Upgrade Overview

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Shapeoko upgrades can be categorized into four major categories:

  • those which increase stiffness / rigidity
  • those which increase working area
  • different spindle choices — see Spindle Overview
  • those which are for user convenience / other

The eShapeOko (European / Extended) marketed by cvoinescu includes a number of upgrades by default as well as a number of options at order time.

The ShapeOko 2 was released[1][2] and includes several upgrades from below, as well as a few novel ideas.

The ShapeOko 3 has been announced and is an all-new machine design which obviates the need for most upgrades and makes expanding the machine much simpler.

What is the future of Shapeoko?

https://carbide3d.com/blog/2020/shapeoko-development/

https://carbide3d.com/blog/2020/nomad-2020/

Results of upgrades: cutting aerospace tooling to under 0.1mm (0.004") accuracy.[3]

Andrew Spurgeon's spindles and mods: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz-KxXzikAWwSy1HeDR1ZlA1YzQ/view (pdf)[4]

Stiffness/rigidity

The importance of improving this cannot be understated as noted in forum discussion: Re: spindle power / feed rate.

User cvoinescu made an initial codification of the effect of upgrades on stiffness / rigidity in the forum thread Custom Plates. In order of effectiveness of the modifications (from most effective to least):

There is some uncertainty about the order of the last two items on the list.

With the Shapeoko 2 already having many upgrades in place already, the priority shifts a bit --- best rigidity mods for SO2?:

  • bolting X-axis Makerslide together
  • mount spindle closer


Spacers

One straight-forward and inexpensive way to improve rigidity is to replace the nylon spacers. There are several options.

Metal Spacers

"Biggest bang for the buck."

Now standard on the Shapeoko 2. Forum discussion in We should switch to metal spacers.

A 10-pack of 1/4" spacers should fit out a machine w/ Double Makerslide X-Axis --- 6 1" spacers (and some washers) will properly space the carriage (drilling 2 additional holes in the Z-axis mount plate will let one use 2 additional bolts and 4 more 1" spacers to finish off a 10-pack and further improve a machine's rigidity).

Plastic Blocks

Alternately, user wlanfox used plastic blocks instead of spacers as shown in the forum post Shapeoko #0735, mods evolution... (at least my version) ;-)

Locking Nuts

A third option is to use (locking) nuts in lieu of the spacers as danimal documented in Re: Why not a wider "double X-axis"?

OpenRail

There is now a hard-coated Makerslide alternative, Openrail, which in theory affords the usage of steel wheels (in practice, not so much). Forum user microwavesafe took advantage of this for his machine as documented in X and Z mods.

Note that they are most useful for the X- and Z-axes: Re: Metal Dual V wheel And Fishing line pulley Bearing and Re: Hardcoat OpenRail.

Double X-carriage motor mount plates

Another option which needs to be fitted into the above is doubling up the motor mounting plates for the X/Z plate assembly and increasing the number of bolts used so as to create more rigid torsion box as the eShapeoko does (though its is also taller) --- this upgrade has since become standard in the ShapeOko 2.

A similar modification for the Shapeoko 3 is shown at: https://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9221&p=68843#p68843

Gantry rigidity

The Double Makerslide X-Axis upgrade is the primary way to address this. Now standard on the Shapeoko 2.

A similar idea to increase the rigidity of the gantry is shown in Bar across the back...

  • fasten the two lengths of rail together --- bolt[7], screw, epoxy or use the Makerslide joining clips
  • sister in length(s) of steel along the top or bottom[8] or in-between[9]
  • fashion some sort of plates to join the pieces of Makerslide together

Furthering this idea, Xaracen extended the V-wheel bolts for his Z-axis through his gantry on his SO1 by drilling matching holes, using longer bolts and appropriate spacers. http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=3734&p=37129#p37126

Additional mini-carriages

Yet another option is to add additional sets of wheels mounted to a secondary carriage as done on Marty's Shapeoko2 Deluxe.

