How Fast Can My Shapeoko 4 XXL Go With 3D Carving?

CNC Machines Shapeoko
1

Hello Carbide 3D community,

I recently came across a YouTube channel where the creator makes beautiful wooden pieces with incredible detail and large sizes using a unique method. I’d love to hear your opinions on this, as there’s a possibility I could apply this technique to my own machine, potentially making full use of the working area. Right now, this isn’t possible due to the long machining times caused by the “Finishing pass.”

The video in question is here:
CNC Engraving Elephants// Woodworking project

In summary, the creator uses Vectric Aspire to create a “roughing toolpath” with “3D Raster,” which, while slower, keeps the material removal as close as possible to the model. This is followed by a “finishing toolpath” done at high speed.

Here are the settings used in the video for a tapered ball nose 1mm:

  • Spindle Speed: 19,000 RPM
  • Feed Rate: 150
  • Plunge Rate: 80

Comparing this to my current setup:

  • Spindle Speed: 16,000 RPM
  • Feed Rate: 70
  • Plunge Rate: 20

These speeds are much faster than mine, and I wonder if my Shapeoko 4 XXL, upgraded with the best components, such as the spindle and HDZ, could handle similar speeds without any issues.

The key, as I understand it, is that although the “roughing toolpath” takes longer, it can be split into multiple sessions. This wouldn’t be possible with a “finishing toolpath,” as it would leave noticeable marks from where the machine stopped and resumed. My guess is that the higher speeds are achievable because the “roughing toolpath” removes material so close to the final model, making the “finishing toolpath” able to be completed at full speed.

Of course, the creator also uses a very robust DIY machine, and that’s where I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you think it would be possible for a Shapeoko 4 XXL to achieve these kinds of speeds without any issues?

Thank you so much!

2

S3 XL, so 9 mm belt drive, Z plus. This was with the router, I now have the 65mm spindle.

I have a 3D carving, where I used a fairly shallow roughing pass so there isn’t as much for the finish pass. I also run 2 finishing passes (at slightly different angles), with the second very slightly lower than the first to help remove tear out.

For the rough pass, the DOC is 1mm. So, the finishing pass is removing at most 1mm of material.

The first finishing pass (the “rough finish” pass) uses a 1/8" ball mill, stepover is 0.8mm, feed is 1800 mm/min (70 ipm). I haven’t experimented much, but I think this can go quite a bit faster. However, the larger stepover means the toolpath goes pretty quickly.

The final pass (the “finish finish” pass) is set 0.1mm down from the first. Stepover is 0.2mm, feed is 4000mm/min (157 in/min). I think this one could also be faster.

The default speeds from CC are very conservative. In many cases I am doubling them and still not having problems.

3 Likes
3

Thank you very much for your information, I’m impressed that these machines can handle those speeds.

4

If the 3D carve has a lot of detail (little gcode moves), then there is a point where the machine can not perform at the feed rates you set. At that point, if you try to increase the speed in CM it really doesn’t go any faster.

I have run into this with high detail image traces ( image to SVG ) and 3D carves with significant textures.

This is regardless of what machine or components you have from C3D.