After getting everything up and running I am ready to make the forever table for my new Shapeoko Pro XXL.
As far as I can tell there are not specific recommendations on the exact way to mount it or place it anywhere though most photos show it on a flat table.
I will venture to use some aluminum extrusion and therefore want to ensure I am using the right mounting holes and all that.
In the picture I attached there look to be the best candidates which run along the Y axis on either side of the machine. They are sort of recessed into the X axis bars that lay on the very bottom.
Would these be the best mounting places for a through bolt to attach to another member like a piece of extrusion?
Or are there better mounting holes for securing the CNC machine to a frame?
Back in the day of the non-Pro Shapeokos, it was not a great idea to bolt the machine to the table because it could warp the structure. On a pro with the hybrid table I’m not sure how real that risk is now, but still I would not do it, and my reason is, it’s better in my opinion to insert a layer/mat of hard foam between the table and the hybrid bed of the Pro, which will both absorb vibrations and present the machine from moving on the table, while not inducing any mechanical constraint.
I bought cheap foam tiles and paved the top of my table with them before I installed my Pro XXL,
(extra benefit: the space in front also acts as a “bit catcher/saver” when swapping tools and the endmills falls and instead of breaking/chipping it lands softly on the mat)
If you’re securing the machine, whatever it is bolted to either needs to be as flat or flatter than the machine structure, or have a bit of give to preclude the machine being pulled out of square.
I like having foam underneath the machines — it dampens vibration and noise, and is easily trimmed to make a nice finished appearance.
Hey thanks for the input everyone this is what I was hoping for.
It sounds like foam in between regardless could be very helpful.
Also, some of the replies touched on what I was most curious about and that is if firmly securing, mounting, or constraining the machine would result in poor performance.
To clear things up are these holes I reference intended to be used as mounts or are they for something else?
Perhaps making some sort of boundary for the edges of the machine with a slight clearance would be best, foam underlayment below that, and then make sure the table itself is fixed and stable. That would keep it from moving off the table but also not constrain it too much.
I am leaning towards to the aluminum extrusion products like 8020 because they make it more square than anything else I can find or make. Plus you can mount many other things to it. Going to use rubber coated feet and also bolt to the wall so I feel that should be sturdy though not entirely heavy.
Perhaps some ballast would be helpful? I see lots of large DIY CNC machines and lathes using epoxy and rocks in the base as a ballast so might that weight apply here?
