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.