I have a TL18LS (2009 model on wood frame) & Qbot V3 (3.41 build)...love my setup. Have had the poles extended to 12 ft by a local metal worker...so am a happy camper.
The benefit of an automated robot is not speed, for me it's doing custom designs in software and putting them on a quilt.
With the Qbot V3, which is run by an app & on a tablet..is that you can take a block design and "chain" it to make it an e2e design (as long as the start/stop is level to one another). I can do fill work in a few steps....and now with the newest update, I can actually do a blanket stitch around fused appliques...and there are several types to choose from. You can write on the quilt, etc.
I sound thrilled, right? Well, for me freehand is at least twice as fast...so only use qbot on request for designs I can't freehand easily (animals for example).
If your quilting skills aren't the best, or you have arthritic hands, etc...the Qbot is a great tool to keep you from having to work with sore hands.
Marge
Originally Posted by
profannie
Hi there,
I would like to know what is the exact use or advantage one could have to own an automated quilting system (like Qbot for exemple).
I know some people doesn't really enjoy the quilting part, so it makes sense. But I Love the freedom to draw anything on a quilt. So would that be of any use for me?
I'm thinking about it because I saw an ad on my local Kijiji. Someone is selling a longarm system for a very interesting price (a Mega quilter 18-8 on an Inspira frame and a Qbot for 6000$ CAD, that's even less in USD).
I currently have a HQ16 (older version) on a portable frame; the frame is, in fact, pole and rails that I installed on some kitchen cabinet. It is set on 120 inches The HQ16 have the stitch regulator. I really like my little system, bought 2 years ago for 2500$ The only reason why I'm thinking of an upgrade is that the number of my commissioned quilts is growing each month. Would I be able to finish quilts is less time with an automated system? Then I may be worth upgrading. But I'm not sure...
Hope you'll be able to share some thoughts!
Thanks!