I feel like I wasted thousands of dollars. Sometimes the machine works flawlessly. Other times its hot garbage.
Currently I’m trying to cut a piece of 1/4 MDF. 1/4 bit machine settings at default. 0.060 per pass. The machine decides to cut it all at once. I’ve checked the settings several times. The file is a closed SVG Vector.
Last week when it was moving from one location to another it decided to start plunging rather than getting to the XY axis.
I swear this machine is a teenager and trying to figure out the easiest way to get out of work. I’m only doing 2d designs on MDF. I can’t imagine how mad I would be if I was trying to use a piece exotic wood for a 3d design.
Are the machines that are 50k+ not this temperamental?
I don’t dare call CC. The 4 phone calls were BS to me. Constantly trying to talk me out of calling for help. Then when I’m on the phone with the guy, he is very slow to help but when he is 30 seconds away from the 30min mark he said. I cant help you any more its the end of the day.
The great thing about CNC is that given a properly prepared file, a machine setup which matches the file, and nothing going wrong in the cutting, a part will be made correctly.
The awful thing about CNC is that a part will only be made correctly if the file is prepared properly, the machine set up to match the file, and nothing goes wrong in the cutting.
Always review the machine and ensure that it is ready for operation as described in the assembly instructions and ensure that any necessary maintenance has been performed:
https://carbide3d.com/hub/docs/maintenance/
for the part which you are cutting, ensure that the correct tooling is installed:
and that the file is set up with the correct feeds and speeds for the material you are cutting:
and that toolpaths and geometry are suited to the cut which is being made:
and that zero is set relative to the stock:
https://carbide3d.com/hub/courses/running-shapeoko/movements-zeroing/
to match the Job Setup in the file:
https://carbide3d.com/hub/courses/create/
Upload your file, and let us know what machine you have and we will do our best to look into this with you.
I use ncviewer to confirm the path data as a sanity check. I have caught enough brain farts that it is part of my process.
Sorry about the mis behavior, most of mine are self inflicted.
Update: I just buried a bit. So much for my process.
That’s built in to carbide motion now.
I love my machine and think it is a great value.
But I have screwed up a few projects, broken cutting tools, cut through work holding, etc. In most cases the problem had to do with the way I setup my project or poor work holding. One time I had a defective part and customer support sent a replacement right to me ASAP.
In my experience these machines will do what you tell them to do and not do what you do not tell them to do. The trick is learning everything you need to know and following the process every time you use your machine. It can be frustrating, especially when you start out.
Hang in there. Take a systematic approach to learning what went wrong each time something doesn’t work the way you anticipated and then improve your process. The forum is a great place to learn from others who have already made the next mistake that you will make.
For me the CNC is a powerful woodworking tool that gives me so much more capability than what I can accomplish with the traditional tools, table saw, band saw, router table, etc. There’s a learning curve but it is worth it.
I’m with you! The machine has messed up so many of my projects I can’t even number them…AND THEN it has the audacity to say/show it has always been my fault. I either need to get a dumber machine, or just learn to accept that I have lots to learn for sure.
I love my 3XXl…even if it shows me up. 
Make sure your bit is not slipping. Put the bit in and use a sharpie to mark around the shaft where it meets the collet. Then pause the job occasionally to see if it is pulled down. I had issues with that and got new collets.
@Overkillautogarage Things will mess up. But 99% of the time, it’s not the machine’s fault when things go wrong. It would be great if you could just turn it on and let it do its thing…unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. You have to think everything through - where is your origin? What’s underneath the piece that might grab the bit as it breaks through the bottom of your workpiece? How flat is your worksurface? Do you have ample hold downs for the smaller sections that might come free? Are your clamps low enough to allow the Sweepy to pass over them when you’re cutting that last pass af full depth? Does the vacuum hose get in the way of the travel of the gantry at certain locations of the worksurface? I mean…every little detail.
The issue is that the machine doesn’t know where it is in space…it only knows where it is relative to the spot where it was homed - that’s it - it counts motor steps from that location…that’s all it can no. If ANYTHING causes the machine to lose a step (it thinks it’s moving, but it’s not because something got in the way and prevented it from moving) - it now thinks it’s somewhere it’s not - and bad things can happen in a hurry.
I don’t know if the 50K machines have sensors that inform it as to where it truly is relative to the worksurface, or not — but that would be a WONDERFUL feature. Can you imagine if you could just specify design in absolute coordinates and the machine made sure it happened that way? No more homing, no more skipped steps, etc. I wonder how expensive that would really be to implement (@robgrz ?)
