Contact us to learn more about joining the 
Advanced Support Program. 1-800-221-3865 ext. 251 or 319

Avoid Obsolescence with Continuing Updates

CNC Router technology has advanced dramatically and the rate of change is increasing. A machine purchased today may be at a competitive disadvantage to newer machines in just a few years. Thermwood is the only CNC router manufacturer that protects you from this danger by offering ongoing system software and hardware updates. The Advanced Support Program offers these updates at the lowest possible cost. The system software update, normally $2,500 for each year is included free of charge for member companies. Savings on software upgrades alone can easily pay for membership in the Advanced Support Program.

Service is Virtually Instant  
Nearly Eliminate Service Cost  
The Advanced Support Program is the Answer  
The Advanced Support Program is Simple  
To Summarize, Machines enrolled in the program shall receive:  

Advanced Support Program Brochure Adobe Acrobat


Give us your ideas about new items or features!
Advanced Support Suggestion Box

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service is Virtually Instant
Virtual ServiceA system called "Virtual Service" is provided for members of the Advanced Support Program. "Virtual Service" is a powerful audio and video link, using an internet connection, between the customer's SuperControl and the Thermwood service department. When the "Virtual Service" link is established, the customer can see and talk to the Thermwood service technician and the service technician can see, not only the customer, but also all of the critical parameters of the control.

It essentially gives the service technician as much information as standing in front of the customer's control itself. Virtual ServiceThrough this link, the control can be diagnosed in real-time while programs are being executed and corrections can be made. Programming errors can be found and corrected on-line. Customers can typically handle many mechanical problems if they are shown what to do, so videos can be launched by the Thermwood technician to be viewed by the customer. "Virtual Service" can effectively handle most difficulties and problems that occur. This reduces or possibly eliminates a costly service trip, when resolved by pushing a button to contact Thermwood. It provides service in minutes instead of days or weeks, reducing both downtime and frustration.

 

Nearly Eliminate Service Cost
Nearly Eliminate Service CostAs a Thermwood customer you already know how incredibly reliable Thermwood machines are, but even healthy people invest in health insurance. As a member of the Advanced Support Program, your SuperControl is covered by an ongoing limited warranty, both parts and labor. For as long as you remain on the program, all defective control system parts are free. Should you need service labor to repair or replace a control system part, you simply pay for travel expenses and the labor is also free. In fact any service labor required to repair or replace any part of the machine found to be defective is free under the program (Labor Warranty applies only to U.S. customers with machines already connected to Virtual Service.) And if you require repair parts, they are available at a 20% discount. A single major problem can easily pay for the program for several years.

Thermwood operates the Advanced Support Program for two purposes, to keep your Thermwood CNC router updated and competitive and to insure against major expenses for repair. The unstated goal underlying the entire program is to do these things at the lowest possible cost to you, the Thermwood user.

You have purchased your CNC router from the one company dedicated to continuous technical updates, Thermwood. Most CNC control and machine manufacturers want your machine to become old and obsolete so you eventually discard it and buy a new one. The problem is that you may spend many, many years nursing along a machine that really can’t compete with the new machines your competitors are buying. Even if it is state-of-the-art when you buy it, it is quickly eclipsed by advancing technology. You are faced with a dilemma. If I don’t buy a modern machine I won’t be able to compete today and if I do buy one, it will quickly become obsolete and I still won’t be competitive.

You have selected the best, most advanced CNC router on the market. Now, maintain your competitive advantage and keep your machine in top working order by joining the Advanced Support Program.

The Advanced Support Program is the Answer.
Thermwood wants its customers to be the most competitive, most successful companies in the business. If our customers grow because of our machines, they will buy more machines. They will be successful and we will be successful, a great partnership.

Thermwood is in a unique position to support this partnership. We are the only CNC router manufacturer to control all technical aspects of our machines. We build our own controls and maintain an aggressive ongoing technical research and development program. We make certain that new advances can be retrofitted to older machines. Our competitors must purchase their controls from others. These commercial CNC control manufacturers get half or more of their revenue from replacing their own obsolete controls in the field. They have little interest in prolonging and enhancing existing controls, so even if the machine manufacturer would like to keep you updated, they can’t do it.

The Advanced Support Program is Simple.
Bring your machine up to date with the Advanced Support ProgramYou pay a small ongoing fee for each machine on the program. In return you get an software update, free of charge to bring your system up to current standards. If you are not on the program, this update will cost $2,500. If new hardware is required for future software versions, those components will be quoted at the time of the upgrade. With the software and possibly hardware update you have the same features and performance as a new machine, each year, for a tiny fraction of new machine cost. This may mean faster speeds, smoother operation and new control features, but there is even more to the program.

