Hey guys. We are looking at getting a processor. But there is one issue... I have absolutley no idea how to run the head. Its a logmax 7000xt and if anybody could explain the head controls, it would be greatly appreciated. I have never run a processor before but it would be a valuble asset for us to have and better in our work then a delimber. Thanks, John
How does Logmax usually start their customers on new machines that cost $xxx xxx? http://www.logmax.com/en/service-support/training More operators of processing heads start their training on simulators now. Do you have a simulator facility within a sensible distance? As well as the simulator, a processing head is often disassembled at the training facility to show the various components and what needs to be maintained and how to maintain/ repair the simple problems. In Forest start up - might be best to start up with an experienced operator/ trainer to show the correct way of operating the head. It is one thing to run a processor head, another matter to operate a head with skill and efficiency. http://youtu.be/pGnUyazd8e4 (screen simulator) http://fridayoffcuts.com/dsp_article.cfm?id=599&date={ts '2014-10-24 00:00:00'}&aid=6700 (John Deere e series simulator) http://youtu.be/GCDLZF_LXLw (Go through the various logmax7000xt videos)
I agree 100%. You should get training on the product, and the trainer should also demo how to be efficient with the machine.
Thanks guys for the response. I agree with everything you guys are saying. What I am asking and I wasn't clear enough in my original post was what the controls are to see how hard they will be. We have an operator, and he can run delimber, but we want to know what the controls are, so we can see how hard it is. Being in our location we don't have many processors around here. We do land clearing and we need something to deck with. Like the processor due to small spaces to work in. Thanks guys for the response, John
You jump in it and learn. Learn it as you run it.
If you have a dealer or service agent nearby it would be worth getting them out to show you how to operate and maintain the unit. If you are buying new this should be covered as part of the purchase costs and done during the start up. When starting up a new head it takes a little while to get everything set and calibrated right to suit the timber you are working in. Depending on the control system that you get you can assign a button pattern that you feel comfortable with, unlike some other brands where they are trying to push a certain button pattern that not everyone likes. I have never been around a delimber so I dont know what the daily maintance is like. One thing to remember with a processor head it is good to learn how the measuring system works and remember to do regular length and diameter checks and calibration. Nothing worse then having a heap of wood cut the finding out that it is all over length
Logmax in our area uses Motomit or Logmate software. Both have different requirements for controls. The levers of choice used to be Suregrip L Handle with an extra keypad added to it on one side. That might be different nowadays, as I know machines coming from the factory can have Parker IQAN controls or other brands. Look at Rottne, Ponssee, John Deere and Logmax website for pictures of levers. Its not hard, but requires training. Jumping in and learning yourself as Hallback mentioned can work, but it can be very frustrating, time consuming, and also prone to be a inefficient operator. We had operators take training after years of being in the machine, and come out with a much improved efficiency rate. I did see one guy learn to operate a harvester himself, he was very dedicated and only ran the machine for an 1 hour the first day. 2 hours the second day, and gradually made his way up to 8 or more hour a days. He would also read the owners manual every night so he knew the machine front to back. Mind you he was the owner of the machine and was determined to succeed.
Don't get too hung up on joystick button patterns. Sure, they are different than a delimber, but the real challenge is learning how process trees in a different manner. When we switched from delimbers to dangle heads, it took a couple of days to get comfortable with the new controls and maybe a couple of weeks to get to the point where we felt we were really productive. We set our landings up differently now then we did with the delimber. It was a good switch for us. Production has increased and downtime has decreased.
Voice activated controls with a manual button back up might be the way to go. http://youtu.be/6Ws4UgLy5vU http://youtu.be/1o8UAOIKkoc (Also 3 screen Orynx simulators now)