Upgrading from a Shapeoko 3

New member, just purchased an Altmill 4x4 with the 220v spindle. I’ve been running a Shapeoko 3 XXL since 2016, when I lived in a townhouse and used the finished basement rec room as a shop. Moved to a house in 2018 and my wife and I spent most of last year building an addition and a detached 750 sq ft shop for me. I knew I wanted to upgrade the CNC once I was back in and finally pulled the trigger. Considered the 4x8 but didn’t want to devote the space to it nor wait for it, plus my makerspace here in town has an EBF 5x10 machine that I use when I want to run full sheets. At some point I’ll probably do the tool changer, but also didn’t want to wait for it. I have a ton of shop storage buildout projects to do that I want to get started on immediately.

I don’t really do engraving, I use my CNC for woodworking stuff. Heres an early project I did on the Shapeoko. I definitely want to figure out vertical workholding on the Altmill so I can do more elaborate joinery.

The Shapeoko has been a fantastic machine for what it is, but I gotta say that I’m looking forward to going from the dewalt trim router on a machine driven by timing belts to a 3hp spindle on a machine with ballscrews everywhere. :slight_smile:

@jabberwocky Welcome to the forum. Nice desk!

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Awesome desk !!! I especially like how you joined the two sections of the top!

7 packages arrived today, 12 days after ordering. Dove in after work and got the frame assembled. Pleasure to put together so far, really well thought out with clearly labeled packages and detailed directions.

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Busy week but I wrapped up wiring and spindle install and break in and took measurements to plan my work holding. Ran into one issue, my drag chains had 3 of one type of end link and 1 of the other (instead of 2 and 2). Sienci sent me replacements within a few hours so no complaints. For now I just drilled a hole in the first regular link on the front of the Y chain and screwed it down.

Since I want to check calibration and needed a pen holder I knocked a design out and 3d printed it. Uses a $10 linear rail and a spring and hardware I had laying around. Hoping to get spoil board in and surfaced this weekend and get to cutting.

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