Pro tip from a two week old Shapeoko: apparently, one of the skills you get to learn early is screw extraction. This is a Shapeoko 5.1 Pro 4x4, roughly two weeks old, and unfortunately it has been a frustrating start. First, the Carbide Compact Router that came with the machine died when the spindle simply stopped running. I already have a warranty claim open, which I appreciate, but that does not exactly help me finish the project sitting on the table. While troubleshooting, I installed new brushes to see if that would solve the problem. It did not. While tightening the router back into the clamp for a test, one of the two clamp screws sheared off flush with surprisingly little effort. I broke out a screw extractor kit, only to discover that the recessed area around the screw leaves very little room to get an extractor and tap wrench into position. I moved to a left hand drill bit in reverse, but that did not move it either. I have contacted several local machine shops, but nobody seems to have time to deal with it right now. I understand that equipment breaks and problems happen, but between a failed router and a sheared clamp screw within the first two weeks, this has been a pretty disappointing introduction to a brand new machine. I bought it specifically for a 180 board project, and so far I have managed to cut five boards. Hopefully this is just a rough start and not an indication of what ownership is going to look like long term, because right now I have spent considerably more time troubleshooting this machine than actually using it.
I would mention this to support. One of the really nice things about C3D is this page.
Rough start indeed. I have sheared off a number of screws, and stripped lots of socked head cap screws. I switched to T-Handle hex drivers years ago. I rarely use keys, or ratched driven hex bits, and if I do, I only get them snug. I only tighten with non ball hex drivers, and only with fingers. I haven’t stripped or broken anything in a few years.
I have run into a similarly recessed sheared screw. I made a 3D printed bushing that worked well enough to get a center hole drilled. 12 pt sockets will drive taps, and extractors.
I have had my Shapoko 5.1 Pro for over a year, and apart from a few minor issues in the beginning, mine has been solid.
I had to do some serious surgery just to get a pair of needle nose pliers in there and turn the bad screw out, and even then, it took a ton of heat, patience, and persistence. Still dont know if it will hold anything…
Word of advice save your money up and get the vfd it’s worth the money due to that won’t be your only one to die I went through a few routers . The bottom bearings are the culprit even when you torque router mount at the correct spec. Still a great cnc I have two . Danny
If you haven’t yet contacted support@carbide3d.com, please do so and we will do our best to work through this with you.