It’s not a waste of money…it just is going to take you more time to get your money’s worth…but you will.
- Gary
Gosh no. I think it was one of the best business purchases I have ever made. Within a month and a half of PURCHASING it without know anything about it, I’ve been able to produce $2400 with another $2000 in the docket.
Yes it was a “brain fry” first month, but I can honestly say it is my favorite and by far the best tool in my shop.
- (Another) Gary
I have a SO5 Pro 4x4.
Works great.
If/when there is a problem, the root cause can be traced back to something I did.
IE didn’t change the brushes on my router, didn’t ensure all screws were still tight, and didn’t tighten the collet sufficiently, f’d up the toolpaths, didn’t set the zero’s properly, work holding sucked. etc.
To get perfect results, you must perfect your process. The machine will only do what you tell it to do.
I understand your frustration; being a CNC machinist may not be the right fit for you. It took me 5 years of learning, and I consider myself an advanced BEGINNER.
You can’t go from knowing nothing to being perfect every time. Learning this is like starting in kindergarten and working your way up through 12th grade.
Now that I am in Fifth Grade. I am pretty confident in doing all the K-4 projects. However, I know there are projects that I am nowhere near ready to tackle.
So far, my most “advanced” project was a two-sided, two-piece pumpkin pie holder. I spent hours figuring it out and watching the tutorials. It didn’t turn out 100% perfect, but I learned a lot.
My advice: Slow down. Give it time. Watch tons of YouTube videos and practice on inexpensive wood.
After 20 years of hard work, you will become an overnight success.
A further consideration is where possible avoid slotting and add geometry and cut as a pocket
and/or
and consider leaving a roughing clearance and taking a finishing pass.
2 posts were split to a new topic: G-Code simulation software
I’ve had a couple of minor issues since I bought my pro5 Dec 24. Mostly the machine will cut deeper on the first pass than I thought I set it to do.
I haven’t had any of the issues common to a newbie like breaking bits or destroying a project or the table etc.
Mostly just minor deviations from what I am expecting. But so far, nothing that caused me to scrap a project.
I don’t know what level of commitment you have made to learning. I know a lot of people, like my daughter, who refuse to read the directions, or watch and absorb the training videos. I mean, it is time consuming. And truth is, I spent $5600 right off the bat, plus the extras over the following two months. I want to make something and I want it to be cool!!!
I’m not there with you so I can’t see the cause of your issues. But if I were, I am quite sure I would find what’s causing your issues.
Stick with it and do simple projects. The simpler the better. Once you have a handle on that, move up in slow increments of complexity.
Like they say, the machine if going to do what you program it to do. Short of there being an issue with the computer you are using, the solution is, go simple and work up as your understanding increases.
I have upwards of 7k wrapped up in my machine, and I love it! I honestly wish I had more time to explore it and to turn it into something profitable, which I will. I just need more practice and more creativity.
You’ll get there dude, seriously!
Jeff
I agree with you to start simple but when to jump off the deep end should come sooner rather than later. All failures lead to success. If you do not stretch yourself you will never progress. Learning your CNC is a time consuming and tedious process. But you must apply yourself if you expect to progress. There are many hours of research and reading and watching videos but in the end it is actually doing the work on the machine that makes your progress. All CNC machines are complicated and have a very steep learning curve. I have been on the forum for about 6 years and have seen people make great things. I have also seen people that got very frustrated because things did not go their way. Most of the physical issues like bad parts have been resolved relatively quickly by support and @WillAdams right here in the forum.
My advise to anyone buying any brand of CNC is expect failures and problems but in the end it will all come together with your skill in making projects. If you dont have patience or the will to learn then dont buy a CNC because it will lead to frustration and failure. But as I said earlier all failure leads to success if you push on through and learn from your mistakes. For me a CNC has not been intuitive but as a 71 year old I have learn a lot and love my Shapeoko. I am a traditional wood worker and that has helped. What I have seen are people that have no wood working experience buy a CNC and think it can do everything. Frankly some things are just easier and faster the more traditional ways. So I would advise a hybrid approach to your cnc and combine the Shapeoko with traditional ways of doing things.
Preach it brother, preach it! 
It’s kind of like learning to play golf. Seems easy, sometimes is. Then there is the rest of the time