Members are provided with “Virtual Service”. With this powerful audio and video link the customer can see and talk to the Thermwood service person and the service person can see, not only the customer, but also all of the critical parameters of the control. It essentially gives the service technician as much information as standing in front of the customer’s control itself. The control can be diagnosed in real-time while programs execute. Corrections can be made to the control, programming errors found and corrected, and mechanical problems communicated. Videos, showing how to perform many maintenance functions, can be launched by Thermwood to be viewed by the customer. It reduces service cost but retains highly qualified service people. It provides service in minutes instead of days or weeks, reducing both downtime and frustration.

With the purchase of a new machine Thermwood offers a one-year limited parts warranty. There is no cost to correct defects in parts or workmanship during that period although, if a technician is required to travel to your facility, you are required to cover the travel expenses. Under the Advanced Support Program this warranty is extended for the control system continuously. At any time should a part on the control system fail, it is covered just as if it occurred during the first year. Drive Modules, Frequency Converters, and Air Conditioners are not part of the full control system warranty.

Those of you who have run Thermwood machines for some time realize that the control is extremely reliable. If it weren't, we would not be able to make this offer. Still, things can and do fail and many times repair or replacement can be quite expensive. You can think of the Advanced Support Program as an insurance policy. For a small premium, an unlikely, but expensive problem can be handled at no cost. But there is more.

In addition to full parts coverage of the control, we offer continuing labor warranty on the control system and the machine (Labor Warranties apply to U.S. customers only.) Should your machine fail for any reason, you can get a qualified technical service representative to travel to your facility for no cost other than travel expenses. This labor warranty does not cover routine maintenance or customer inflicted damage.

In addition, repair parts for all machines enrolled on the program are available at a 20% discount (does not include catalog parts). A single major event can save you the cost of the program for several years.

This web site is designed to explain the program and inform you of what you might be missing with older control software. The site also has a suggestion box where customers that are on the program and also people that are not on the program can give us there suggestions for software enhancements. We want to know your ideas, being first hand users of the  SuperControl, for potential features that could benefit you in your daily operation.

The Advanced Support Program is available for any Thermwood Model machine equipped with a SuperControl for $225.00 monthly per machine or, at a discounted rate (reference the payment chart below).

Machine Qty.
Yearly Fee
1
$2500 per machine
2 to 5
$2250 per machine
Over 5
Contact Thermwood
Machine Qty.
5 Year Fee (5 years for the price of 4 years)
1
$10,000 per machine
2 to 5
$9,000 per machine
Over 5
Contact Thermwood
Machine quantities are based on single site locations.
Machine quantities are based on machines enrolled in the program.

 

To Summarize, Machines enrolled in the program shall receive:

  • Software upgrades, a $2,500 cost, will be issued at no charge to you as long as you remain on the program, does not include hardware if required..

  • Electronic hardware, if required, for the above mentioned future software upgrades will be quoted to you.

  • The Ultra 6 SuperControl will be under warranty as long as you remain on the program. Warranty includes parts and labor. Customer is to pay actual travel expenses.

  • The machine will be under warranty as long as you remain on the program. Warranty includes labor only. Customer is to pay actual travel expenses.

  • All machine replacement parts will available at a 20% discount as long as you remain on the program. Items such as cutter bits, fixture supplies, and spindle collets are excluded from this discount.

  • Increase linear axis feedrates to 1200 to 1500 inches per minute, excludes the “Z” axis. Some machines may already have the increased linear feedrates.

  • Model 67 machines only. Includes High Speed Head option, a $1,995 cost. Rotational axis speeds will be tripled and the acceleration rates doubled.. This option will require that some minor mechanical components be changed, these components are included. Some Model 67 machines may already have the High Speed Head option.

That’s the Advanced Support Program. Designed to keep you competitive, designed to handle problems and designed to do both at the lowest possible cost. With this program Thermwood is joining in partnership with its customers. The fees collected are intended not only to fund the program but also to help fund an even higher level of research and product development, which is then used to update the very machines that funded the effort. We at Thermwood believe that with the Advanced Support Program everyone is the winner. We become even stronger in our market because of loyal customers. Our customers become stronger in their market because they are using the most advanced state-of-the-art technology available.

Join today and prosper!

 




 

 

 

 


Software Version 3.35
CadPath
CadPath is used to convert a spline program into short (point to point) line segments. The program no longer has to calculate spline information "on the fly"; enabling it to exceed the 200 IPM maximum spline feed rate and
can now also use length compensation.

