New CNC Saw by GMM

[Eric R]

Well, those that know me know that I've wanted a sawjet for several years, but it's never worked out for me to get one. I was telling this to Taf from GMM at the megaworkshop in St Louis last year and he opined that my logic was flawed and I should really consider a cnc saw. To which I said for $170k it's an easy consideration. NO. No chance. We talked about what I would need and want in a saw like monobloc construction so it has a small footprint and is easy to move, full cnc capabilities, tilting bed, the ability to miter in cnc mode and of course it had to be dirt cheap and no, $170k is not dirt cheap. Come up with something like that, then give me a call.

So he calls me a while after the show and asks if I would be interested in the exact saw I described to him at the show if it were under $100k and I said yes, I didn't know you were listening. To which he replied, "Yes I was listening and yes I have your saw" After a lot of questions and a little more haggling on the price...I signed on the dotted line.

A couple things I talked with Taf about.
1. Will your feelings be hurt if I sell this in the future and upgrade to a sawjet? He laughed and said no, but then said there's no way I'll be letting this thing out of my sight after I get a chance to use it. He's convinced I'll like it that much.
2. I'm picky. I have high expectations. I know it and you should too. The miters need to be perfect and incredibly accurate. I want to miter a piece 8' long on both of the long edges and have it measure exactly 12" on one end and 12" on the other. Those who have mitered much know this is nearly impossible if somethings tweaked even a little bit. He said no problem.
3. I said nice guy or not, sponsor or not...if it doesn't do what you've said it will and you don't make it right pronto I'll air it on the SFA website.

He was confident and undeterred by any of this. It left me feeling really good about my decision too.

The saw is on it's way and should be installed about the 20th of this month. I'll let you know how the installation goes and post pics. The install and training is scheduled for 1x day, but they'll be around for a 2nd day in case we need anything.

Here's a pic of the saw in production.




This is my first experience with GMM, but I'll say that so far they been amazing!

[graniteman]

This is exactly what I am looking for, I won't be ready til this fall. I would love to hear all about it once you get it installed and from what I hear GMM will take good care of you. Please keep us posted on this.

[mikelaw]

Is it the new Brio CNC saw

[Curtis R. Marburger]

GMM is top shelf , I would want that miter ability

happy for you , looks like killer deal

[crobb]

Nice, nice... nice! Congrats! We were very pleased with all our interactions with GMM, although we went another route, I loved the Brio. The control box is incredibly neatly done! I just couldn't get past it's small foot print, great for us folks with small/tight shops!

How large bed is on that Brio? That was a big concern for us. We cut a lot of slabs 76-83" tall. We found it to be a scary tight squeeze on the monoblock design. Laying down the slab, it would get extremely close the bridge. The remedy was get the floating table version instead or have the brackets that hold the slab extended down.


Not to steal your thread, here are some pictures I have from when we looked at it... hopefully this adds to you excitement! This little thing is sick nasty!

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[Mike Stites]

We have 3 GMM saws they are work horses.

[Eric R]

To answer a few emails I got.
1. Yes, the saw is new. Brand new, not refurbished.
2. Yes, Gmm did have have a Brio saw that was NOT a fully automatic cnc saw. This saw uses a nearly identical frame, hence the name.
3. I'll have to look, but the clearance for slabs is like 86" and the length is like 130". Don't quote me, but I asked that question as well.
4. The reason I didn't go with the sawjet was strictly price. I've got what I hope to be a very nice saw and kept $140k. I still want a sawjet, but that's a ways off now.
5. Yes, I did an ROI, but it didn't take long to add up the costs of having my most expensive shop employee standing over slabs doing layouts to realize I was stupid for not doing this sooner, but then again they didn't have this option for me. The payment is small considering what I'm hoping to save in labor alone. No, you can't have it (ROI). It's not formalized. It's chicken scratches.
6. No, I don't know exactly how much this will change workflow in my shop. I'll let you know though.
7. No, I don't mind answering questions, ask away. I'll only know so much though until I actually have some time running it under my belt.

Cecil, thanks!

[Qualey Granite]

congrats Eric! That sounds like a pretty unbeatable combo at that price point.

[Eric R]

Thanks Matt. I'm hoping it pays for itself quickly.

I thought there would be people interested in a saw like this but wow! I've got lot's of emails and texts.

I'm just planning on posting the stuff like how it's working, it's effect on my business, pictures, GMM's performance and stuff like that that other shop owners want to know.

For technical stuff and pricing call Taff. He's a nice guy and super easy going. He's more of a tech than a sales guy.
Taf;
#704-737-1378
taf@gmm.it

The only challenge I had with GMM so far was understanding what each saw does and doesn't do. To make it even harder they must have like 8x different models with seemingly endless variations of each.

