Upgrading to Shapeoko Pro XXL or go for a completely different machine?

I think your correct on the hardness. But the walnut seems harder than the red and white oak I’ve cut in the past. Poplar is about the softest hard wood, and the birch is softer still.

I went with the default direction in VCarve. :smiley:

All 3 videos are the C3D router that shipped with my SOPro. The difference between my modified SO3 and the SOPro is fairly dramatic in my opinion. The router is the limitation. The SOPro is well matched to a 65mm, 1.5kw spindle I think. Less weight than an 80mm one, and should be equally capable as the machine.