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Software Version 3.39
Partial NC Reset Warning
Allowing a partial NC reset gives the 91000 SuperControl great flexibility, however most of the time a partial NC reset was not intended and an operator may inadvertently cause the machine to perform something not intended. This feature prompts the operator and warns him of the situation. If they indeed wanted a partial NC reset they may accept it or if not they may cancel and perform the proper full reset

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Software Version 3.45
Spline Code
Spline Code has been dramatically enhanced to allow for a more predictable trajectory of motion when working with rotary axes. The software now uses both the system pivot distance and the active tool length to achieve a true pivot distance value for spline calculations.

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Software Version 3.70
Probe Scanning Auto-Save
The software prompts for a file name before any type of auto scanning is started and automatically saves at the end of the scan. This helps eliminate the possibility of losing a file because of operator error or power outage after a scan is completed.

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Software Version 4.00
New Operator Screen Layout
This new layout utilizes high-resolution graphics for better readability and appearance. Screen space has been enhanced to display more valuable program information than before.

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Software Version 4.03
Graphic Error Display
This feature is used to help identify the cause of an E-Stop error that may have occurred. A simple message outlining the problem is displayed at the top of the screen along with a graphic representation of the problem and its location on the machine.

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Software Version 4.15
Service Clock System
The Service Clock assures the timely and necessary maintenance of all serviceable parts on a machine. It tells the operator via a message on the main menu button that service is needed on a machine part. After pressing the button, the Service Clock displays a picture of the part to be maintained along with its location in red on the machine.

3-D Rotary Helix Support
Added support for 3-dimensional rotary helixes and multiple rotary axes commands within all helical arcs (2-D and 3-D).

Improved File Overwrite Protection
This protects against file loss due to accidental file overwrite, erase, new part creation, etc.

Hand-Held Block Stop
The Hand-Held Programmer now allows the operator to perform a Block Stop away from the control. By pressing the "Jog" key on the Hand-Held Programmer, a Block Stop is performed, and program execution is halted.

Label Quantity Increase
Maximum label quantity has been increased from 99 to 1000.

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Software Version 4.25
Relative Angle Movement (Axis 0)
Provides an easy method to program a 5 axis machine with rotary 4th and 5th axis to plunge on an angle or compound angle without the use of trigonometry to calculate the move. Axis zero (0) is designated as the relative movement axis and when commanded to move a given distance will move all the axes necessary to make the router travel in the direction it is pointing.

3-Point Arc
The 3-Point Arc conversion has been improved for working with rotary axis helical arcs. The SuperControl now keeps the rotary axis in the block of code after conversion, eliminating the need to tab to the line and add them later.

Length Compensation for Arcs
Length Compensation now supports Arcs, 3-D Arcs and all Helical Arcs.

Length Compensation Display On/Off
The upper left corner of the screen now displays whether Length Compensation is On (active) or Off (inactive).

Length Compensation "On the Fly"
If a program is stopped via Block Stop and a tool table change is made to the currently active tool, the SuperControl now automatically adjusts to the new values upon a restart.

Tool Holder/Turret Number Display
The screen now displays the active Tool Holder or Turret Number and enables operators to see at a glance what tool should be in the router spindle.

Dual Table Pulse Wheel Programming
Operators may now use the Pulse Wheel of the Hand-Held Programmer directly to program on the second table of a dual table machine.

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Software Version 4.39
AFL Variables Increase
The number of AFL variables has increased from 256 to 384.

New Arc Creation Feature
Allows arc centers to be defined in absolute while programming.

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Thermwood 99
Tool Management System
The Tool Management System was created to simplify the management of the spindle types (actuators), tool changers and tools on a machine. As the systems on individual machines became more diversified, tooling macros grew larger and more complex, and executed slower. Tool Management solves this problem by providing a central "fill in the blank" type of program that allows the configuration of actuators, tool changers and the tools themselves. This can drastically improve tool change times. Tool Management especially benefits turret style tool change machines, which now can rotate the turret, reconfigure parameters for the new tool and index simultaneously. Operators use the Tool Setup screen to assign each tool to an actuator, actuator position, tool changer and tool changer position. The Thermwood Control automatically enters the rest. The Tool Management System allows tools 1-999 to be used on all machines. In other words, any tool number can now be assigned to any actuator. Also, more than one tool number can be associated with the same actuator. Examples: The Main Router on a standard machine is not limited to tool 101. The Turret will no longer be restricted to tools 141-156. The fifty (50) tool changer will not be restricted to tools 1-50.

3-D Circle Macros for 5 Axis Machines
Macros designed to automatically plunge into the middle of the circle, move to twelve o-clock in a straight line, complete a 360 degree circle, move back to the center of the circle and then retract out to the same location it was at before performing the circle.

Quick Shutdown
Perform a quick system shutdown, safe and easily. Simply press "alt-Q" simultaneously.

