When assembling the Shapeoko 5 pro, how precise does squaring of the baseframe need to be?

Hi there, newbie here. I am assembling my new Shapeoko 5 pro 4x4 and specifically at one of the first steps of securing the baseframe. I measured both sides to confirm the base is square before securing the baseframe and after tightening the bolts, I’m within a 1/32 of variance in the two measurements. I am assuming this is good enough but wanted to confirm prior to assembling the rest of the machine. I appreciate the help.

Precision has to start somewhere, and squaring up the base frame is a good place on a machine (ideally starting on a level table).

Being out by 1/32 is roughly 0.0373 degrees over a 48" span

My experience is that as the values get smaller, one gets in a maddening, tail-chasing, circular exercise of ever small values and diminishing returns — knowing where to say, “Good enough” is a tradeoff between one’s patience and expectations.

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You want the machine square otherwise it will drive you nuts as it will not square with the slats. In other words, if it isn’t square and you lay in the stock and line up a side with a slat it will not be square with the gantry.

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As square as you can reasonable get it :slight_smile:
1/32 is pretty good IMHO.
I assume you are measuring corner to corner. If I am not mistaken front to back would be 70 percent of that.

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It’s really slightly less than 1/32 from corner to corner. I think I’m good, just wanted to double check before I installed the spoiler boards. Thanks for the replies!

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1/32 should be a fair margin to work within. I found it really helped me yesterday when I attached a piece of hardwood just off the left y-axis and then ran a cut down the inside edge of it. Now I have a left side base edge to “square” my material to the machine. But today will be my 2nd day working with the machine, so take anything that I say with a lot of margin for error. lol.

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