Hi i just ordered a Shapeoko pro 5 4x4 and I am new to cnc machines in general. Ive read the 5 has undergone a number of design changes from earlier models and i wanted to know if anyone has any guesses as to how its precision sits over against them as well as where it stacks against the nomad 3 in this regard?
Will you enumerate here what you read about changes?
We described the new features for the SO5 Pro at:
https://carbide3d.com/blog/introducing-shapeoko-5-pro/
It has EDIT 80 steps/mm for X and Y, as opposed to the 40 steps/mm on a belt-drive machine, which while the Nomad is slightly better is close enough that it would be a very small, very intricate project which would show the difference — which is exactly what we market the Nomad for.
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Will, I suppose I read the OP’s comment as revisions to the original 5 rather than improvements on previous Shapeoko models.
Is there a list of revisions to the 5 since the first batch became available?
Thank you for the reply!
Im sorry I may have phrased my question incorrectly. I didnt mean to communicate that I read there had been revisions to the 5 itself since it’s release
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See:
https://my.carbide3d.com/gettingstarted/shapeoko5pro/
(scroll down to the bottom for “Errata and changes”)
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Because the SO5 is ball screw driven with linear rails and smaller steps per MM than other C3D machines it is more precise. That said when working with wood which is a moving object the precision specs become mute. If you are going to machine metal then precision is more relevant.
There is always a cost/benefit calculation you need to make about what precision you really need. You could spend $500,000.00 on an industrial machine and get great precision. But compared to a hobby or light commercial operator the cost benefit analysis is not there to justify a half a million dollars to cut wood. The cost/ benefit could maybe be made if production numbers were important on wood products but still hard for a hobby or light production maker to justify.
So you need to look at what the requirements of your projects are as far as precision. Then you pick a machine that matches those requirements. Dont get lost in the weeds about specifications because in the end it is what you produce. You could have the most precise machine made but if you are making items that do not require the precision then you wasted a lot of money. There are many rabbit holes to go down when considering CNC machines.
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Hi @WillAdams
Isn’t the X/Y resolution for the S5Pro 80 steps/mm? Or is the info on the spec page in the shop incorrect?
Thanks
Thank you for catching that. Fixed.
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