AMP with Aztec Mode

[Willie]

I'm glad I watched the 22:36 video "Aztec Mode Instructional" on this page https://www.ampannealing.com/aztec-settings/

Think I'll wait a while before pulling the trigger.

That was a confusing video. Sounds as if there are some new things Alex is finding out. I'm sure there will be a shakedown period before all the bugs are addressed. I think they may have rushed things, when announcing it for SHOT.

I hope the guys using it will report what they're seeing. Til then, I'll hold off downloading Aztec, if I can stand it.

 

[Willie]

I was hoping to see some response from those using the AMP/Aztec combination by now. As this thread is over to page four, I'll kick in a little bit of my very limited experience.

I was gonna wait until all the inevitable bugs we're worked out, but just couldn't stand the wait. Bought the update from Graf and downloaded the second version update. It worked fine, but wouldn't unlock with the code.

After a couple of tries, I contacted Alex and, as always he was quick to respond. They found the problem and had me uninstall version 2. Overnight they had update on the website and I installed it with no further problems.

Alex and Matt were there every step, trouble shooting the upgrade and my computer skills. My hat is off to their entire crew, as they were putting in many hours.

Tried it out on 150 pieces of 280ai brass to get the feel of it. Necks were turned to .013 and was weight sorted to 3 lots. I did not use the sort mode.
Lot #1 was lightest and 30% had less than .013" on portions of their neck.

I chose a mid-weight case from each lot, for the sacrifical case. I ran those cases to get the code for each lot. Those sacrifical cases took a beating.

These cases were very clean and did not show the vivid marks that are normal, but I could clearly see the change. Alex told me the code for annealing similar lots would show very wide variance, but would Anneal cases the right amount. Comparisons of all 3 lots, showed that to be true.

 

[David Christian]

I spent some time testing the sort mode today using once fired Lapua brass that were freshly sized, SST, and trimmed with my Giraud. Here are my results:

Sorted 40 cases and they ranged from -4 on the left all the way to +1 on the right.


I then Re-zeroed the machine using my original -2 row and resorted. I now have a zero row with half and a -1 row with the other half???

Hopefully someone else is finding value in the sort mode as it definitely feels like it is in the "beta" testing phase. Worth the $250? Not yet...

 

[Twoboxer]

That was a confusing video. Sounds as if there are some new things Alex is finding out. I'm sure there will be a shakedown period before all the bugs are addressed. I think they may have rushed things, when announcing it for SHOT.

I hope the guys using it will report what they're seeing. Til then, I'll hold off downloading Aztec, if I can stand it.

The "confusion" was enough to put me off. But the comments about variations due to different trim lengths gave me pause about the actual consistency of the basic AMP annealing as well.

Might be nothing to worry about, but the whole thing wasn't comforting lol.

 

[Willie]

When I was installing Aztec, Alex mentioned that the Sort Mode was much more sensitive to case mass, neck lengths, cleanliness and chamfer, than they first thought.
Analysis Mode, for annealing program, seems to me, only relying on neck thickness and weight sorts, over .5 grain for competition shooters and up to around 2.0 gr sorts for hunting rifles.
I hope to see a "dumbing down" of the Sort Mode, as soon as they get a handle on it. It would certainly be an improvement and I know that many bought Aztec specifically for the sort mode. My hunch is they will figure out a solution.

 

[rardoin]

I spent some time testing the sort mode today using once fired Lapua brass that were freshly sized, SST, and trimmed with my Giraud. Here are my results:

Sorted 40 cases and they ranged from -4 on the left all the way to +1 on the right.

View attachment 1046765
I then Re-zeroed the machine using my original -2 row and resorted. I now have a zero row with half and a -1 row with the other half???
View attachment 1046766
Hopefully someone else is finding value in the sort mode as it definitely feels like it is in the "beta" testing phase. Worth the $250? Not yet...

If the necks were not turned to concentricity then I doubt that you would find your results consistent unless you indexed each case and reinserted them in the same orientation every time. Based upon AMP's statements the sort utility would only be useful in turned neck brass.

 

[michaeljp65]

Just looked on their website today and they have a new sort feature, where you slowly rotate the case in the holder and it measures variances as you turn the case. Do for release on Thursday, free update.

 

[Willie]

Just looked on their website today and they have a new sort feature, where you slowly rotate the case in the holder and it measures variances as you turn the case. Do for release on Thursday, free update.

Good news, Thanks for the post.

 

[josh shrum]

I like that AMP is actively pursuing "Sort Mode" to see what all it can and actually is telling us.

I have gotten excellent customer support from AMP in the past, and this seems to be more of the same.

 

[Willie]

Just looked on their website today and they have a new sort feature, where you slowly rotate the case in the holder and it measures variances as you turn the case. Do for release on Thursday, free update.

I haven't been able to locate anything resembling a new Sort Mode on the site.

 

[michaeljp65]

Sorry Willie, its on their Facebook page, the video is called "Sort mode changes" i dont know how to add a link to bring it up here.

