These were originally supplied in the early 1990's together with a DOS based Toledo Logic Company 'TLC' controller. The original controllers were becoming unreliable and maintenance support was increasingly difficult to obtain. Additionally the original DOS based 'EC' software supplied was antiquated, limited and difficult to use.

The company decided to upgrade the machine controllers with Apex Advanced Machine Controllers, and the software with Job Layout Software 'JLS'. Until recently, when NEE began to sell the Apex AMC 3 and JLS direct, both had been exclusively sold through either Newing-Hall Ltd. of Leeds, England, or Newing-Hall Inc of Toledo, Ohio, USA.

An NEE Engineer carried out the upgrade at Besson. He first inspected both machines to ensure that there were no mechanical problems.

Apex AMC 3 controller Click for larger view

He then replaced the TLC controller on the NH400 machine as it had already failed. A training session followed on the use of the new JLS software and the controller. Our engineer then converted many of the old job programs to the new format as requested. The NH350 was converted subsequently.

Important factors in Besson's decision to retrofit our Apex AMC 3 were:

• the considerable machine productivity increases provided by the Apex AMC controllers due to the inherent power of the controller and NEE's ability to get more productivity from the machines by optimising the Apex AMC 3 controller configuration files to precisely suit each machine
  
  
• the great improvement in machine motion smoothness and quietness that results from the use of modern stepper drives that provide 10 times more motor steps per revolution giving a movement resolution of 0.0016mm.
  
  
• NEE's thorough knowledge of the controller and software
  
  
• NEE's ability to convert then optimise Bessons old job files from the .F files produced by EC, to .PLT files that are compatible with JLS
  
  
• the ability of JLS to create reliable archives of converted jobs
  
  
• the far greater flexibility JLS has to rapidly create far more artistic and imaginative jobs
  
  
• the availability and quality of subsequent direct controller and software support