Koike Aronson

[PokeyTeacher]

I'm looking at purchasing a Koike Aronson Monograph Millennium Series CNC Plasma cutter in the very near future. Before I go any further with the purchase, does anyone have any insight into this piece of equipment? Any kind of info, positive or negative, would be greatly appreciated.

[linatrol god]

Koike makes good machines, one of the world leaders in profile cutting machines. Would this be new or used? They use various CNC manufacturers for their controls. Which CNC is on the one you are looking at?

[PokeyTeacher]

I appreciate your response. I will purchasing this new. From the literature that I have, the CNC control that will come with it, is Koike KAR CNC PC based, which operates on Windows XP. That is all that I could find on it, from what I have. One other thing maybe you can help with? One model comes with a floating head, another model, that is more expensive, incorporates what they call an H3 Lifter head. What does this exactly mean and which one would you go with? Thanks again.

[linatrol god]

Im afraid I cannot help you there. I have never heard of that type of CNC control. As I said Koike uses different types, the CNC controls that we manufacture and that they purchase from us are Hybrid D11, Hybrid D9 and D10, Promotion and Profiler. I have no idea what a KAR is.
Sorry

[linatrol god]

The floating head is a pneumatic type torch hieght control, you set the height and it keeps itself at that height by rolling on balls across the plate and is held in place by the air pressure, usually used for thinner gauge.
The expensive height control would be best if you are cutting heavier gauge material, it will the set the voltage of the arc, monitor it and adjust the torch height to keep the voltage constant, therefore keeping the torch height steady.

[Al_The_Man]

I think the KAR is 'Koiki Aronson Control', as mentioned, they use different controls, maybe put their name on it, unless they have decided to put their own together.
They used Acroloop at one time which is another PC based motion card with Acrocut software.
Al.

[xjdubber]

if your looking at that price range, I would take a serious look at multicam and messer mg. Both are a better machine and better price.

[Dale Heart]

Pokey, for someone that's about to buy a NEW plasma system you seem to know nothing about plasma systems.

I guess you can get advice here... but the best advice you can get is real world going out and looking at shops with Koiki's in them or hop on a plane to Japan or China and see them getting made.

Also, you should look at other types of cutting as well, like oxy-fuel and laser so you fully understand the difference between them all and what you can expect quality and performance wise.

I guess another piece of advice is to find a few companies that sell the CNC software for these types of machines and ask their opinions. Because, these software guys sell onto any brand and usually know when things are going bad or well etc.

Also, I like Koiki a lot. I like Messer a lot too.

[awjareme]

im running a koike machine thats 3 years old now(used daily), and its been flawless. Plasma cutting is a snap with this machine, we have it incorporated with FastCAM, which is kind of crappy, but whatever you can draw in .dxf can be cut on the table. The servos/cpu have so far proved indestructable. The only thing is if your not familiar with these machines consumables add up fast. I also have oxy/acet integrated. We run the voltage height controller and it is nice for continuous cuts, but if you re-pierce a fair distance away from your last cut, and the plate is out of level/warped.. look out. I believe there is a pierce height controller out as well. Regardless it works well even for metal art, except for FastCAM which throws in an error here and there

[linatrol god]

Dale

"I guess you can get advice here... but the best advice you can get is real world going out and looking at shops with Koiki's in them or hop on a plane to Japan or China and see them getting made"
FYI
Koike machines are made in Arcade, New York.
There are many around the USA, if Pokey Teacher wasnt to go that route and see one in action it should be relatively easy.

[PokeyTeacher]

awjareme, thank you for your response. That is the kind of feedback that I was looking for in terms of the quality of the product.

[Dale Heart]

Originally Posted by linatrol god Dale "I guess you can get advice here... but the best advice you can get is real world going out and looking at shops with Koiki's in them or hop on a plane to Japan or China and see them getting made" FYI Koike machines are made in Arcade, New York. There are many around the USA, if Pokey Teacher wasnt to go that route and see one in action it should be relatively easy.

I don't pay attention to the American market. I just assumed KA imported their machines. Anyway, go have a look wherever they are made.