Review: The new GraverMach AT

[Sam]

I've been testing the new GRS GraverMach AT and thought I'd share my
experience with this dual-mode system. It features conventional foot
pedal engraving and Airtact palm operation in a single unit. Gone is
the need for an outboard Airtact box!

You may recall that I've been using the Airtact for over 2
years, but still use a foot pedal for sculpting, stippling, certain
stone setting functions, hammering, and undercutting and inlaying
gold. The reason is because I grip the handpiece differently for these
operations, which is more like a pencil grip as opposed to a palm
grip. My foot pedal has been the low profile FootPod which has served
me well, but the standard foot pedal is a bit easier to control but
was not an option.

GRS designed the original Airtact system to enable palm handpiece
actuation for all of the GRS engraving systems (except the
Gravermeister). All that's needed is the Airtact box and handpiece
knob and you can engrave by palm pressure. It only seemed logical that
GRS would eventually combine the Airtact and GraverMach into a single
system, and that's what they have done. This new combo version is not
only convenient, but allows the user instantaneous change from palm to
pedal engraving with the flip of a switch. Not only that, but the
pedal is the conventional foot pedal that GRS users are comfortable
with.

In addition to the standard GraverMach controls, the new GraverMach AT
has its Airtact controls neatly arranged on the front panel. At the
top left is the Airtact pressure gauge. In the top center is the
Airtact regulator adjustment (I keep mine set between 10 and 15lbs).
The power ON/OFF button is now located at the top right with a green
light indicating power-on. Gone is the red GRS power-off light.

When powering off the GraverMach AT, you'll hear the pop of the
internal solenoid which disconnects the air supply to the system. This
is a most welcome feature! Leaving the compressor on when I go to
lunch means it won't be cycling on and off as long as the GraverMach
AT's power switch is set to OFF.

The front panel center section features the same bias control (micro
adjustment for precise pressure regulation) and air gauge as before.
The knob at center right is the same regulator adjust knob which has
been relocated to the right of the gauge.

The lower panel section has the handpiece selector in the same area as
before, but located slightly higher to accommodate the dual Airtact
handpiece tubes. Having the tubes in one location is certainly tidier
than the outboard Airtact unit. As a bonus, the selector switch also
simultaneously switches both the power air (big handpiece tube) and
the control air (small line for Airtact hand function) at the same
time. Gone is the need to flip a second toggle when switching
handpieces. Another very nice improvement.

In the bottom center is the SPM (strokes per minute) control which is
unchanged. To the right of the SPM control is the foot and hand
selector switch. Flipping this switch instantly places the GraverMach
AT in pedal or hand mode and no additional adjustment is required.
This makes for extremely fast and seamless operation of pedal and hand
modes.

Some of my special purpose tools include beading tools, millgrain
tools, and liners which are longer and not particularly suited to the
Airtact without shortening them. With the GraverMach AT, the
instantaneous change to pedal operation means more productivity with
tools I might not choose because I don't feel like disconnecting a
handpiece tube and reconnecting the FootPod tube just to make a few
cuts. Now I only have to flip the switch to pedal, mount my long
graver and start cutting. A flip of the switch takes me back to palm,
so I have the best of both worlds. For my work, this is a huge
benefit.

Lastly, the bottom right AUX knob remains unchanged. This is an
auxiliary connection for air turbine handpieces, etc., but the front
mounted AUX quick connect fitting has been relocated to the back of
machine. This makes a tidier setup for those who keep a turbine
handpiece attached by moving its air tube to the back and out of
the way.

The box itself is 3/4" (1.9cm) wider and 1" (2.5cm) longer than the
GraverMach, and has a nicely contoured front panel. The height hasn't
changed and the footprint is slightly larger than the GraverMach.

In operation, the GraverMach AT performs as beautifully as a standard
GraverMach. It's smooth, quiet, rugged, extremely powerful, and
delicate enough to engrave a gnat's eyelashes. Others who have tested
this system have reported enhanced sensitivity, probably due to the
closer proximity of components as opposed to an outboard Airtact unit.
Another benefit from the built-in switchover from foot to hand is it allows
people to comfortably transition to hand control with the confidence of
instantly returning to the familiar foot control.

While it's convenient to have everything in one box, the biggest
advantage for me is the seamless operation from hand to foot pedal
engraving. This has made my daily work easier and faster and I'm
utilizing many of my tools that are not particularly Airtact friendly
due to their longer length. The GraverMach AT's improvements and
enhancements make this a really nice upgrade from the folks at GRS.


~Sam

[photo courtesy of GRS]

 

[Arnaud Van Tilburgh]

Thanks for the review Sam.
I don't understand all the features you mention, as I only have experience with the graversmith.
However when in the future I will have a 5 days course, I understand better about the differences between the Graversmith, Gravermax, Gravermach and GraverMach AT.

I had good information from the Alexandre Toolshop in Antwerp before buying the 901 hand piece and the Graversmith, for the rest there are only a few people who can explain the differences here in Antwerp, as these tools are mostly used for stone setting.
The shops who are selling the GRS tools can't give you the right info, and in my opinion the GRS website could do better giving more technical info on their products.

In times when there is no economic crisis, one go for the best tool that is the most expensive one, even if he do not need all the features.

I remember you also told me to have the monarch for shading, however I ordered the piston upgrade V3 for the 901, and till now, I can't imagine I'm missing something, except more engraving skills of course.

arnaud

 

[eastslope]

I have been using my GraverMach AT since Monday, and I love it. Works great. This is the reason I am selling my old GraverMach and Airtact unit. It's a good honest review by Mr. Alphano. Seth

 

[delder]

Thanks for the great review Sam. I don't see the "AT" on the GRS website. When will it be available ?

