Safety first!

How easy are SureCAM machines to use?

What is the ideal work area?

Why do I need your swarf extraction?

Growing your system!

Are Drivers for PC and Mac?

Are SureCAM machines compatible with classroom software´s?

Can I incorporate 2D and 3D cutting parameters in one project?

Can I machine both sides of a project?

Can I collaborate with European schools?

What is the Hi-Drive Job Spooler?

How fast are SureCAM machines?

How reliable are SureCAM machines?

What maintenance is required?

How long can I expect my CAM machine to be supported?

Tell me about the warranty

Why do you include training in the price?

Safety first! Back to Top
All SureCAM machines have a safety interlocked cover which shuts down the machine if opened making them completely safe for use by pupils of staff alike. SureCAM machines are built to conform with the latest specifications and regulations and are CE marked.

We recommend a trained adult should attend CAM machines during pupil use.

How easy are SureCAM machines to use? Back to Top
We'll deliver, set up the CAM machine and train you in the operation of the machine, we'll also provide some tips and best practices based upon our experience, you'll feel familiar and in control of your machine enabling you to make immediate use of it and to its best potential too.

We've automated many routine and tedious tasks to ensure SureCAM machines offer the quickest and simplest set up of any CAM machine, gone are the days of having to datum a CAM machine through an array of settings on a control panel. Our automated set-up has other benefits too, did you know you could remove a part-finished project from our machines at the end of a lesson and replace it back in exactly the same place at a convenient time to finish it!

If you need convincing organise a demonstration we're sure you won't be disappointed.

What is the ideal work area? Back to Top
The work area you need will be decided by the age of your pupils and what you are planning to teach, for instance a Wizzard is an ideal KS3 or electronics machine, but if you are teaching A level students you'll defiantly want something in the order of an Excalibur or even a Gryphon. How large your projects are and how much depth do you need to load them will also have a bearing. Thanks to 3D-GeoCAM you can make models outside of the vertical clearance (Z) by slicing them into manageable chunks.

Typically the bigger the work area the larger and more complex the projects can be produced.

Work areas are detailed on the product pages, SureCAM machines can access the full area specified!

Why do I need your swarf extraction? Back to Top
Thanks to their industrial heritage SureCAM machines are capable of very fast machining rates and these can only be maintained if the swarf is removed from the cutting area, if in doubt one of our representatives can visit you

Growing your system! Back to Top
Sadly we can't increase the machines capacity beyond it's original design but we do offer excellent part exchange prices.

Are drivers available for PC and Mac? Back to Top
Drivers are only available for PC's at this time.

Are SureCAM machines compatible with classroom software's ? Back to Top
SureCAM machines will work with all popular educational DT software's. Where still in use the Excalibur and Wizzard can be "driven" directly from Techsoft 2D Design to produce cut out shapes from sheet materials. 3D-GeoCAM is our recommended software for the production of 2D (contour) or 3D tool paths created in ProDESKTOP, ArtCAM or any other package capable of producing an STL file.

SureCAM machines are backwardly compatible with Millwizard and MiniCAM.

Galaad and Gawain software's can also drive SureCAM machines

Can I incorporate 2D and 3D cutting parameters in one project? Back to Top
If you can program it you can with a SureCAM, i.e. yes if your software supports it!

Can I machine both sides of a project? Back to Top
Yes with a flip over vice.

Can I collaborate with European schools? Back to Top
Galaad is widely known in European schools and colleges, the job/project data is stored within the software system using common attributes allowing your partners in Europe to open the file and work on it in their own language.

What is the Hi-Drive Job Spooler? Back to Top
The Hi-Drive spooler is used to import cutter paths generated within 3D-GeoCAM, MiniCAM and MillWizard. Simply use the Windows navigation to point to and specify the files to add to the spooler, specify how many copies you'd like and machine them. At any point you can re-list the jobs within the spooler to re-send them.

How fast are SureCAM machines? Back to Top
Very! SureCAM machines are controlled with our latest Hi-Drive controller and features many state of the art components along with special routines and processes we have developed over the years. There has been a good deal of controversy regarding stepper motors vs. servo motors in the motion control system.

Some manufacturers use servo motors and cite the advantage they greater acceleration, however because servo motors are always dynamically hunting for their position they cannot position themselves as accurately as stepper motors and close inspection of a line machined on a servo system will show it's not straight. A stepper motor system however has a positive placement that "locks" the motion system resulting in straight lines.

The Hi-Drive control system digitally amylases each component of the project to produce the fastest route to its completion. All machine manufacturers cite a high top speed for moving but we believe acceleration and control are more important factors. Hi-Drive enables us not only to have high-end move rates but of greater benefit have been the acceleration times which we have halved. Tests have shown Hi-Drive controlled systems complete jobs in less than half the time taken by our older and more conventional drive system (which still wasn't a slouch). For the more technically minded the advances were made possible through developing a very high-resolution control system driven by an ultra fast processor, which uses ultra high-tech predictive motion analysis!

What does this mean for YOU? A machine that is capable of faster cutting speeds and smoother control of the cutting head, resulting in products that are made faster and to a higher standard.

How reliable are SureCAM machines? Back to Top
We control the design and manufacture of the complete CAM system that affords us complete control of quality. We've over 16,000 machines installed world-wide which goes to give you some indication of the reliability of Dahlgren, Suregrave and SureCAM machines. If you want to speak to a SureCAM machine user then request this on the information/demonstrtion form and we'll put you in touch with customers in your locality (where possible)

What maintenance is required? Back to Top
The key to quick and hassle free operation is always to maintain the swarf extraction and to ensure it's used every time you operate the machine! If you think the extraction flow is failing then a minute cleaning the blockage will ensure future projects are cut successfully.

Machines should be regularly cleaned to maintain maximum productivity; thanks to the integral swarf extraction we pick up the vast majority of the waste and all SureCAM machines are easy to access, clean and maintain. We fit sealed bearings with wipers and the leads-crews and nuts will keep themselves "relatively" clean.

How often you carry out a cleaning routine will be dependant upon the amount of use and/or type of materials you process, we'd suggest one a week is adequate in normal use.

How long can I expect my CAM machine to be supported? Back to Top
Suregrave provide parts and engineering support for their products for a minimum of a decade. In all likelihood this is a minimum period, we are still able to support machines manufactured over twenty years ago.

Tell me about the warranty Back to Top
The standard warranty provided is 3 years for the machine and its moving parts, specific items like the spindle (Wizzard) are excluded as they contain wearable and replicable parts or otherwise are simply an exchange unit (router motors) 2 years for the laser cartridge. To maintain your warranty we'll ask you to have the machine serviced before the end of year one, we have special discounted rates for schools outside of term times.

Why do you include training in the price? Back to Top
We consider training a prerequisite; each and every SureCAM machine supplied by Suregrave to the end user is delivered and installed by a trained engineer. This will make you familiar both with the machines operation, and its true potential and ability.

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