BitRunnerv2 - Shapeoko 5 - 80mm spindle

CNC Machines
1

I have a shapeoko pro XXL currently and am in the process of finalising purchase of an upgrade to the shapeoko 5 with C3D’s 80mm vfd.

It occurred to me:

  • My Makita Router power plug connects to my Makita Vacuum - I run vacuum at lowest vacuum setting for quietness and it has a power tool plug integrated into the vacuum ).
  • The vacuum then connects to my bitrunner (to auto turn on-off both my router and vacuum simultaneously).
  • The bit runner then connects to a wall power outlet

It works and has done for a long while now.

However, now I’m upgrading, I see on the bitrunner description that the [VFD spindle does not work with it].

Question:
Am I going to be able to continue to have this arrangement I bulleted out above if the only thing I did was swap out the router for the 80mm VFD, or can’t bitrunner deal with this 1 change considering it’s via my vacuum (so I will always have to manually turn on-off the vacuum from now on)?

2

See:

https://carbide3d.com/hub/faq/controlling-a-vacuum-with-your-shapeoko/

1 Like
3

Hey will,

I want to confirm since the article seems to be more generic to people who have a vacuum that does NOT have a tool attachment plug socket on it (see it’s diagram), so therefore they need this device as using a Bitrunner would only allow them to connect & auto-on/off only one or the other (router/spindle or vacuum).

The Auto-Vacuum Switch your article mentions runs the connections in a parallel configuration with 2 separate plugs on it to connect each separately:

  • VFD/router → Auto-Vacuum Switch
    +
  • Vacuum → Auto-Vacuum Switch

But my setup essentially does this same thing but in a series configuration:

  • (VFD/router → Vacuum → BitRunner)

My Bitrunner presumably is still working with this combination coz I have the vacuum on its lowest vacuum speed (so it has a low power draw), and my makita never really going above 18k rpm (so a low-moderate power draw).

Is this you confirming the BitRunner-v2(Deluxe) won’t work in the arrangement I currently have working with my router above, specifically because a VFD spindle is involved? Or was there a miscommunication between us about the nature of the setup and it would work just the same, in fact?

I will do what you mention but just to confirm for sure as this decides if I get rid of it with my old Pro XXL or keep it.

4

My own setup is probably unique:

spindle on machine → transformer → BitRunner → vacuum connection → wall

so I can’t speak to this beyond providing the link — if further information is needed, hopefully someone who uses such a unit can chime in, or you can check in w/ the folks at support.

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