Worse machine I ever owned

[adbuch]

I haven't responded to this because I'm currently working through fine tuning my air system. But here's what I found and sent pics to Matt.
As far as the scribe I think my issue is water contamination. see pictures. I also found oil in the first filter in my 4 filter set up. I have an oil filter and three descant filters in series. I did not find oil past the oil filter so its doing its job. I am in the process of add a motor guard filter before my 4 filter set up. I also added a water separator/ filter to the scribe an air gauge right before both the scribe and plasma. I should have more to report after this weekend. see pictures of my findings on the scribe.

Water in your air lines might explain why your engraver (air scribe) is hanging up. You are probably getting some corrosion inside your air cylinder. If this same air supply is feeding your plasma cutter - you may experience problems there as well. Also - if you have too many filters in series - this may cause an air flow restriction (pressure drop) when air is actually flowing thru the lines. Your static pressure would read fine at your cutter, but when air is flowing thru the torch that may be a different story.

You might consider replacing all of those separate filters with a refrigerated dryer. Then maybe just the oil filter right after the compressor and before the refrigerated dryer - assuming that your compressor is worn and you are getting lots of oil contamination into your air lines.

I have had the same Speedaire compressor for over 30 years now and have no problems with oil contamination. The compressor is in my main shop, and there is a run of probably 100 feet or so of 3/4" rigid copper air line between the main shop and machine shop. My refrigerated dryer is out in the machine shop very close to my plasma table. To this point I have had no issues with any moisture contamination in the air line running to my plasma table.

David

[Fastyankee]

I have a refrigerated air dryer. And a gauge right before the scribe and plasma. I live in Florida its very humid here . I will add my shop has central air, My compressor is brand new and I was running break in oil per the manufacturer and I believe that's why I got a little oil in the filter but I have a filter for that reason.

[adbuch]

I have a refrigerated air dryer. And a gauge right before the scribe and plasma. I live in Florida its very humid here . I will add my shop has central air, My compressor is brand new and I was running break in oil per the manufacturer and I believe that's why I got a little oil in the filter but I have a filter for that reason.

Adding an aftercooler right after the compressor may help your situation.
David

https://www.atlascopco.com/en-us/compre ... ftercooler

aftercooler.jpg

[adbuch]

Also - what is the distance from your compressor to your table and what kind and size of air piping are you running? Do you have an automatic drain on your compressor tank? If not, how often do you drain your compressor tank?

[Fastyankee]

Also - what is the distance from your compressor to your table and what kind and size of air piping are you running? Do you have an automatic drain on your compressor tank? If not, how often do you drain your compressor tank?

Dave
I have a refrigerated drier right by the compressor because I use my air for other stuff including painting.I have auto drains on both my compressor and the drip line coming out of my drier goes into a small tank with an auto drain on it. It’s 30’ to my table I use 3/4 Pex . I also have drip lines at every place there is quick disconnect . My line now goes into a motor guard filter than t’s off to a water separator for the scribe than goes to a oil separator and three inline desiccant filters. I have a gauge right before the scribe and the plasma. There is also a drip line that runs straight down after the motor guard filter. I will try and post a pic. I can tell you I have no were near the system I have now on my Shop Sabre and have no issues.
I can’t seem to find much in the way of operating videos on Camand CNC so it’s been a call or email to Matt he gives me a small snip it on it . So he’s kinda right about winging it because I’m left to just do that with out the operating info . Star Lab has very little to no training videos on set up and operating the machine. I have actually been watching Arc light videos on Camand CNC operating info. Any way 5 months I have had this machine and hasn’t made me a dime cost me a lot of time and time is money not to mention I have $35,000 in to it.

[Fastyankee]

The only complaint I could find was the one below where the owner was complaining about having height control issues. Andrew - what specific issues are you having with your StarLab table?

David

Star labs height control problems.jpg

Height control issues

[adbuch]

Andrew - hopefully Matt will chime in here and tell us now to calibrate your thc so it works properly. I would have thought there would be a step-by-step set of instructions and accompanying videos similar to the ones for my Plasmacam table. Let's wait and see.

David

[Fastyankee]

Andrew - hopefully Matt will chime in here and tell us now to calibrate your thc so it works properly. I would have thought there would be a step-by-step set of instructions and accompanying videos similar to the ones for my Plasmacam table. Let's wait and see.

David

Negative on info. Plasma c cam does a really great job in their video manuals

[Fastyankee]

My filter set up.Blue line goes to drip to scribe 1/2” Pex
There is also the drip line with ball valve drain.

IMG_2002.jpeg

[adbuch]

Looks nice!
David

[adbuch]

You have not gotten any formal training on it. You experienced some issues with a computer. By the way my name is Ben R. and I am happy to help you out.