 

[Willie]

Sorry Willie, its on their Facebook page, the video is called "Sort mode changes" i dont know how to add a link to bring it up here.

That explains it, thought I was going blind. I don't do Facebook, so I'll wait til Thursday. Appreciate the effort though.

 

[muleman69]

Prayers have been answered (thank you lord)

 

[Willie]

Just talked to Alex. They are doing a new video on Sort Mode today and the free Sort update will be available within one week, along with instructions.

 

[David Christian]

Has anyone found value in the sort mode yet? If so, please share your technique and empirical data to show how it helps you achieve better ES, SD, lower MOA, etc.

Would love to see how this feature can make us better shooters, but not holding my breath.

 

[michaeljp65]

Has anyone found value in the sort mode yet? If so, please share your technique and empirical data to show how it helps you achieve better ES, SD, lower MOA, etc.

Would love to see how this feature can make us better shooters, but not holding my breath.

No data yet David, but, and this is just my opinion, looking at the NEW sort mode, if it helps us determine case neck similarities or differences between cases, that might help with consistent neck tension.

 

[David Christian]

Looks like sort mode is a no go...got this refund email yesterday.

AZTEC pricing/credit.

Our US$250.00 pricing of AZTEC was based on it having multiple functions. The first and most important function was to give our customers the ability to calibrate their own annealing settings without the need to rely on our published data or send samples to New Zealand for testing. The Analysis and Annealing functions of AZTEC work extremely well and deliver robust results.

The second function is our experimental Sort mode. That was intended to be a comparator, showing any variations in either dimensions or mass in the neck and shoulder region of each case. When this function was first demonstrated at Shot Show 2018 it was in its infancy. We believed it had the potential to deliver this information, and initial testing seemed to confirm that.

As a continuation of our experimenting, late last week we developed and released an enhanced version of Sort mode which enables "live" analysis of each case. This gives much better information on what is actually being measured. The video released on 27 April demonstrates the process. Since we shot that video, we have now found that all variations revealed in Sort mode are dimensional. We can now find no evidence that it detects mass changes between cases. It is completely at odds with what we believed at Shot Show, but there is no denying the evidence.

Sort mode can work well in detecting dimensional profile differences between cases. It can be, we believe a valuable tool to check uniformity of a batch after case prep. It just won’t detect differences in mass.

Because of that, we are repricing the AZTEC software upgrade to US$195.00.

As one of the many early adopters of AZTEC we appreciate your support and we want to ensure you are not disadvantaged by this repricing. We have arranged with our distributors to issue all existing AZTEC customers with a US$55.00 (or local equivalent) credit in the form of either a gift certificate or refund depending on the retailer where you made the original purchase.

Please contact the distributor from whom you purchased AZTEC to receive your credit.

 

[Willie]

Looks like sort mode is a no go...got this refund email yesterday.

AZTEC pricing/credit.

Our US$250.00 pricing of AZTEC was based on it having multiple functions. The first and most important function was to give our customers the ability to calibrate their own annealing settings without the need to rely on our published data or send samples to New Zealand for testing. The Analysis and Annealing functions of AZTEC work extremely well and deliver robust results.

The second function is our experimental Sort mode. That was intended to be a comparator, showing any variations in either dimensions or mass in the neck and shoulder region of each case. When this function was first demonstrated at Shot Show 2018 it was in its infancy. We believed it had the potential to deliver this information, and initial testing seemed to confirm that.

As a continuation of our experimenting, late last week we developed and released an enhanced version of Sort mode which enables "live" analysis of each case. This gives much better information on what is actually being measured. The video released on 27 April demonstrates the process. Since we shot that video, we have now found that all variations revealed in Sort mode are dimensional. We can now find no evidence that it detects mass changes between cases. It is completely at odds with what we believed at Shot Show, but there is no denying the evidence.

Sort mode can work well in detecting dimensional profile differences between cases. It can be, we believe a valuable tool to check uniformity of a batch after case prep. It just won’t detect differences in mass.

Because of that, we are repricing the AZTEC software upgrade to US$195.00.

As one of the many early adopters of AZTEC we appreciate your support and we want to ensure you are not disadvantaged by this repricing. We have arranged with our distributors to issue all existing AZTEC customers with a US$55.00 (or local equivalent) credit in the form of either a gift certificate or refund depending on the retailer where you made the original purchase.

Please contact the distributor from whom you purchased AZTEC to receive your credit.

Whoa! That's a disappointment after the wait, but not a surprise. I am happy with the Analysis Mode to get my own programs. Speaks well for Alex that he acknowledged the sort mode is not up to expectations and reduced the price.

 

[PatMiles]

Speaks well for Alex that he acknowledged the sort mode is not up to expectations and reduced the price.

I have to agree with you there, at some point Alex will get everything sorted out, no pun intended.

 

[kneedtospeed]

These Findlay Boys are Good People!
I appreciate their Extensive R&D, and Customer Service second to none.
They are on Our side.