Linear rail

Some Z-axis upgrades for the Shapeoko 3 have added linear rail along the bottom of the gantry rail: http://community.carbide3d.com/t/liear-rail-makes-the-world-of-difference/9174

Working area

These upgrades are easily compared and complementary in nature, see the page Scaling Up.

Often, other minor upgrades can affect this, e.g., moving belts to the outside as documented in some of the methods shown on the Belt Anchors page, or Belt on outside, but it is also possible to lose working area as when doubling the X-axis Makerslide.

Raising Z-axis on SO3/XL/XXL: https://community.carbide3d.com/t/someone-tell-me-why-this-is-a-terrible-idea-trying-to-get-more-z-clearance/20620/27

Open End Plates

One elegant solution is the Open End Plates, which allow one to extend a machine along the X-axis more readily. Now standard on the Shapeoko 2.

Extrusion Frame

Another alternative is to use aluminum extrusion itself for the frame as forum user Juicebox did in Just Enlarged my Shapeoko with some UpGrades.

Spindles / Tooling

Upgrading the spindle from the basic rotary tool included with the stock SO1/2 was a common upgrade. Even w/ the SO3, there are people who choose to use spindles other than the suggested Dewalt DWP611.

See Spindle Overview for more detailed discussion.

Other

Some upgrades are discussed in context either on the Parts pages, or on more detailed pages such as Belts_and_Pulleys#Belt_Width wider belts.

Z-axis

Shapeoko 3

https://shop.carbide3d.com/collections/shapeoko-hd/products/shapeoko-hdz [10] --- Dust shoe for HDZ which includes re-drawings: https://community.carbide3d.com/t/wip-frame-around-hdz-spindle/16265/9 The top of the v3.3 HDZ is ~19" from the bottom of the front endplate of an XL/XXL. Maintenance: Mobil Vactra Oil No.2 inserted into the small M4 hole every 6 months.

https://shop.carbide3d.com/collections/accessories/products/shapeoko-z-plus

Shapeoko 1/2

Belt Anchors

Cable Management

Camera / Microscope

One option on some commercial machines is to mount a camera / microscope and to use it to zero the machine. The camera may also be used to monitor the machine and its cutting progress.

Dust collection

Chip deflectors

https://community.carbide3d.com/t/introducing-hdz-4-0/24821/89

Emergency Stop (E-Stop)

Emergency Stop buttons are used to stop all motion in an emergency, for example if a finger, hair, jewelry, etc becomes entangled in the machine. Industrially, E-Stop buttons are typically linked to the circuit breaker that powers the unit.

Discussion: https://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8806&p=67134#p67134

https://www.amazon.com/Fulton-Single-Visibility-Contact-Machinery/dp/B07SG75TZS [16]

KREG PRS3100 Multi-Purpose Router Table Switch [17]

c.f., Feed hold: https://community.carbide3d.com/t/adding-feed-hold-switch-with-12v-light-voltage-step-up/25536/19

Enclosures

An enclosure of some kind, either for the electronics, or the machine is essential if cutting metal, so as to protect the electronics from conductive chips.

Multiple Controllers

As part of an enclosure, some users have worked up switching so as to allow switching between control boards: http://community.carbide3d.com/t/whats-better-than-one-cm-controller-two-of-course/3378

Headless

Adding a second Arduino and SD-card shield to allow headless operation

Pendant

Limit (Home) Switches

c.f., linear encoders: http://www.directindustry.com/industrial-manufacturer/linear-encoder-65005.html [18]

Probe

Note on grounding: https://community.carbide3d.com/t/need-help-touch-probe-grounding-missing/26948/9

(see below)

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1919578

3D probing with one: https://community.carbide3d.com/t/duplicating-physical-items-story-of-2020-christmas-break/28951

Carbide 3D BitZero

Available for purchase at: https://shop.carbide3d.com/products/shapeoko-touch-probe

V2 at: https://shop.carbide3d.com/collections/accessories/products/bitzero-v2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xs0UknTNKY

[19][20]

Carbide 3D BitZero alligator connection:

