Shapeoko Manufacturing Process - Behind the Scenes at Carbide 3D

For anyone curious about how their CNC router is made, here’s a behind the curtain look at our operations in Sterling, IL. We machine a large majority of Shapeoko’s components in-house, and through the years we’ve developed some custom tools and processes we thought would be fun to showcase (like what I’m calling the “Fasten-oko”). Enjoy!

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Where to get the files for that phantastic chair at 15 sec?

You can find the project file here: Carbide 3D Mid-Century Modern Chair by KevinBarnett

BUT, you’ll probably want to watch the video about the process and give some consideration to how you might want to customize it for your own needs and wants. You can check that out here: https://youtu.be/4cAnkpxUww8?si=ZpkW8ufjNsaOQZ-R

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Wow! Piece of art… TY!

Great video. Thank you for making it.

Great video. Only one comment, you may want to fix the closed captioning (I know it was probably autogenerated by YouTube but…) The closed captioning spelled shapeoko differently everytime, not one (that I noticed) was the correct spelling. :flushed:

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Thank you for posting this. I love the “is having a CNC put screws in overboard, yes, but we do it to keep the creativity going.”

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Coming from manufacturing I really enjoyed that, thanks for the behind the scenes look.

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Very cool but, is the machine travel not long enough to TBM the linear rail mounts in a single op? The process all looks excellent, I’m impressed with that granite slab.

Haas VF-4 has 50" of X-travel, which is not quite enough to machine the rail of a machine that’s meant to cut 48" – there’s some overhang at one end that can’t be reached. We have a custom fixture that allows the rail to be re-positioned against end stops so the last little bit can be reached. The extrusion extends past the table in this fixture, and ends up fitting inside the VF-4’s enclosure with only a few inches to spare. I actually had to remove a window in order to stick a camera on the extrusion to film it, otherwise the camera would have been crushed. We are more or less maxing out the machine.

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Yeah, I figured. Maybe there’s room for a VMX60 somewhere in the companies future. Also that’s funny but very cool. I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with next machinery wise.

Interesting suggestion. Out of curiosity, how’s your experience with Hurco been? We were contemplating a VF-6 for some time.

I don’t run the Hurco but we have used it for 11 years we have an 81 and it holds enough to face tracks for HGR 35’s 6 feet long within a few tenths. It’s a solid machine and maintenance has been minimal. If you could get something with box ways like a Mori Seki large enough, it might be better if you plan on keeping it for 10+ years.

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