2007 helios 3003 cnc router

[bcgranite]

Hello, looking for some advise please.
I have owned and operated a small stone fabricating business for 12 years on Vacouver island canada.
The past few years my three kids have become involved in the business.
We are having a hard time keeping up with the workload that has come our way, so looking to purchase some automated equipment.

A 2007 Helios 3003 router has come up for sale near to me. The owner is retiring but has not used the router for a few years. He tells me that the computer has some problems and has to be up-graded.
I have made him a offer to purchase with the condition that the machine computer and software will be up-graded and machine will he serviced and training provided by Helios technicians from Italy.

he had agreed to this arrangement.

Initially I was looking for a machine just to cut out sinks. (we currently use a manual machine which is old and slow)
I was looking at a machine like the matrix sink cut out machine but this cnc came up for sale and will give me the capability to do other thing with it.

My question is: Is a cnc router a good option for sink cut-outs and is it going to speed up our process.
And is this router to old and outdated.

Thanks for any advise
Darren

[tim farr]

I would be scared of a used machine that old. Where are you going to get service when you need it? Are you going to have to deal with italy for everything to do with that machine? Also my suggestion to you is to join the sfa to get into the members lounge. Lots more info and you’ll get way more answers there.

[bcgranite]

Ok, thanks for that Tim.
I have a Italian bridge saw now but I have a tech guy in Detroit that I talk to.
There is a Helios rep in eastern canada. Im going to call him on monday.

The seller say the machine was not used much. Are new machines allot different. ?
Thanks again.
Darren

PS I did just join the SFA fantastic!!! Ill look at the other chat options.

[tim farr]

There has been a lot of improvements in computers in 12 years. Welcome aboard. Durf will get the lights turned on for you in short order. There is a ton of info that’s shared freely in the members area. Feel free to reach out if I can help

[Dave.Scott]

Welcome and baton down the hatches.
There is a TON of info here but, the better part is the great giving people that you are about meet.

[mark s]

On an older machine your concern needs to focus on the sustainability of the controls and the operator interface which is typically PC based.

Your best bet would be to arrange an inspection/repair by a qualified tech. Assuming he can get the machine operating correctly you still have to deal with the long term need to support the controls and PC.

If the controls are from a major OEM like Mitsubishi, Fanuc, or Siemens then support and parts should be readily available. If it's something you never heard of your only likely option is support from the OEM, if it's available.

Assuming the operator interface is PC based you are going to have a 12 year old PC running some antiquated version of Windows. You'll also have a 12 year old hard drive. 1st step would be to "mirror" the hard drive (not a back-up) as a mirrored drive can be plugged into to a computer with a dead hard drive and immediately get you back in business. 2nd would be to source a mother board of the appropriate vintage as a spare. A competent computer geek could make all this happen for you.

If your budget is tight you might do better to purchase an old Park Destiny CNC as Park is still supporting them although the advice re: the operator interface still stands. Destiny CNC controls are Siemens so little risk there.

Good luck. I've never met anyone that regretted getting a CNC that they saw running before purchase. (I did know of someone that purchased a machine in a warehouse and he had to spend a great deal of unexpected money to get it operational.)

mark s.