Overall satisfied with my Shapeoko Pro Standard but workflow would benefit from an additional one foot in the X direction (left to right). Has anyone succeeded in installing in a wider gantry on S. Pro model?
From appearances, one needs a longer/wider gantry, longer cables and some additional aluminum baseplates. The gantry would need both longer main structure and longer linear bearing guide?
Am I missing anything?
As I understand it, C3D does not sell gantries, so a user would need to buy and or machine one? Is the bearing guide a stnadard part or would it also need to be custom-made? I don’t have machining skills, but I have access to a well-equipped machine shop, so I am willing to jump in and try if it might be feasible. I also assume that I can always re-install the stock X gantry if my experiment fails.
Thanks,
Corey
PS: It seems like the stock C3D response is to “sell this machine and buy a larger one”. While it would be great to get a 2x4 or 4x4 S. 5 Pro I do not have the ability to accommodate a machine that size. Just looking for an extra bit of X axis space. :- )
Over the years people have been able to make existing machines larger. There was recently an SO3 that was made to cut 4x8 plywood. That said usually these type of “upgrades” work but frankly you would do better to just sell your existing machine and buy what you want. If you are a proficient metal worker and electronics expert along with a background in programing the go for it.
The Shapeoko machines show up for sale on the forum from time to time and I have even seen some on craigslist. The Facebook Market place would also be a good place to put your machine up for sale. Some people even donate their machines to the local schools.
Either way from an upgrade path to simply buying a larger machine it will cost you money. Buying a larger machine will likely lead to a successful upgrade over building a Frankstein Shapeoko. IMHO
Building a custom machine would be quite satisfying if you have the necessary skills.
Thank you for the feedback. Out of curiosity, do you have any experience with upgrading or building a machine? If so, would be interested to hear more.
It’s too bad that CNC machines aren’t like trousers, where you can increase size in increments :- ). The next larger size C3D machine would be too big for the space I have in mind (alcove of an apartment).
“If you are a proficient metal worker and electronics expert along with a background in programing the go for it.”
I do hope to build my own, but there’s a lot to learn.(i.e. CNC machinery, AND electronics, AND control software AND 3d printing). I know the things I know (Shopbot controls, Aspire CAD and now the Shapeoko), but there’s an alphabet soup out there with GRBLHAL, Mach3, Liquid CNC, etc. And then there’s the actual electric wiring knowledge…Slowly learning, as I took a welding class and an Arduino class recently and got a 3D printer. I think a build is a year away, though.
Ebay, CL and FB have listings, but often from people selling old gear for near what is costs retail new. My best experience has been with auction sites. I got mine from a knife woodworking company that ceased operations, and I saw another S. Pro user who bought his the same way.