Ben - does StarLab offer formal training for new table purchases? If so, what do you offer, and what is the cost? Would a new owner (or potentially new owner) of one of your tables need to come to your facility for this training, or do you offer "on site" training at the customers shop?
Thanks,

David

[adbuch]

I found this video that talks a little bit about the dthc anti-dive setting. I think he also mentioned that if someone has been playing around with these settings - the dthc may not work properly and the owner should contact StarLab about getting these reset to factory settings.

The discussion about dthc starts at about 6:17 into the video.

starlabs 1.jpg

[adbuch]

Adbuch oh yes a bad review can happen when a person does not take the time to understand the machine. Think about settings that the user can play with and how that can affect cut quality or if it even cuts.

A Star Lab can do much more than virtually all other machines out there. But settings are typically tucked away so operators do not cause issues.guide you through that issue to cutting well.

BTA Plasma - you mention that the user can play around with the settings and that can affect cut quality or if it will even cut. You also mention that the settings are typically tucked away so that operators do not cause issues.

Is there a settings reference manual for your table that describes each setting, what it does, and how to adjust it (if necessary)? If there is such a manual, where would a StarLabs table owner find it?

Thanks,
David

[BTA Plasma]

You have not gotten any formal training on it. You experienced some issues with a computer. By the way my name is Ben R. and I am happy to help you out.

Ben - does StarLab offer formal training for new table purchases? If so, what do you offer, and what is the cost? Would a new owner (or potentially new owner) of one of your tables need to come to your facility for this training, or do you offer "on site" training at the customers shop?
Thanks,

David

I believe this year we have had a little over 10 different Customers receive on-site training. We have also had somewhere in the range of 50+ Customers come to get training where we build them. Quite often I have also heard of Customers getting re-training for new Employees on-site over the last 2 years I have been with this Company.

[BTA Plasma]

Adbuch oh yes a bad review can happen when a person does not take the time to understand the machine. Think about settings that the user can play with and how that can affect cut quality or if it even cuts.

A Star Lab can do much more than virtually all other machines out there. But settings are typically tucked away so operators do not cause issues.guide you through that issue to cutting well.

BTA Plasma - you mention that the user can play around with the settings and that can affect cut quality or if it will even cut. You also mention that the settings are typically tucked away so that operators do not cause issues.

Is there a settings reference manual for your table that describes each setting, what it does, and how to adjust it (if necessary)? If there is such a manual, where would a StarLabs table owner find it?

Thanks,
David

I would recommend against a Customer changing settings or changing something they think did nothing. For those experienced Operators the only time they need to change a setting is when they are cutting on top of a dome and possibly wavy steel like barn tin. The settings are not meant to be a mystery however when a Customer does want to explore settings we prefer they call in and talk to someone like Matt that has more experience than anyone with these Systems. There are a few other Employees here that can help and off the top of my Head Joe H., Pat E, Codey and possibly Richard could help guide someone. I am still learning the system. My Experience has been with Thermal Dynamics Controllers and I am learning new cool adaptable Features almost daily.

[adbuch]

You have not gotten any formal training on it. You experienced some issues with a computer. By the way my name is Ben R. and I am happy to help you out.

Ben - does StarLab offer formal training for new table purchases? If so, what do you offer, and what is the cost? Would a new owner (or potentially new owner) of one of your tables need to come to your facility for this training, or do you offer "on site" training at the customers shop?
Thanks,

David

I believe this year we have had a little over 10 different Customers receive on-site training. We have also had somewhere in the range of 50+ Customers come to get training where we build them. Quite often I have also heard of Customers getting re-training for new Employees on-site over the last 2 years I have been with this Company.

BTA Plasma - thanks for your response. What is the cost for your "in-house" training? Does this training cover the various settings and what they do, or is it only showing your customer the process of running the table from g-code produced from SheetCam?

Thanks,
David

[adbuch]

Adbuch oh yes a bad review can happen when a person does not take the time to understand the machine. Think about settings that the user can play with and how that can affect cut quality or if it even cuts.

A Star Lab can do much more than virtually all other machines out there. But settings are typically tucked away so operators do not cause issues.guide you through that issue to cutting well.

BTA Plasma - you mention that the user can play around with the settings and that can affect cut quality or if it will even cut. You also mention that the settings are typically tucked away so that operators do not cause issues.

Is there a settings reference manual for your table that describes each setting, what it does, and how to adjust it (if necessary)? If there is such a manual, where would a StarLabs table owner find it?