Carbide 3D Probe alligator connection.jpg

Probe vs. Tool Length Sensor

https://forum.shapeoko.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9179&p=70116#p68543

Edge Finder

Only usable in a spindle with low RPM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_qiPE5z7SE ​ https://community.carbide3d.com/t/how-to-use-edge-finders/369

https://www.kbctools.com/itemdetail/?itemCode=1-811-108 --- works as fast as 1500 RPM[21]

Touch / digitizer Probe

This essentially makes the machine into a 3D scanner, but may also be used for auto-levelling a board for making a PCB (c.f., Touch Plate)

Discussion of the need for a round ball: https://www.facebook.com/groups/232744457133521/permalink/284712001936766/

Left probe pin is switch, right is ground. ... ground really should go to the tool. [22]

Painting

Workholding

Nio's V slot bed

Other

Dust protection

Coolant System

Manual application of coolant is deprecated since it may cause thermal shock to the tool.[32]

Air Compressor

http://community.carbide3d.com/t/compressor-for-chip-clearing/8811/12

http://community.carbide3d.com/t/coolant-lubricant-for-cutting-aluminium/1313/17

Additional Axis

Discussion of configuration and programming: http://www.cncsnw.com/4thHowTo.htm [40]

Reddit discussion w/ one post which links to commercial options on eBay: https://www.reddit.com/r/CNC/comments/4skqdw/helpcnc_3040_whats_a_cost_effective_way_to_add_a/

rotary axis

GrblGru now supports lathe functionality: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4710&p=42654

3D printable chuck: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5791

3D printable lathe: https://github.com/Intrinsically-Sublime/Printable-Lathe-V2

http://www.worldofward.com/rotarycontroller/ --- DIY Rotary Table Controller.

Another option is a collet block set such as: http://www.shars.com/products/toolholding-workholding/collet-fixtures/5c-collet-block-set [47]

See also CAM#Multiple_Axis

Motors

NEMA 23 motors

Upgrading the motors is usually done to:

  • move the machine faster
  • move a large, heavy spindle

there's no intrinsic reason to upgrade from NEMA17 motors.

Documented for the ShapeOko 2 in this forum post: Re: Caleb's Shapeoko 2 #3164. NEMA 23 Z-axis for shapeoko 2. Note that these may need longer fasteners --- 15mm per [48]. It will also be necessary to source pulleys with a 1/4" bore (as opposed to the typical 5mm of NEMA 17 motors). A larger plate is needed for the Z-Axis and is available from I.C. on the Upgrades page --- NEMA 23 Z-Axis Kit.

More forum links are available at: ShapeOko 2 Upgrades, and these are now integrated into the BOM.

Notes on motor selection size: You don't want a motor heavier than about 700 g, mostly because there's absolutely no point to it. Why would you want to be able to apply, say, 600 N to the gantry or X carriage, when you know that 100 N on your tool will flex the machine too much to be usable?[50]

Z-axis Drive options

For the Z-axis, rather than directly driving the threaded/Acme rod, it's possible to use a belt drive:

Discussion here: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4368 and source files are available in this post: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4368&p=33383

Controller Modifications

Wireless

Panel Display

XLCD

Replacement Controllers

Gradus M1 Pro

Automatic Tool Changer

https://community.carbide3d.com/t/working-automatic-tool-changer/8164

https://www.reddit.com/r/hobbycnc/comments/q0wihc/how_does_an_automatic_tool_changer_work/

https://hackaday.com/2016/06/20/hackaday-prize-entry-diy-automatic-tool-changer/

XATC = Automatic Tool Changer http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=8011

https://github.com/xpix/XATC https://github.com/xpix/XDisPlace

Commercial option for Kress spindles: http://www.cnccat.gr/index.php?id=2&productid=837&catid=89&subcatid=&lang=en

https://scottstuff.net/posts/2019/04/03/amb-fme-w-atc-spindle/

Sources

Resources

cnc_stiffness_calculator_v7.zip[51]

Other

ShapeOko3 Mods (Foamx2, Laser, Drag knife) and tricks

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