Was about to get a toy- then I did some research...

[NeoMorph]

Sorry I know this is not exactly topic related but I'm not standing by and not saying anything on something which is SO WRONG and will potentialy lead others in wrong direction.



Cannot blame the Tech because people select the wrong motors and underbuild Z-axis. There is also a reason why we tell people to avoid machines like shepeko with this being just one of them.!




No at end of the day it comes down to if machine can handle the spindle or not.! . . . Not just the cost. From what your saying you have Shapeko type machine and the simple truth is these weak machines cannot handle large spindles like these. Got nothing to do with how it's cooled and everything to do with build quality.

Comments like your really piss me off because your actually discouraging people from using products which you clearly have little or no experience of using.

Dude, you shot at the ground and missed.... just like you missed the point of hobby users first CNC who don’t know about engineering and have never put a CNC together before.

I DID POINT OUT THAT ITS THE WEIGHT CAUSES THE GANTRY TO BOG DOWN but you obviously missed that. The water leakage thing was just me pointing out another thing in the con side of the pros and cons list.

Here you go...

The problem with hobby CNC machines using full sized spindles is weight. For example the reason most router based CNCs use router is because of weight either bogging the gantry down or causing the Z-axis to fall (like the Shapeoko, Ox etc). I think the Shapeoko actually used a SPRING at one time to help keep the router from dropping and not being able to get back up again. So a proper spindle is out of the question.

And you are soooo wrong. You knock Shapeoko type machines (I have a heavily modified Ox btw) yet to get anything better COSTS MORE MONEY.

I even said that when I could afford to get a better built machine I would go water cooled spindle because it’s superior tech. Cost me up a Workbee kit and then cost me up a decent heavy gauge gantry alone. I’m 100% sure the decent gantry is going to cost a lot more than the full Workbee kit alone.

Just look at the CNC4newbie ultimate gantry upgrade for a Shapeoko. A 500mm gantry cost $999.

I’m not trying to say I’m an expert on this subject... far from it. But the guys who have been working with CNC for years sometimes forget it’s not so easy starting out when you might be an office worker who wants to dabble in CNC. After all, the OP was going to buy one of those Chinese toys before he realised his mistake.

A Shapeoko or Workbee is a great tool to start out on. Hell, just look a John Saunders. He started out with a tiny mill next to his bed ffs and now look at him. It’s better to crawl before walking (unless you have some engineering, programming and electronics knowledge).

Edit: John Saunders is NYCCNC on YouTube and owns a huge factory (Saunders Machine Works) full of CNC machines. Guy’s a star.

So please read fully before going full “I could make a CNC out of a couple of paper clips and a hairdryer motor that is better than a Shapeoko”. It IS down to money... but also skill, time and learning. But I’d still love a water cooled spindle. I’m making do with a Dewalt 611 and a SuperPID for speed control.

Oh and that weight thing... that is what I was told by SEVERAL CNC suppliers regarding Shapeoko, Workbee and Ox kits when I enquired back in 2015.