anyone have experience with this maker?

http://stores.ebay.com/BlackLab-Machine

I'm looking at the 17x17x3 router w/vac, dremel, & rotozip included. As a plug-and-play machine it looks reasonably priced - under $2k out the door. But I'd like to get a second (or 3rd) opinion before taking the plunge :) .
Does anyone here have one of these? Or have you seen a review?
TIA

robotic regards,

Tom
= = = = =
“Men that talk of their own benefits are not believed to talk of them because they have done them, but to have done them because they might talk of them.”
- - Ben Jonson, English poet, writer & critic

Tom,


Although I don't have any experience with Blacklabs machine. there are some others you should be aware of...

Full disclosure: I'm taking delivery of Liberty CNC's new 18 x 16 x 4 machine next week. I paid a little more than you will pay because of shipping.

I looked at a few, extensively. Here are my conclusions;

1) Blacklab uses what appear to be tiny leadscrews throughtout.

Liberty uses Ballscrews. Winner.

K2 uses lead screws.

2) Blacklab uses shafting, but no mention of bearing assemblies...it appears to be JGRO style skate bearings and L channel.

Liberty uses Thompson linear bearings and shafting. Winner and tie with K2

K2 uses Thompson bearings and shafting.

3) Black lab comes with vac table. winner.

Liberty comes with MDF and T-grooves.

K2 comes with space. :p

4) Blacklab comes with rotozip and dremel.

Liberty comes with Porter-cable 7310 3/4 hp laminate trimmer.

K2 comes with an attachment for a rotozip.

I call this for liberty, because I will never strap a dremel to my machine. You may feel differently...more of a personal choice.

5) Blacklab comes with demo software.

Liberty comes with its own software...that may or may not be any good...So far the demo seems fine on my CPU.

Personal chioce.

oh yeah, K2 comes with nothing in this catagory.

Overall, the K2 is a bit bigger than its competitors. Once you figure in all the other stuff you need for the K2 machine... plus shipping costs... The K2 is a couple hundred more than the others.

It came down to ballscrews, service, and a couple of inches for me.

I have a BLACKLAB, bought on price. Was under $1600 shipped. I think is a very well built HOBBY machine. Worked good right out of the crate and I have cut some nice parts with it. I use XYLOTEX controller with KCAM 4 Software under Win98. Not real speedy (slow PC) but can cut plywood at 25~30ipm with good results. I think was money well spent for a small machine. All things on this machine are easily repairable or adjusted. All the screws while small have spring loaded backlash which can be adjusted. The Y axis rails are very HD for a small footprint machine to minimize deflection. The bearing while not expensive linears are easily replaceable and seem to be more than up to the task required of a small footprint router. I think most will be surprised at the amount of actual machining that went into this machine! It is not just a bolt together much of aluminium pattern parts! A lot of thought and custom design went into this machine and I think it shows. I am no machinist but I know what looks good. The blacklab machine looks and works very good for the price point. In fact I truely felt that when I unpacked the crate and saw it first time that I got an awesome deal. A year later I still feel that way.

Just my 2cents worth.

Gerald
Winnipeg, Canada

I bought slides off him through ebay, I give him A++ for quick shipment, and good item.

His work looks that of a professional machinist, and his CNC's seem very beefy.

Regards,
Justin

Moved the message

How much are the liberty CNC machines? Their website does not display a price.