I will be getting a Shapeoko 5 in the coming months. My shop is not insulated, with no heat or cooling , it is quite drafty. Temperatures range from near zero to over 100. I realize the temperature range is ok but the moisture has me concerned. I have a building that is well insulated and can be heated and cooled but it will not hold my wood shop equipment. It can be put 40 feet from my shop door. Is it better to expose the Shapeoko to the high humidity or put it where i cannot see it running all the time?
Well that’s a two-fold question. The answer is always going to be to keep it in a lower humidity environment. There are ways you can wirelessly monitor it if needed. I only run my machine when I’m at the machine.
I’m in Central, FL. Higher humidity in the summer months and lower humidity in the two months of winter…. It’s in the garage now but will wind up in the shop and humidity controlled eventually. I keep the rails lubed up to minimize the impact on it and so far (just over a year) it has faired fine.
I live in UT, so the same temperature range, but dry. All of my Shapeokos have been fine. For the humidity, keep the linear bearings lubricated and before you put up after the job, wipe some more waylube on the rails to make sure they’re fully covered. That’s really the only areas of potential rust. The MDF likes to swell with humidity, so you might need to consider something like PVC slats if you notice that.
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I live in Deep East Texas. My shop is uncontrolled in the Summer and heated by a Propane heater in the winter. Our winters are relatively mild compared to more northern places. My SO3 has been running great for 6 years. The air in East Texas is quite humid most of the time. I have never had problems with my electronics or any of the running gear. I do regular maintenance and clean the rails and lubricate my HDZ.
Some people report problems in really cold weather because the oil on their rails gets quite thick when cold. So when using the machine a heater would likely be in order for the machine as well as keeping yourself comfortable. I keep my shop at about 50 degrees F in the winter when we have cold days so it is comfortable if you dress properly. Last night was 45F and got up to 70F today. Plus glue and finishes dont like to be below 50 degrees F. If you get freezing temperatures for prolonged times you should keep glue and finishes elsewhere to prevent deterioration of them. Plus full cans can crack open and when it warms back up leak all over everything.
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Thanks for the reply. I have my glue, batteries etc in a heated refrigerator. The humidity was my concern.
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