What did we have in mind?

The Profiler is a robust machine that is suitable for relatively
substantial engraving and milling work. However, it has its
limitations, just like all other machines on the market. What
did people expect and what did they receive, what experience
did users have with machine tools, and how much
time were they willing to invest in making up for any lack
of experience? Many of the early purchasers clearly had
unrealistic expectations about how easy it is to use a milling
machine of this sort, and they were thus disappointed
with its capabilities or the results.

When we put together the Profiler kit, what we had in mind
was the following: the design and construction of the kit
must be clear, so that everyone with a bit of technical knowledge
could easily assemble the machine. The resulting machine
must be sturdy and sufficiently robust for machining
light materials, and accurate enough for standard engraving
work. In other words, it should be a general-purpose
tool for model builders as well as electronic hobbyists.

The kit idea had one major advantage: the price could be
reduced drastically. However, it had the immediate disadvantage
that the ultimate quality of the product was determined
by the builder. Within a few weeks after the launch,
it became clear that this was a major factor. For example,
quite early on there were a few dissatisfied customers who
couldn’t manage to put together a properly working Profiler,
even after many fruitless telephone conversations and email
communications. They were invited to visit the Colinbus
factory for personal assistance, and in most cases correct
adjustment or better alignment turned out to be the answer
to their problems. These users later proved to be the best
promoters of the Profiler kit.