[Dan R.]

Congrats!
We have nothing but good things to say about Taf and GMM, couldn't be happier. We bought a used saw and they treat us like the original purchaser.

[Dustin Adams]

Congrats on the new saw!

Is the mitre control for the tilt of the head manual?
And will the saw head turn 360 degrees to mitre all 4 sides?
Is there a laser for the slab orientation or is positioning for CNC via point origins?
What is the Y axis travel (front to back) will it cut up to those insanely huge jumbo slabs of 84"

This in principal is the same idea as my Denver, which I like, but has some drawbacks because of these 4 questions. If they address all these faults that Denver's new saw has, then you are all good in my eyes. You have a sick price for that unit and with the GMM name behind it I am sure you will be more than happy.

The only thing I would ever want a saw/jet for now is the nesting and through cut capabilities. But for the extra dollars and maintenance I just could not justify the price.

[dustinbraudway]

Dustin this thing is the exact same as the Denver, but..............it is the ulitmate well built, well designed, well programmed work horse, older step brother that is hooking up with all the hot ass that the Denver wants to be... Don't get me wrong for the price the Denver will do everything and then some, but GMM is just way beyond in the technology and durability.

Congrats Eric. I know that you will love it and have been holding out for so long. It is finally all coming together.

[Dustin Adams]

Oh ya not at all trying to compare apples to apples, just making sure it does all the things a guy would want it to do. Damn for that price, it is a good look for anyone wanting a CNC saw eh!

[jonnyrue]

We watched the first CNC Brio installed in the UK at a fabricator called Cardiff Marble. We left after 4 hours absolutely buzzing, and are placing our order soon. It is a top machine and it's a steal for the price.

[Nick]

Hold on, so a saw head that goes 180* can only miter 3 sides....I am trying to wrap my brain around this and it never even occurred to me until Dustin said that. Is that correct? On an island you would get 2 long sides and only 1 short side if I am imagining it right?....

[Dustin Adams]

YUP my saw sucks ass for mitre's. The saw head only turns 180 degrees and you can only get 3 sides, then we reposition for the 4th, or cut square and use out edgemate to finish that side, it depends on how much stone we have to work with for the drop.
This is the one thing that drives me ape shat bonkers about this saw, that and the y axis is no large enough.

That is why I asked those questions.

[pwukusick]

Judging from the interest that you've gotten from other fabricators (including me) Eric, your saw criteria are spot on. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I can't wait to hear more.

[dustinbraudway]

Ditto Dustin. That is what I was saying. And for the same price. Ya GMM is gonna knock it out of the park

[GuyboR]

We too bought a new GMM saw. We were leaning towards the Brio but started looking into other options. I don't have space to setup and do "slabsmithing" at my shop. (Plus we cut a butt load of staples, so layout is moot)

We asked about the GMM camera system. It's not available on the Brio. We weighed the pros and cons of it and it's cost and decided to step up to the Intra. I've spoken to Eric and he plans on using slabsmith, so the camera is not an issue to him.

I too have been overly impressed with Taf and the GMM group. Taf is a technician foremost that happens to be a salesman also.

[Todd B]

Hold on, so a saw head that goes 180* can only miter 3 sides....I am trying to wrap my brain around this and it never even occurred to me until Dustin said that. Is that correct? On an island you would get 2 long sides and only 1 short side if I am imagining it right?....

YES NICK

Thats why a saw that only has a 180' head sucks. Then a saw that you have to........... and so

Dude ask questions. The more you ask the better you will be.

[Nick]

Dude ask questions. The more you ask the better you will be.

Or more money I have to spend New brio is 370* head rotation, so no worries on that saw, but man I believ one saw I was looking at was 190

[Dan R.]

My Rotex rotates 270. the program automatically compensates and finishes any circle automatically. It simply cuts one direction then comes out of material, reorients itself, plunges and finishes the cut. The Rotex does not miter. A saw that rotates 180-190 could conceivably do the same process, if they had enough X and Y axis room to accommodate blade & saw housing.

[Dan R.]

If a saw head can rotate 180, it should be able to cut in either direction. Sounds more like a software issue.

[Ken Lago]

It can cut in either direction but would the motor not hit the stone when you tilt it to 45? I really cannot visualize it.
It does not sound very smart that a machine company make a cnc saw with tilt but it can only cut half the job

[Matt Lansing]

Some of you guys have confused me now. Are you talking about the Denver that can only mitre over 270 degrees of head rotation or are you talking about the new GMM Brio saw?

Maybe it's only me but I am sure there are others following this thread pretty intently.