Thanks,
David

I would recommend against a Customer changing settings or changing something they think did nothing. For those experienced Operators the only time they need to change a setting is when they are cutting on top of a dome and possibly wavy steel like barn tin. The settings are not meant to be a mystery however when a Customer does want to explore settings we prefer they call in and talk to someone like Matt that has more experience than anyone with these Systems. There are a few other Employees here that can help and off the top of my Head Joe H., Pat E, Codey and possibly Richard could help guide someone. I am still learning the system. My Experience has been with Thermal Dynamics Controllers and I am learning new cool adaptable Features almost daily.

BTA Plasma - thanks for your response. Is there a settings reference manual for your table that describes each setting, what it does, and how to adjust it (if necessary)? If there is such a manual, where would a StarLabs table owner find it?

[BTA Plasma]

Depends on the company and how deep knowledge is required. I have trained a little over 860 times mostly in house but sometimes in the field on site. Depending on the timeframe allowed and the customers requirements sometimes training goes pretty deep into settings. I will say of all the controls out there CommandCNC and Sheetcam have the most arc control. To get a quote for on site training you must first own a Star Lab. But the range can be from 800-4000 depending on distance, location and days required. The largest companies often only require one day which can be 4 to 6 hours and some smaller companies to individuals need a little more. We quit doing 2-3 day training a little while ago. Typically it goes so well the operators/owners will says....I got it, I just need to play with it. I also like to be on the floor and am not above any task needed. Its been a great industry and even though this post started out with a negative note I firmly believe if someone has enough motivation to make it through the learning curve they will master the art of cnc plasma and with CommandCNC they will have the full range of speed and knowledge to make cuts that will rival HD plasma and some laser equivalent.


-Matt

[adbuch]

Matt - thanks for your response. Is there a settings reference manual for your table that describes each setting, what it does, and how to adjust it (if necessary)? If there is such a manual, where would a StarLabs table owner find it?

Thanks,
David

[BTA Plasma]

David we put the essentials as far as training videos that you posted on the desktop of the pc as well as a few are on youtube. We do not offer a paper manual and in lue of that we put our service phone number on the front of the machine and background of the PC. A person to talk to in english is the best way forward for all our english speaking customers. We used to offer kits and found videos were the absolute fastest way to train the biggest percentage of customers and it dropped our service calls 98%.

[adbuch]

David we put the essentials as far as training videos that you posted on the desktop of the pc as well as a few are on youtube. We do not offer a paper manual and in lue of that we put our service phone number on the front of the machine and background of the PC. A person to talk to in english is the best way forward for all our english speaking customers. We used to offer kits and found videos were the absolute fastest way to train the biggest percentage of customers and it dropped our service calls 98%.

Matt - are there some essential training videos on the desktop of the pc that are not included at your Youtube channel? If so - is there one or more of these essential desktop videos that goes over the various settings? The video I posted above alludes to some of these settings, but does not go into any detail about them.

Thanks,
David

[BTA Plasma]

David we put the essentials as far as training videos that you posted on the desktop of the pc as well as a few are on youtube. We do not offer a paper manual and in lue of that we put our service phone number on the front of the machine and background of the PC. A person to talk to in english is the best way forward for all our english speaking customers. We used to offer kits and found videos were the absolute fastest way to train the biggest percentage of customers and it dropped our service calls 98%.

Matt - are there some essential training videos on the desktop of the pc that are not included at your Youtube channel? If so - is there one or more of these essential desktop videos that goes over the various settings? The video I posted above alludes to some of these settings, but does not go into any detail about them.

Thanks,
David

Why yes there are other videos. But we do not go through each THC setting in detail and neither does any manufacturer for a number of reasons. When we build the Star Lab series we meticulously tune the toolset in sheetcam and the THC functions to work together. There has never been a reason outside of corrugated metal to ever have to play with the THC settings.

-Matt

[adbuch]

Matt - thanks for your reply. If by chance a table owner did mess around with the settings and get them "out of wack", is there a simple method to restore them to factory configuration? Same question for the SheetCam toolset.
Thanks,
David

[BTA Plasma]

David absolutely we have files tucked away to restore settings to factory defaults. It is rare we have an owner or operator get into the back end and make changes.

-Matt

[tcaudle]

If you open the Configuration Tool and click the Upper left Menu item named FILE you will get a drop down of choices
You can OPEN, MAKE a NEW CONFIG, MAKE A TEMPLATE (a read only CONFIG file you cannot edit but you can copy from) and there is a ZIP CONFIG. option
If you select that it writes a zip file of you entire CONFIG that you can send to Matt and they can duplicate what ALL of the settings are.

There are also steps you can perform to test the DTHC and make sure each one is correct.