Edward | May 29, 2019

Finally a CNC Controller that I love.

I have been messing around with the cheap Aruidno and CNC shields and have been having a nightmare with noise. I wanted to test out this controller before I left my review so I spent the time hooking it up to my CNC machine. I 3d printed a housing for it and got it all connected up to my power supply. I also swapped out my limit switches with the Fotek PL-05N NO that Haryi had in is youtube video. I am in love with this controller, appreciate the quick responses, and videos were super helpful. Haryi keep up the awesome work!!!

Response from Phoenix CNC, OLEDiUNO | May 29, 2019

Hi Edward,

Thank you again for your review, replied with some info on your stepper driver review.

Take care.

Regards,
Hayri

Douglas | Sept. 18, 2018

Phoenix USB controller

Just got my board today ... ..really well made ...build going slow saving for parts just can not wait to fire it up ...

Response from Phoenix CNC, OLEDiUNO | Sept. 18, 2018

Thank you Douglas, if you have any question please feel free to ask anytime.

Elias | May 29, 2018

Awesome component by an awesome maker

I was planning to build a new GRBL-based controller for a recent CNC upgrade. I would normally need an Arduino Uno, a screw shield and a noise filtering circuit. To be able to add a VFD in the future I would also need a PWM to 0-10V circuit and a spindle enable relay. The Phoenix controller contains all five components in one sleek small factor package.

I remember seeing the Phoenix in the past and after revisiting recently I was pleasantly surprised to see that the new SMD, smaller footprint version was released. The timing was perfect. In my case shipping was intra-EU, so super fast and without customs.

The PCB, assembling and soldering is of the highest quality. This is a low production item and it shows. You can also tell from his youtube channel that Hayri is not only knowledgeable, he is down to earth and a genuinely nice person. He was always there to support when I needed to ask or confirm something.

This has been my second Tindie order and I don't know if I got lucky, but both cases have been gems. People say Tindie is the Etsy of electronics and this is true in the sense that in high volume marketplaces there is typically a seller-to-product relationship. Here it seems more like a father-to-child relationship. People devote time and care and take back pride. That's exactly the case with Hayri and the Phoenix controller.

Response from Phoenix CNC, OLEDiUNO | May 29, 2018

Thank you very much Elias, for taking your time to write this wonderful review. I greatly appreciate it and makes me proud too.

Tindie is really a wonderful place to shop for electronics from people who love to build things and are connected to their products by heart. I could not imagine selling my products anywhere else. I did start with eBay but as soon as I found Tindie, I was sold so to speak.

Anyway, if you ever need a true 4 axis CNC controller, I have one coming up with all possible options needed that other controllers do not have. I will be using it with my PNP and my new Mini Mill. As soon as I get the PCB from the fab house into my hand I will of course make a video and introduce the board. Thanks again.

Kind regards, Hayri.

Stu | April 27, 2018

High quality product with exceptional support

I knew next to nothing about circuit boards until my CNC breakout board fried. Being unable to pay the $400 needed for a new one I did some research into fixing it. Then I learned what a poor quality mass produced overly expensive piece of . . . Electronics I had.
My searching led me to a website where a person was making the very hing I needed, by hand and of very high quality. At least my recent education had taken me far enough to realise that.
Upon making contact all my questions were answered in a single email. What? That's never happened before!
I got straight up answers in plain English without "geek speak" and some questions were more general in nature too.

I made my purchase effortlessly and at a fraction of the price I would have paid for a far inferior product and even though it had to travel from Bulgaria, it arrived not too long later.
It's exactly as described, fitted to my machine and working.

Really, I couldn't ask for anything more.
Thanks.

Stu Pearson.

Response from Phoenix CNC, OLEDiUNO | April 28, 2018

Thank you very much Stu for a very nice review, I greatly appreciate it.

It was my pleasure dealing with you and if you ever have any other questions I am always here for you.

Being helpful before sales is one thing but I am, of course, also here after the sale to answer and help any way I can.

Have a lot of fun with your CNC :-)

Hayri

Blake | April 3, 2018

Overall a very good product...tarnished by shipping

After finally getting the board I coins see that the board is probably the best made PCB that I have ever seen when it cones to the board layout, the materials used for fabrication and the fabrication methods used. I liked that the circuits are completed protected with a coating that shields the circuitry from potential damage. The components were installed with soldering connections that were also the best I have seen. And I work on and see lots of audio component PC boards.

