Just received my very large boxes for my 4x2 Shapeoko 5. Trying to decide where to put the machine - either in the basement, or in the garage. I share a side-by-side duplex with neighbors who I like, and who also work all day (I work from home, so can run jobs during the day when no one is home next door). I will be moving in about 6 months.
How hard is a fully assembled 4x2 Shapeoko 5 to move? For example, could I carry it up the basement stairs when I go to move (with a strong friend)? The weight doesn’t sound horrible for two people, but I’m wondering if the bulk will be too much (planning carry it out vertically). Or should I set it up in the garage (which is my less preferred option, as it is uninsulated, poorly secured from theft, and would probably trigger some noise complaints from other neighbors), as the garage would allow for easier movement when moving in 6 months?
I may build an enclosure, though I’m not sure if it’s really worth it from a sound perspective. Seems like it would trap lots of heat in there too. Appreciate any thoughts or shared experiences.
My recommendation would be to at least partially disassemble it to move it — removing the gantry will lessen the overall weight a fair bit, and will make the weight distribution more even.
That said, one of the more memorable lines from the old Shapeko forum was:
I picked it up and moved it fully assembled like an irresponsible badass.
Hah! I assume that removing the gantry isn’t too hard? I’m trying to avoid a full disassembly / unwiring. I realize I’ll have to re-square and confirm zero and whatnot regardless of movement method.
Two fairly spry adults should be able to get it up and down stairs. I have moved a S3 XXL several times and it is wider. With one person on each Y extrusion, it wasn’t bad. If you put the gantry on the middle when you move it, that should remove some of the awkward balance of having it all the way to the back. The depth of the machine should go thru doors easy enough. Maybe remove the MDF to loose some weight.
While I usually do dumb stuff like an irresponsible badass, the width may make even my poor decision making skills, moot.
When you move a Shapeoko (any model) remove the router/spindle. That piece has a lot of weight and a lot of leverage. Then if you leave the gantry attached tie it down so it does not move randomly. All Shapeoko machines are heavy. As @SLCJedi I have moved an SO3 XXL and an SO3 XL in the back seat of my 4 door pickup. The SO5 is heavier but the less disassembly you do the better.
Not directly comparable but I moved my hdm around a multitude of times before its final resting place. While not an ideal situation, if you have two young adults or pretty fit adults I think youll be fine for a moving job. As a few others pointed out. Remove all the weight you can and do not carry it by the gantry. Make sure you axis’s are all the way to the side of the machine thats going to be on the lower person going up or down stairs so that if they devide to move they are not slamming all that weight at once onto that poor guy.
