Looking to get a Shapeoko 5 Pro and have found a UK stockist, but they don’t appear to sell any with spindles like the Carbide VFD.
Does anyone have any recommendations as to the best setup for this?
I currently run an old OXCNC using a dewalt router, so it’d be nice to have it all controlled by software rather than having to manually switch it on/adjust speed. But beyond that I don’t think I’m too fussy.
Buying to only cut wood, so don’t need to worry about milling metal and the like if that makes any difference?
We recommend a Makita RT0700 (some folks have managed to forgo a BitRunner and use a Makita RT0702).
We do have an 80mm spindle mount and matching spindle in development, but no idea of its power requirements.
I actually use a 220V (European household) spindle on my machine w/ a step-up transformer:
(though I didn’t get the nifty variable speed setting — I use a BitRunner for on/off)
which has been working well, though as noted in that thread it required an adapter plate.
That said, I wouldn’t characterize it as “best” — it was a pricey indulgence, and the only reason I could justify it was that I had been doing so many test cuts it felt as if I was spending more time wrenching than the machine was cutting. I also don’t push the unit hard (some folks have reported chatter in cuts in the quick-change variants), and I’m still trying to sort out dust collection — currently using a flat adapter plate which works, but lacks adjustability. Debating on hacking up my Sweepy Pro and then working out how it could be adapted…
Ah right, ok so no real spindles available then - I’ve got a dewalt d26200 from my OxCNC - would the Makita offer anything over that? Agree the Mafell looks neat - I might investigate that!
The DeWalt would require a 69mm spindle mount, but we don’t make such a mount for the SO5 Pro.
There are a number of similar options to the Mafell FM 1000 WS which I have, including some more affordable options — but mounting them and working up dust collection seems challenging.
The Makita is a trim router, the Mafell is a milling motor (specifically designed for lateral forces). I’d prefer the option of a Mafell mount to a Makita (although I understand the Makita is popular because of cost). The quick tool change on the Mafell is just the dog’s
Just out of interest which stockist are you looking at - I’ve only found Robosavy with that ever so painful $1 == £1.05
Marius Hornberger has a beautiful dust collection solution.
