Heiz (High-Z S-1000/T) - any experiences?

[Sentinel]

I am CNC newbie, and am planning to purchase Heiz High-Z S-1000/T ( http://www.cnc-router-routers.com/ht...rews_cnc_.html ) machine.

I am planning (for start) to make some simple wooden toys, do engraving (wood, etc) and possibly do 'prototyping' (if that's the correct English word) when someone needs a prototype before mass manufacturing something.

Does anyone have (good or bad ) experiences with it (or older models)?

Thanks.

[Sentinel]

I apologize for double-post. I've submitted it some 20 hours ago, and got an error, so I submitted again (and got an error again ), and gave up thinking it won't show up. Sorry.

Can admin delete this topic?

Thanks.

[garbo.hunter]

I have bought a Heiz CNC S720 some 9 twelve months ago.
I started off with PCNC - a DOS programme using .PLT files and have since upgraded to WIN-PCNC coupled with the FILOU programme.

The machine is sufficiently accurate for my use (mostly model airplane routing) and has come in handy for the occasional toy.
You must realise of course that using the recommended (and good quality) Kress router, the machine is reasonably limited in its capability to cut thicker timbers.
While you could cut in several passes, the available router bits available in diameters suitable for the type of work are mostly only about 10 mm long.

Being a complete novice at this game I have had a little bit of trouble setting up the machine and the software.
I have found that the manual both of the machine as well as the software are not particularly good both in content and in logical order (for someone sitting in front of the machine trying to get it to do what you want).
The Heiz manual for example is clearly written for the American market, where the packaging of household knives has to warn the general public that a knife is sharp and coffee is hot so as to protect yourself from potential law suits...
It is however a bit thin on practical advice in setting up the machine for your first cut.

I am still sorting out the Filou part of the software suite - depending on what work you wish to do and how you will do it you will find out soon enough that it is much easier to say that everything will be converted back and forth for input as G-code to your CNC, but there are many small hurdles to overcome - DXF formats for example are not all the same it would appear an I have yet to learn how to produce clean DXF files that can be read reliably by Filou for conversion into G-code.

I guess when it works it is beautiful - when it does not then: !@#*&!@

The Heiz Website is very good now with lots of update files and I have found them to be very helpful with telephone support also. There is a small forum on their machines which may grow with more practical advice as time goes bye..

[d84rrv]

Hi,

I ahve looked at there web-site and over the rest of the web and could not find an English Langauge forom could you please guide me?

Many thanks,

Ben

[garbo.hunter]

Hi,

I ahve looked at there web-site and over the rest of the web and could not find an English Langauge forom could you please guide me?

Many thanks,

Ben

Try www.cnc-router-routers.com

Ts

[garbo.hunter]

Hi,

I ahve looked at there web-site and over the rest of the web and could not find an English Langauge forom could you please guide me?

Many thanks,

Ben

Go to http://www.cnc-router-routers.com/, you may have to click the british/american flags to get the english site.

Tom

[maxbela]

I have had a Heiz High-Z S-1000 for a year now and I am very happy with it.
Their customer support is excellent.
It is not a heavyweight machine so some work is beyond its capability but I managed to profile several 300 by 200 by 35mm thick aluminium (6018) blocks and mill 150 by 150 by 25mm deep recesses in them.
I use the 1050 FME Kress router. 8mm endmill for the bulk of the work 3mm to finish the recess corners. Accuracy +/– 0.1mm (0.004 inch) which I think is pretty good for a light machine on this kind of work which should really be done on a mill - only I don't own one.
Personally I prefer to use single or 2 flute milling cutters on wood rather than router cutters since "throw away" milling cutters are cheaper than good router cutters and cheap router cutters are usually rubbish in my experience.
The S-1000T has ballscrews but is otherwise pretty much the same as the S-1000.
The Win PCNC software which comes with the machine is easy to use and set up, an English manual is available from Burkhard Lewetz - www.lewetz.de
I couldn't find it on the site when I first looked but I sent them an e-mail and got it back as a PDF attachment 20 minutes later, all 108 pages - load up your printer!
If I had the need I would buy another of these machines without question.
Cheers,
Max