Experience outside the Carbide universe

I’ve been using a Shapeoko Pro XXL since August 2022. My company wants to upgrade to a machine that will do a full 4x8’ sheet and be stronger and faster. I believe I’ve narrowed it down to the Stepcraft Q.408 or the ShopSabre Pro 408. I’m hoping someone has experience with either or both and can tell me about their use. I also wanted to ask about software and controllers outside the super convenient Carbide Motion.

The ShopSabre uses a WinCNC controller. It seems to me that refers to the controller and the software. Is that correct?
The Stepcraft comes with a license for UCCNC. I saw some forums refer to that as a hobbyist level. Is that accurate?

When I google “WinCNC vs UCCNC” I always end up with a forum discussing almost exclusively one or the other rather than comparing them, or it gets so heady I can’t understand comparisons being made.

How do those two compare, in terms of how user-friendly it is, what the learning curve might be from Carbide Motion. Right now I’m designing all my files in Fusion and exporting the .nc with Carbide’s post-processor. I’m looking at both of these machines because I can include ATC functions (and of course size and speed.)

I’ll still be using the Pro XXL all the time, but this new full-size machine will be supplementing and working on bigger jobs. I don’t know precisely what I’m jumping into, I think in part because Carbide3D has made using a CNC machine so accessible. I haven’t had to learn much about “real” machines and software. If I’m missing some consideration, please let me know.

You might try posting this question over on the CNC forum at Sawmill Creek: CNC Machines

There’s some strong opinions over there on the bigger machines.

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