Does anyone have any information about their experience using an older 2004 AMC controller? Is it easy to operate with? Who services those controllers? I am looking at an older CR Onsrud machine with that controller.
Thank you in advance!

At 2004, you may want to be careful on the machine that age. The mechanical are generally not a issue, its the electronics that can end up bitting you in the rear.

Call Onsrud and ask them, if they still support these controllers and check around you could easily run into not being able to get these repaired because the component are not even manufactured any more, and you have to do a retrofit to a different controller.

I have ran into more then a few machines where this has been the case and having to retrofit the machine with Mach, Flashcut, Fanuc.

Just my 2cents...

Thank you Maurice,
I am Leary about purchasing a machine of that age. Onsrud does not seem too eager to help either!

I have had several of my customers tell me they could not get support for the AMC controller from Onsrud. If you don't get enough feedback from forum members and others you know that have needed support on the AMC controller to make you feel comfortable purchasing the machine you are looking at, I would call Onsrud and ask what level of support is available.

It feels like you might be new to the CNC world. I recommend that you narrow down your search by understanding exactly what your needs are. What material do you plan to run? Are you processing full sheets or precut part sizes? How many parts or sheets do you need to process a day? The answers to questions like these will help you determine if you need a single flat table or a twin table machine, ball screws or rack and pinions.

Purchasing a CNC can take your shop to the next level, providing you purchase the proper CNC. Purchase a machine that doesn't really suit your needs and it can drag your shop down.

Dennis, I think Onsrud is answering your concerns with their lack of eagerness.

Dennis,

Would you be oppose to me sending you my contact information, I may be able to help you in your search.

I purchased an Onsrud at an auction a few years back with AMC control. I have had good luck over the years with support from Biesse and figured all manufacturers would be about the same if they wanted to stay in business. No support from Onsrud, they did say I could ship machine to them and they would upgrade to new controller for 40K+. Never did get machine online, looks like good heavy hardware but probably just a boat anchor now.

We have recently purchased a used 5x12 CR Onsrud CNC router and it does have this control. At first we found very little information on the control. It does work great however and we have been processing sheets since we got it going for about three months now. The machine is VERY well built and runs well. The control can be serviced both by Onsrud as well as some aftermarket companies we have found. When we bought ours it came with a pair of pendants so we have a backup. Lots of spare parts etc. We had some initial difficulty getting post processors made for it but now that we have it going its a pleasure to use. Cuts fast and straight and clean. Onsrud is helpful but they do have some rather high priced ideas about getting service setup. They wanted us to pay like $10k to setup an initial visit to go over the machine and install some parts before they would give us support. We decided to go another direction. The control is not that complex really and the parts are typical commercial CNC so it does not appear that we would have any trouble getting replacements for most of it from original manufacturers or other suppliers. I have built several CNC retrofits and run many CNC machines over the years so this one does not seem much different really. Your mileage can and probably will vary. ;)

View higher quality, full size image (4160 X 2080)

We had this controller on the 145G panel pro at the previous shop i worked at. the controller went down. CR Onsrud Parts Dept demanded 10k to even look at or facilitate diagnosing the issue. They really had us over the barrel so to speak. At week two of loss of production and only getting pressure to buy a new machine from CR Onsrud, I did my research and found Lincoln Electric bought AMC and all the legacy diagnostic equipment was in UK. The folks at Lincoln however were super helpful. required no $ down, had a diagnosis in less than 24 hrs from time they received the controller from us. In the end, they repaired and we had it back with-in 7 days from time of contact. $2400 and probably $700 of that was overnight freight. The machine was down for over a month and 3 weeks of that was completely unnecessary. We ran that machine for another 5 years before purchasing a new machine when it made sense financially for us. (the new machine wasn't an Onsrude) super sleazy customer relations if anyone asks me.
As life often does, teaching me irony rules, the fantastic Co. I now work with purchased a brand new CR Onsrud less than 6 months before my joining the team. So, I am constantly reminded, diplomacy based on honor and respect are what work, regardless of whether or not that's what we experience when we depend on a supplier who chooses to use their leverage in a predatory way.

We have had plenty of experience with our 145G12 model Panelpro router.
We just did a major upgrade and will be selling some of the parts like the NEE Controls AMCB controller, Touchpad and stand along with the Kollmorgen ServoStar servo's.
Feel free to email if you need parts or info on post processors and such.
Ken

If you are looking at an AMC controlled machine that is at auction, you are really just by the frame of the machine. NEE stopped producing parts for the AMC control system over a decade ago. It is not really the machine manufacturer's fault (Onsrud in this case) as that parts are not available. The machinery OEMs did not make the controls systems and have no way to repair the circuit boards any more than Google (who makes Android) can sell you replacement hardware for an old cell phone.

I would look at a new machine that come with a warranty. It will be cheaper in the long run as an old machine can easily become a money pit on top of the fact that newer machines are MUCH faster than machines from a decade or more ago.