Hello I want to buy a small CNC router and the shapeoko looks like

General CNC CNC Routers
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1

Hello I want to buy a small CNC router and the shapeoko looks like the ideal machine. I have a few last questions before I want to place the order.
1: is the standard complete machine strong enough to cut wood or does it go very very slow.
2: if I want to upgrade later to stronger motors, do I only change the motors and power supply or do I need to change more parts.
3: what is the best upgrade to invest in?

2

I have a Shapeoko and have been upgrading it over the last few months.
Too answer your question, the standard machine out of the box will cut wood and a med speed.
Use nema23 motors will improve cutting speed due to the extra holding torque.
Other than the nema23 I would go with the acme Z axis leadscrew and maybe a 4 axis cnc controller from china and if you have the extra cash a 1.5KW spindle.

I say 4 axis controller as you may wish to add an 4th axis.

3

I have the original ShapeOko and the first upgrade I would recommend would be to get a DW660 router to mount on it. The dremel style tool that ships with the kit is not very powerful.

I cut maple on my machine with the NEMA 17 motors using a 1/4" router bit at .060" deep passes and 60 inches per minute. Everyone rushes to upgrade to NEMA 23s, but I don’t see the need on my machine. That said, you will need to buy new pulleys to go to NEMA 23s, since the shaft diameter is different.

The Acme screw Z axis upgrade is the other one that leaps to mind. I have it on mine and it’s great.

I would run the stock machine for a little while before you start upgrading. That way you can decide which upgrades make the most sense for you.

4

One consideration here is that the ShapeOko 2 already has a number of upgrades over the original:

  • larger work area
  • improved belt anchoring (which doesn’t interfere w/ the work area as much)
  • improved Z-axis (though the Acme screw is still a marked improvement over the threaded rod)

I’m still running both of my machines on NEMA 17 motors — my SO1 actually only has 3 motors, the Y-axis uses a drive shaft instead of dual motors — considering adding a 4th axis, but still haven’t found a good open source CAM solution for that.

Agree that upgrading the spindle is a good first step (though I’m not certain that we’ve yet found the sweet spot of spindle performance versus price and longevity — my concern about the DW660 is that it’s a cut-out tool made for intermittent use, not extended/long run-time and its bearings are held in place by plastic and at least one user has reported theirs died) — the other big considerations are:

  • dust collection — this will make working w/ the machine a lot nicer
  • sound — I’m still trying to figure out how to do a sound enclosure, but it’s something which I have to do, that or get an extension cord and run the machine out in the shed.