I cannot help but think that there may be an association - So even if my response doesn't apply to you, I think the problem of support in general will find an interest to the forum community.

I was recently contacted by the customer of one of our OEM's, who was successfully using a cutting machine purchased from the OEM (with our software) and needed another machine. To save expense, rather than purchase another machine from the OEM the customer replicated the hardware and purchased the controls software directly from us. When the customer contacted me for technical support this presented me with a problem, but it was a problem which I am accustomed to handling.

The problem was that I felt obligated to protect the OEM's design investment (even though in this case the OEM had not asked me to do so), but at the same time support the software that we had sold to the customer. The manner in which I handle this type of thing is to direct the customer to the documentation that we provide, and offer to clarify technical issues relating to our products that may need further explanation.

In this most recent case, I recall obtaining specific permission from the OEM to assist this customer using knowledge that I had of his system (I thought the OEM was gracious indeed!). OEM's that write their own software for Indexer LPT typically don't have this problem, since they can write Indexer LPT serial numbers into their software. In this case, however, the OEM used one of our application products, which cannot attach its setups to specific license numbers. (We will consider adding this capability in the future).

In the following support session, I directed the customer to a written portion of our documentation that provided for making the two computer systems functionally identical. However, the customer explained to me that he did not grasp the English language sufficiently to read the documentation, and wanted me to take control over his computer on-line (with software he wanted to send me) to make the settings for him.

During this session I tried to explain two reasons why I could not attend to his request. 1) I would not run remote control software protected by another company's Copyright and 2) I interpret my role in technical support to assist in the understanding of design components, and especially not to circumvent this process by actually taking control over program settings.

Anyway, if you are not this customer I apologize for the lengthy explanation. In any event, you are most welcome to call with questions that you might have or outstanding assistance that you might need. Unfortunately, to date the only documentation that Ability Systems has is written in the English language, and I am only prepared to provide support in English.