Pointer Misalignment Message
This message prompts the operator and warns of misalignment. If a block stop is performed after start is pushed and then the cursor is manually moved from the current location and not put back before the start, block step +, or block step - are pushed again, it will warn of the misalignment.

World Coordinate Program Values (G79)
This new G-code is very similar to G90, except that is always references machine Home regardless of any active G92, G51, G54, G52L# or G53L#.

Part Coordinate Set (G51)
This redefines part zero relative to machine Home. It doesn't perform any machine motions, and cancels any previous G51 or active G92, G54, G52L# or G53L#. Example: G51 X# Y#

Fixture Offset (G52L#)
G52L# redefines part zero relative to machine Home. It doesn't perform any machine motions, and references values stored in the fixture table (which may contain up to 100 separate fixture locations).

Fixture Offset (G53L#)
The G53L# redefines part zero relative to machine Home. It performs an interpolated motion to the values stored in the fixture table using the last active feed rate, and cancels any previous G53L# or any active G92, G51, G54, G52L#.

Tool Offset (G54)
This G-code incrementally adjusts the current G92, G51, G52L# or G53L# by the values stated. The G54 values are defined by imagining the distance and axis direction needed to get from the main tool to the secondary tool. It does not perform any machine motions.

Timer Subprogram
Timer Subprograms work by placing a subprogram at the beginning of the program to mark the starting point and then placing a subprogram at the end marking the stopping point. The exact time will be measured within one second of accuracy and displayed on the SuperControl monitor.

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Thermwood 2000
Part Program Variable Color Display:
The Thermwood part program display area now allows separate colors to be set to individual Letter Codes (X, Y, G, M, etc.) and Comment lines within the current file loaded. This can make specific codes stand out and easier to distinguish. Operator can set individual colors from a list of 16. Colors do not display during run mode. (Some colors may conflict with background colors)

Rapid Traverse Teaching Capability:
The SuperControl now allows "G00" Rapid Traverse motions to be entered directly from the Hand Held Programmer. To enter a move as a rapid traverse use the normal line teach function, but instead of just pressing the enter key, press Shift + Speed + Enter and the move will automatically be entered as a rapid traverse move (G00).

Rapid Traverse By-Pass Code:
M48 and M49. When M48 is executed it allows control over G00 motions with the Feed Rate Override knob. The M48 causes rapid traverse lines to move at normal G01 acceleration rates but always at top machine speed. The M49 or a HOME routine sets this back to standard, where G00 moves are not affected by the Feed Rate Override and move at high acceleration rates. This feature is very useful for proofing programs. Gives you control over rapid moves via the Feed Rate Override Knob without having to modify all lines that are assigned to rapid traverse within a part program.

Real Time Tool Life Monitoring:
Tool life is now more accurate than the previous method. With the new system the SuperControl will only reduce the life of the active tool if machine motion is detected and the spindle is on (if detectable).

Tool Life Wear Factor:
This feature allows the programmer to force the tool life to diminish at a faster rate. This is useful for programs that may use the same tool to cut a multitude of different materials. For example, a tool may last longer machining oak vs. walnut and the tool life is set for the max life for oak. So, if it is determined that walnut wears the tool 1.5 times faster then oak, then the following syntax can be placed into the part program to adjust the wear factor. Syntax: [WEARFAC 1.5].

Automatic Tool Substitution Feature:
This feature is designed for tool changing machines. It allows the programmer to set a substitute tool to be called automatically once the life has expired on the main tool used. When a tool is called the SuperControl checks if this tool's life is expired, if it is it will automatically call the next tool assigned as a substitute for the called tool, as long as its life is not expired as well. The only limit to the number of substitute tools that can be set is the capacity of the tool changer itself.

Tool Management System (5-Axis):
Tool Management System now implemented for 5-axis machines.

Full Label Scan Capability:
The SuperControl now has the capability to scan entire programs for labels. This allows extremely large programs that contain labels to execute.

Vertical Axis Clearance Motion Suppression:
It is now possible to inhibit the "Z" axis clearance motion when changing from one tool to another on the same actuator. The system automatically raises the 'Z" axis to the full up, HOME position when you change from one tool to another to assure clearance. In some cases, you may not need this, for example a dual spindle horizontal drill. When you change from drilling with one end of the spindle to other, it may not be necessary to perform the clearance motion. It is now possible to inhibit this clearance motion in these instances. Requires the following syntax !No_Z_Up! to be entered into the Description field of the tool setup screen.

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QCore SuperControl Features

 

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Contact us to learn more about joining the 
Advanced Support Program. 1-800-221-3865 ext. 251 or 319