Don't Waste your time and money on a Carvewright or Compucarve!!!

[MArruda]

I have gone through 3 machines, all horrible in one way or another, no reliability, bought the Centerline (vector) text add on, and carvewright will not refund the add on, even though I did not receive a worthwhile product to use it with. Agreeably, it's considerably cheaper than other CNCs, but even then, I'd expect it to be useable for more than three projects. (the 2nd one actually lasted 3 projects.)

1st machine-
burned through flex shaft sleeve- first project

2nd machine-
cut motor error
blew a hole in the dust bag
drilled through indexing sensor
burned all the wood I tried to use CL with

3rd machine-
x axis overload- first project
x axis off 1/4"- first project
cut motor error- second project
drilled through indexing sensor- second project

I called and spoke with Lisa (customer service) and then Michelle (CS supervisor)- Michelle was very curteous, Lisa had a case of mistaken identity- told me I had just called- but was otherwise amicable. I am trying to get a refund on the centerline text, as it was purchased in good faith the LHR could provide a worthwhile, reliable machine. Of course, they say it is non refundable and that's that. I have filed a claim with the BBB and am looking at any other legal recourse. If anyone is interested or has information, feel free to PM me.

The carvewright gives great results- when it works. It's just not functional enough of the time to be a worthwhile purchase for $1700. If you have the perseverance and patience to have a brick a good majority of the time, have fun.

-Michael

[bp092]

The way I look at it, you can build a better, larger and faster machine here at the zone for cheaper. Check out the diy forum

[msg]

Ditto, biggest tooling mistake in my life. Glad it's gone. At least building one, you have an idea of how to repair it v.s sending it back to their shop, over and over again.

MSG

[joecnc2006]

Yea I looked at one at sears, and the quality of the machine wsas not what i thought it would be, from their video it looked sturdy, but in person it looked cheap quality to me and i could not see how such a machine would ever last me. maybe for the occasional hobbiest.

But for me DIY will give me a sturdier and much much larger machine. look at my 4x4 I'm building now.

joe

[cabnet636]

that little machine (while i absolutly agree with this thread) taught me cnc
yes it is a hobby machine and thats exactly what they tell you when you buy it!! yes i have had to repair mine and keep going. and yes while i now have a 4x8 with 5.5 spindle. i hope i do not place false expectations on the carve wright

and what i really want is thier software, it is absolutly uncomplicated and extremly user friendly and when made available to the general public is going to sell the pxss out of the table tops and self builts as well as other machines dissussed here

if he gets his machine upgraded a little or alot sombodys gonnaa be facing
some real competition
cabnet

[cabnet636]

it aint the crappy little truck on z or the machine but the tracktor feed pressure roller system that turns y axis into 144 inches plus.

gee carved linear molding!!
cabnet

[oeffner]

!st machine shame on them... 2nd machine shame on you ....3dr machine what were you thinking?? or do you just enjoy the pain

[cabnet636]

dude if you just look at the thing long enough

but seriously it's been afun thing and while i am not in the habit of throwing away 2000.00 the lesson has been invaluable

it is not a business machine, i hear of these guys taking two or three of these things to fairs or flea markets. it can take 30minutes to 1 hour to do a small sign. were as a 30x20 table top with a decent router and steppers will
take 5 min +/-
cabnet

[cabnet636]

the software

if we could just get them to sell it

[Jeff-Birt]

I have owned a CW (CompuCarve) for more than a year now. It has been a great machine. ANYTIME I have heard, "I have went through X machines", it signals an inexperienced operator who won't take the time to learn the machine. It also bugs me to read posts where folks take the time to gripe but never follow up when the MFG (any MFG) takes care of them.

In my own experience it has been a great machine backed by a good company who has been there to stand behind their product. They are a new company who has gone through some growing pains but they always seem to try to make the customer happy.

[joecnc2006]

I would agree with Jeff-Birt, the machine is designed to be used in a certain way, as long as you use it in this manor you should have a good little machine, for me I need something that can run many hours with no hick-ups, and more of a stepup type machine, thats why i built my CNC 4x4 Hybrid, which is a little more more expensive than the cravewrite (about 500 or so, plus my software).

As mentioned its just depends what you want to do with the machine.

Joe

[MArruda]

Okay, why don't we break this down to simpler terms as far as reliability- If I was using my Unisaw (Delta 10" cabinet saw to those that aren't aware- not trying to be condescending, but some peole might not know what one is) and ran my hand over the blade, cutting off my fingers, that would be my stupidity, my inexpereince, my problem. If I where to be using my unisaw and the arbor snapped off, sending a 10" blade spinning at my head at 3450RPM, That is obviously manufacturer error.

Now, to the CW- if I were complaining about the user interface, or how hard it was to set up, or something of that nature, that would be my inexperience and stupidity. Now, if you go over the problems of the three machines, how do you explain operator error? For the first machine, it's a known problem that isn't told to the consumer unless you really look- there's an official announcement on burned flex shafts at the CW home forum, yet nothing on the main web page for the manufacturer. Come on- crappy material used in the dust bag so that the blower motor was able to blow a hole in it- Do tell, how could any of this be construed as operator error?

For those that haven't used it, the CW has some potential if they can get the manufacturing taken care of. When it was working, the results were pretty good. It's a hobby machine and should be understood as such. With that in mind though, it must be admitted that there's some problems with it. Carvewright themselves have admitted that on initial roll out for the first year of production their return/repair rate was about 15%. That's a heck of a lot of returned machines, and for most companies, would be deemed a failure. This is the only product of LHR, and thus, cannot be written off as a failure and taken back to the drawing board.

Something else for potential buyers to know is that the software is quite limited. Easy to use and user friendly, but limited in scope- it seems they're adding models and whatnot to the functionality, but you can't properly import any cut patterns. Keep that in mind.

The 1,2,3 comment is accurate. I should have abandoned hope and walked away before the third unit, but I wanted to believe that it was a fluke.

If you're having luck with yours, more power to you. I'm glad you were able to get a good one. For potential buyers, keep in mind that after 200 cut hours, the warranty is up and LHR won't speak to you for free, let alone help you with problems.

-Michael