The board functions exactly as it should and configuration is straightforward and very easy to setup.

Unfortunately shipping has a lot to be desired. I got tracking information that did not provide any help to let me see the status of my purchase other that seeing that it left the place the board was made and then it eventually showed that it sat in customs for a looooong time. And even after finally being approved to be shipped in the USA the tracking didn't show the location of package. It was then held up in the local shipping facility for several days again. I purchased items for my CNC machine from China and was told it would take over a month to get...yet it in my home less than 2 weeks later.

If there is any way shipping could be better this would truly make a first rate CNC controller board even better.

I now see the engineer that is fabricating and selling these boards is also selling stepper motor controllers that I'd like to try out in my next project...I wonder if things will be better the next time?

Response from Phoenix CNC, OLEDiUNO | April 3, 2018

Hi Blake,

Thank you for your great review, appreciate it a lot.

I hope that the USPS will be better next time and that customs will do their work faster.

Regards,
Hayri

Ricardo | Aug. 8, 2017

Todo Perfecto!

LLevaba un par de semanas pelando con smothieboard para hacerla funcionar en mi cnc, esta tarde abri el paquete con Phoenix USB Controller, y me voy a la cama con todo funcionando! :) realmente facil de utilizar y una placa muy bien construida!! solo falto una pegatina de su empresa para pegar en la maquina jeje!!

Un saludo muchas gracias!

Response from Phoenix CNC, OLEDiUNO | Aug. 8, 2017

Thank you so much Ricardo, this is really a nice review I enjoyed reading thanks to Google translate. I will post the translation here, hope you don't mind.

"""It took a couple of weeks peeling with smothieboard to make it work in my cnc, this afternoon I opened the package with Phoenix USB Controller, and I go to bed with everything running! :) really easy to use and a very well built plate !! I only miss a sticker of your company to stick on the machine hehe !!

Regards many thanks!"""

If I ever make stickers I make sure to send you some. As a matter of fact I even thought of adding a OLED display to the board just to show my CNC Mill Logo.

Thanks again.
Hayri

Tyler | June 23, 2017

Incredible quality!

The Phoenix CNC Controller has got to be the finest example of circuit board I've ever seen. The attention to detail and finish is really has to be seen to be believed. Fantastic work!
I gave less than perfect marks for documentation because none came with it and I have some questions as this is not exactly an Arduino board, for example, there are two for input voltage, but do I set them both to position 1 or 2? But, I'm sure I can clear this up easily enough. Can't wait to try it out!

Response from Phoenix CNC, OLEDiUNO | June 23, 2017

Thank you so much Tyler, I really appreciate your review.

And you are right I never got around to write a whole documentation. I will at least update the info on the product page.

Actually it is an Arduino board but more. I added multiple features not seen on other Arduino shields on the market.

You are correct with that both switches need to be set to 1 or 2. Setting to 1 is for power supplies of 12 volt and setting 2 is for power supplies up to 24 volt.

I will reply to your other questions directly.

Thank you again.

Hayri

Daniel | Aug. 21, 2016

Exellent easy to use GRBL controller!

This is a perfect match for using dedicated external drivers! It is easy to wire and use. No complaints. I would have liked to see each (x,y,z) output have its own enable pin / ground pin screw terminal instead of just one for all. But other wise this board definitely gets my recommendation. I am happy with my purchase and if you are considering this board you will not be disappointed !

Thanks

Response from Phoenix CNC, OLEDiUNO | Aug. 21, 2016

You are very welcome and thank you for your review, I greatly appreciate it.
If you ever have any questions or suggestions please let me know. I always try to enhance my boards.
As for the enable pin, I only put one output for it because Grbl has only a central enable pin for all axes.
For the ground pin I see where you coming from it would have made the wiring a little easier I guess. But when I designed the board my stepper Drivers where all in one place and I had connected the ground for all of them together to one cable.
I will keep the idea nevertheless in my head for any possible future upgrades.

Thank you again for taking your time and writing your nice review.

Best regards, Hayri