The Shapeoko Forum

The folks at Carbide got me a replacement control board for my Shapeoko3 earlier this year to solve the 'dropped connection' issues...and since then I've been running my machine a lot more frequently. This has lead to my small shop being covered in a progressively thickening layer of fine wood dust ...

jkanzaki wrote:Neppo, when you drill the steel Z plate do you also tap it ? or you just tap the aluminum support ?

The holes in the steel Z plate are clearance size for the hardware I used and are not tapped. Only the holes in the aluminum stiffeners are tapped.

-Tim

jkanzaki wrote:Great post, what is the approx rpm did you use on your set up?

I'm running the Dewalt at a '5.5' on the dial.

A super PID is in my future...but I wanted to get the things that would show the biggest improvements out of the way first.

Finally finished with FIRST Robotics season and had a chance to finish my write up on the spindle carriage plate stiffeners: http://engineerinback.com/shapeoko3-z-axis-carriage-stiffeners My STEP files are also hosted there if anyone is interested. Got a ton of use out of the machine during the FIRS...

I typically just load up a #1 or #3 center drill from littlemachineshop into the collet and use it to spot the holes.

Then I go over to the drill press and finish drilling them out.

I know it's not the solution you're looking for...but its necessary due to the spindle speed.

Completed mine today. Unit is solid. However, stiffness in the Y-direction is still poor. Next up is working on the v-wheels I think. Video milling some hickory at 200ipm listed below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqmbxK6wuHU Looks awesome! I like the way you continued your plates down to the bo...

I just discovered that I also have the issue with the washers being the wrong thickness. I was squaring up my machine and the Z was off, so I pushed and pulled it a bit and got the same popping as the bearings moved back and forth in the wheels. Guess my build is halted now while I contact support....

I'll let them know; I checked the numbers, and the thicknesses I listed above are correct. I'm going to guess someone either pulled from the wrong stack of washers , or the ridge inside the v-wheels is supposed to be thicker to match up with the shims...either way there was axial play in the stack-u...

Lets me rephrase that...eliminated all chatter when taking "reasonable" cuts ;) I'll take a minute when I get home and post up the photos of how I transferred my holes through the steel plate to the supports. For the Shapeoko 3, the V-wheels come pre-assembled, w/ precision shims in-between the two ...

Started on mine! No fusion access so had to draw these up, but same concept. Should have them drilled, tapped and mounted this weekend. 3/8" aluminum. NICE! I've got mine all finished up. Sorry I've been so quiet; no time to finish the writeup. I volunteer as an engineering mentor with a high-schoo...