One of your considerations should be the machine size you will require, bigger is not always better. I am partial to the 5 Pro as it is my choice of machines among the Carbide line-up due to all ball screw design. no belts. After using it for the past 7 months I am still in awe with its quality and rigidity. I chose the 4 x 2 as it was the perfect size for what I cut. However, there are greater benefits being its size vs the 4 x 4 in just what I require. The 4 x 4 has a footprint of roughly 60 x 60 and needs to have space on the side to reach the back of the table and to put a small table on the side for tools and a computer, etc. Adding an enclosure makes it even larger and more costly. If you are cutting smaller pieces the gantry has a long way to travel requiring more time along with noise to complete smaller jobs. Unless you are planning on cutting large jobs exceeding 48 x 24 you may want to consider a smaller machine such as the 4 x 2. I believe most of the members with the 5 Pro probably went with the 4 x 4, however, if you look through the “What did you cut on your Shapeoko/ Nomad today?” thread it is almost rare to find anything beyond 24" x 48" (What did you cut on your Shapeoko/ Nomad today?) Additionally, you can cut 48 x 48 on a 4 x 2 by tiling if you need to (providing you don’t have an enclosure or to is up against a wall. Don’t get me wrong, if I was cutting furniture, large signs, decor, or other for my business I would definitely go with the 4 x 4! It just makes sense however to consider what you plan to cut in choosing size. Just as another point, with the learning curve, and your need to have the machine perform as it should, I would suggest buying the Pro 5 within warranty and with the best support and all ball screws. Just my opinion, others may agree or disagree. There is a lot of experience and talent greater than mine participating within this community.
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