Question about Probotix

[stela]

Do you know if the kits from Probotix is good deal and if it have a good service

I check for a new project

Thanks everybody

[Ron Dunn]

Yes, and Yes.

I bought a Fireball V90 from Probotix, with all the "best" options in power supply, controller, steppers, etc.

I'm an overseas customer, so I'm always a bit nervous about ordering big stuff online. Probotix gave me not one cause for concern. They shipped three days after I placed the order - well within the lead time they were quoting at the time - and the package was delivered within the quoted delivery time.

The goods were well packaged and arrived in undamaged condition.

The assembly was as straight-forward as quoted on the web site. I had one small problem - a missing grub-screw that I probably dropped somewhere - and Probotix responded almost instantly to my mail with the size of the screw and an offer to ship another. It was easier for me to buy one locally once I had the right size

Everything worked exactly as advertised. The V90 isn't a tool you'd buy to carve up big chunks of metal, but it certainly works well on the wood, MDF and plastic for which it was purchased.

One hint. I bought a Dremel to use the standard mount that comes with the machine. BIG mistake, I burned through two Dremel 300s just getting started. I switched to a Proxxon LB/E spindle (making my own mount) and I haven't looked back.

Probotix has its own support forum on Yahoo. The rubbish Yahoo forum software is probably the ONLY thing I have to criticise about Probotix. I think they'd be much better off hosting their own forum, or maybe a sub-forum on a site like this.

I would have no hesitation buying from Probotix again, and recommend them highly to anyone looking for a starter machine like the V90. Another hint, I emphasise the word "starter". After you've been bitten by the CNC bug, and learned how to use a CNC machine and all software, etc., you'll probably start thinking about something bigger/stronger. I'm glad I bought a V90 because it let me learn CNC at a very reasonable price. I've become a little more ambitious, though, and now I'm thinking of a replacement machine. This one will go to one of my sons to get them hooked as well

If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Ron.

[stela]

Thanks for your answer Ron but i check for buy a kit i dont know it is the same quality of product... You give a good idea of the professionalism of Probotix...

Thanks and have a good weekend.

[Thermodynamics]

I agree, very good review. I too am looking into a V90 as my first CNC purchase. I will most likely be doing plastic and some "light" aluminum cutting/engraving. I understand that this machine is not built for taking off large chunks of material at a time, but I have seen smaller machines cut aluminum. What is your opinion on this, Ron? I have also toyed with the idea of replacing some of the MDF parts with HDPE or some sort of plastic as a beginner project for the machine

[Ron Dunn]

Hi Thermodynamics,

I'm sorry, but I have no experience using aluminium, so I can't give a good answer to your question.

I think you'd get a better answer by asking the question in the Fireball Yahoo group:

Fireballcnc : FireBallCNC

I know there have been posts from people who have milled aluminium using their V90, but I've only used it for MDF, wood and plastic. I'd rather not give a misleading answer