SKB I would like to see pictures of your setup. I have a heavily modified Gemni duplicator using linear rails and bearings with a table which weighs a ton when loaded down with shot to dampen vibration. I tried to buy a Allen machine but they did not know if or when they or would make them at the time. At the time I was willing to invest ten K or more for a duplicator.
My current setup works well and I find most problems are pattern centered or operator error/learning curve. When in doubt I cut a practice plain blank first. Since I only cut for myself time is not money. If in the trade I never could cut extra blanks to figure out or learn what I need to learn to duplicate a good stock. As a hobby stocker I probably be better off to pay others to cut my blanks if I did the math. But in this hobby math is often best left out.
