I am about to purchase the Shapeoko 5 Pro 4x4 and I want to build my own rolling table. I am thinking of going with a 60" deep x 72" or 84" wide table, but wanted to see what other people are doing for their setup. I would like to have the spindle controller, and any other hardware under the table, along with my M2 Mac Mini. On the table itself, I would like to mount a monitor, and then use a bluetooth keyboard and mouse. I like the idea of having an extra foot or so for misc parts, etc…
Any info, tips, or ideas would be greatly appreciated before I build this table!
I built mine at 65”wx62”d. I have both controllers mounted beneath, I still need t make the front drawers for bits tools etc. I’ll mount the Mac mini underneath the table to keep the dust off/out of it. When it’s in its final location in the shop I’ll mount the old LCD tv on the wall behind it.
Do you see yourself putting the machine in an enclosure in the future? Personally I recommend it as it cuts down on the dust / noise plus it increases the safety of the machine. If so I would make sure you have enough clearance around the machine to get in and perform maintenance. I did not on my first machine and it was a nightmare just cleaning up the sawdust that built up along the walls.
Good point, thinking ahead for a possible enclosure. I am thinking of making my table 62" x 84". I think that would be enough front/back @62" deep to add a “cover” if needed.
Good point for the OP, once in my shop I’ll have a vacuum on the sweepy and a separate dust collection system (Oneida cyclone) pulling from front to back to minimize the shop mess.
I designed the table to accommodate a post mounted vacuum arm to come over the top and pivot within the 4x4 area from the right side of the picture. I will be tiling 4x8 sheets so I will need to keep the back of the table open to slide the material thru. When I need to I will pull the table out for those operations.
If I ever needed to I can add an enclosure to the face of the 2x6 table top frame and clear the front of the machine and all side and of course account for the harness to the control boxes.
One thing that you need to consider is that the machine will be moving hard and fast in many different directions as it is cutting and the table you build will be taking the flex of the movement. Any play you have in your table will be amplified during movement. You want to make the table as rigid as you can. Maybe build a torque table top that will possibly dampen the torque the table will endure during cutting. If you are going to install rollers, install ones that could be set to hardset the table to the ground and out of the way of your movement around the table.
All good points, if a torsion box top is built and used there will be more forces applied to the leg and rollers system. Torsion boxes are great for the rigid platform and flat surface they keep but the forces have to go somewhere.
I’m still far away from completing the design of my table for a 4x2 Shapeoko 5, but making provisions for a removable table plug at the front of the CNC table so if I have to make dovetails on a vertical board I will have the provisions to do so. Sorry, no idea how will I hold all this in position or hold the vertical board yet.
