Hey everyone,
I’ve been operating my Shapeoko 4 XXL for a couple of months now, and I’ve recently encountered a problem. The shaft on the Y-axis stepper motor (left side) has broken. I’ve been primarily cutting walnut and have been meticulous about adhering to the belt tensioning guidelines.
In my search for solutions, I came across a thread on the Shapeoko community forum where several users have experienced the same issue. It appears that this might be a common problem, with the shaft breaking at the stress point nearest the support bearing.
I have a lot of respect for Carbide 3D and the Shapeoko line, but it’s somewhat disheartening to encounter such an issue when you’ve been following the recommended usage guidelines to the letter.
The forum thread suggested a few potential solutions, such as ensuring the drive belt isn’t overly tight and considering the use of stepper motors with longer shafts. However, these motors need to have the correct connector.
I’m reaching out to see if anyone else has dealt with this issue and if you’ve found any effective solutions. I’m open to any advice or suggestions you might have. Let’s work together to find a solution and get our machines back up and running.