I was recently gifted an early-model Shapeoko 2 (I think 2011 or 2012 vintage?). I’ve finished enough of the assembly that I thought it would make sense to connect up the controller and give it a test … and I get nothing.
It’s the original Arduino Uno, and it took me forever just to find something claiming to be controller software, then find a tool that’d load .hex files onto an Uno using a Mac. Then it’s the question of wiring order (is it black green red white, or white red green black?). Do I plug in power to both the motor power terminal and the 12V barrel connector on the board?
In the midst of all of the experimentation trying to figure it out, something has gone wrong and now the Uno isn’t responding to anything anymore. So I’m guessing I’ve fried it.
Do I replace it with another Arduino Uno (~$30) and try again? On the pro-side, that’s cheap. On the con-side, I have no idea if it will even work.
Can I use a controller designed for a Shapeoko 3 (Carbide Motion PCB for Shapeoko - Carbide 3D)? On the pro-side, maybe a newer controller will cost less time to set up. On the con-side, I have no idea if it will even work. Same questions apply to, say, the OpenBuild controller, which looks like $215 right now.
Thoughts? Is this something where I can replace the controller and have a reasonable go at it? Or should I just throw the whole thing away and start over with a slightly more modern CNC machine?
The Shapeoko 2 predates Carbide 3D owning the brand, so it’s not one of our machines.
I suspect that buying a new Uno is probably the easiest approach if there’s a premade GRBL program that’s easy to load using the Arduino IDE.
Big picture, it’s not a super capable machine compared to the current models so I would use it if you get it running and enjoy it, but I would not put much money into it.
It’s definitely an elderly piece of equipment, so part of the challenge is that any company involved with the old SO2 has long-since taken down any definitive guidance or software. What’s left is, at best, 2nd hand information. So I don’t know that I have, for example, a working GRBL program that I can load. I found something, but I have no idea if it would work, assuming I got all of the other variables right.
I’m also not at all sure it’ll mill with the precision that I need. I’m just working with Delrin, so it’s not a hard material, but I do need to get within about 0.1mm if it’s going to be useful to me.
I guess spending another $30 on a replacement Uno to give it one more try can’t hurt. There’s not really any room in the budget for a proper modern machine, so seeing if I can get “close enough” with this one is probably my best bet.