 

[Sam]

Arnaud: If you'd like to see a GraverMach AT, Alexandre has one on his bench in his Antwerp shop. I'm sure he wouldn't mind demonstrating it for you.

Cheers / ~Sam

 

[Sam]

I heard they are either shipping now or have shipped the first batch. You should probably check with them for availability. I don't see it on their website either.

 

[Jackson]

So how does the AitTact compare with the Lindsay Airgravers. I had been a push engraver for years then switched to the gravermax some time back. I recently saw one of the Lindsay Airgravers at a cowboy shoot that Jim Downing was engraving with. I did not know that GRS had a similar product ( i dont get out much ) so I just wanted to know who uses what and why.
Thanks
Jackson

 

[KCSteve]

Looks like a nice unit.

Controls are logically layed out and it sounds like they've included as much as they can from things people have mentioned wanting. The automatic air cut out sounds like a winner - now there's no need to use a separate control to turn off the air so there's also much less chance of turning the unit on without air.

 

[Sam]

So how does the AitTact compare with the Lindsay Airgravers. I had been a push engraver for years then switched to the gravermax some time back. I recently saw one of the Lindsay Airgravers at a cowboy shoot that Jim Downing was engraving with. I did not know that GRS had a similar product ( i dont get out much ) so I just wanted to know who uses what and why.
Thanks
Jackson

Jackson: Lindsay's system is self oscillating and requires no control unit. The GRS systems have a rotary valve that delivers air pulses to the handpieces. Both systems have a piston, GRS has a return spring and Lindsay's do not. When you push the foot pedal or Airtact palm element on the GRS system, the strokes per minute remain constant but power increases. On Lindsay systems both the strokes per minute and power increase when you push the pedal or Palm Control knob. Someone can correct me if I have this wrong. I don't own a Lindsay system and only have a few hours experience with them. Check the Gallery and you'll find plenty of world class engraving done with both GRS and Lindsay handpiece. Different engravers have different reasons for preferring one over the other.

Cheers / ~Sam

 

[dhall]

Pricing?

Thanks,
Doug

 

[Marcus Hunt]

Hope I can have a play with one next week!

 

[Mike Cirelli]

Sam when you switch from hand to foot can you still use the same airtact fitted handpiece? It looks like a sweet little machine.

 

[Marcus Hunt]

I just had a week playing with a GraverMach AT and I was hugely impressed with it. There seems to definitely be an increase in finesse, I found. It's really difficult to put a finger on what exactly is happening as my normal Airtact is brilliant and super smooth, but there was a difference.

The ability to switch instantly to a foot pedal is fantastic and in answer to your question Mike, you don't have to change handpieces. I use the 'footpod' regularly and like it very much but having to hook/unhook it all the time in order to use different handpieces is a pain in the butt. The instant switchability to hand/foot control is an enormous advance.

The materials used in the build are second to none too. Self lubricating, carbon reinforced plastic is used. This results in a near indestructible (under normal use) unit. And, if in the very unlikely event that things ever do go wrong, the modular construction means minimum of disruption to the workflow of the engraver as parts are simple to replace. However, I tried to break this plastic and there is absolutely no way I could do any damage (it's STRONG stuff) so under normal operating procedures I'd say the AT is virtually 'bomb proof'!

Like Sam, and others that have used the AT, I am immensely impressed with it and know that it is definitely on my wish list to upgrade my Mach and Airtact combo.

Superb work from all the guys and gals at GRS!

 

[Sam]

There's something about the GraverMach AT and standalone Airtact that I forgot to mention in my review, and that's the ability to set a power limit when doing really fine work. Lower the Airtact's pressure to the maximum power you want and it will not exceed that limit. This provides a safety net for newbies switching over from foot pedal operation, and also makes for really comfortable long stretches of repetitive cuts like borders or shading, making it difficult or impossible to cut too deep. I noticed Marcus using this feature and it's definitely worth mentioning.

 

[John Cleston]

strokes per minute

Hi Sam,

Do you have any information about the range of strokes the GRS System 3 can produce?

I have just completed the NRA 10 day course at Montgomery Community College. Some of the students brought their own equipment and I got some exposure to many of thje GRS equipment.

90 degree sharpeners were easy to sharpen using my Dual Angle Sharpening Fixture, The one difficulty I experienced was using it to sharpen GRS 120 degree graver blanks. Do you have any advise?

 

[pilkguns]

.

90 degree sharpeners were easy to sharpen using my Dual Angle Sharpening Fixture, The one difficulty I experienced was using it to sharpen GRS 120 degree graver blanks. Do you have any advise?

Should be exactly the same, just use 30 degrees instead of 45 for the chuck dial when making the heels

180-90 =90 90/2= 45 per side
180-120=60 60/2=30 per side

 

[John Cleston]

Hi Scott:

I figured out the tool math after awhile the trouble I had was chucking up the tool. The full length 120 degree faces left me with some doubt that I was as locked in as the 90 degree angles did. No gaps showing once the tool is chucked up.

As a newbe I could be missing something simple.

 

[Billzach]

Sam and Marcus
I thought I was finished buying tools for a while after I brought the airtact last year to hook up to my gravermax, but you got me wanting a Gravermach AT, will my handpieces work on the gravermach?

 

[Sam]

Yes, Bill. Whatever handpieces you're using with your Airtact will work on the GraverMach AT. With the carvings you do it will be very interesting to hear your review of this new machine.

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Hi Bill

What are you saying!!.............Given up buying tools for a while!!!!

This isn't some sort of mid life crises thing is it??

Cheers
Andrew