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My name is Ken Krout. I purchased a Novakon 145 machine at the cabin fever show. I paid in full and took delivery on the spot. I was showing the ACT machine but needed a bigger machine for facing off plates. I make molds for plastic injection for my little company Proxie Models.
I can not say it was a good decision. My list of issues.
1. Right from the start it was configured wrong. The spindle went backwards, and when drilling the ejector holes in the plate the axis were off by over 1/2" . I contacted support and was told to download the latest profile and install it. I did that but it did not help. I asked for a printout of all the Mach 3 setting so I could enter them manually. I was never sent this. I did get the settings over the phone and got the proper workings. I still do not have a print out which I would like to have. I do not think I am running at 6000 RPM, but since I do not know what settings to use I can only hope it is correct.
2. The machine was very inaccurate, ruining several molds and wasting lots of time. This took me some time to figure out. Here is the issue, there was no lubrication on the slide rails, and the auto oiler did not go to them, Therefore they rusted, causing excess friction. This caused the motion motors to clutch out and slip. The results were ruined parts and lots of frustrations. I disassembled the covers, cleaned off the rust and greased the rails. Everything seemed to work a lot better. I also added some caulking to prevent coolant from running onto the rails. The accuracy is good now, but why was it so poor at the start? It was new and should have been working. While fixing this I found an oiler tube crushed and had to replace that too.
3. One day the machine stopped working. I turned it on and nothing happened. It took me a while, but I traced it to the PC power supply. I had to replace it and got it working. This was only 5 months after purchase. I was very uncomfortable digging into the box in the back and working around all of those wires. I was afraid I was going to ruin something. It was at this point I was getting frustrated. I got it working again.
4. Today it caught fire. I was running a simple facing program and smoke began pouring out. The smell was terrible. I quickly shut it down and looked for the problem. It seems the box containing the x and y limit switched had shorted out and burned. There is a photo attached. I am going to have to fix this now. At this point I am REALLY frustrated.
5. And now the machine is $2400 less than I paid for it? This really chaps my ass when this happens. I hate buying something and finding out that 8 months later it costs thousands less. Art this point I am livid. Since mine is under warranty can I return it and then get a new one at the lower rate?
I am sending along some photos so you can see how things are going. Keep in mind that the machine has only seen light use, perhaps 100 hours total at the absolute most. I NEVER like to be a problematic customer, but this is too much. I am going to share this letter with relevant forums to try and save others from this fate.
Sorry if I seem like a jerk, but I am really pissed off.
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That is the letter I sent today. I will post again with their response. I am usually a calm person but this is getting ridiculous.
Forgot to mention the coolant runs across the floor. The tank has a leak.
