Shapeoko 3 XXL Tabletop CNC, Carbide 3D

Name	Shapeoko 3 XXL
Date Acquired	01 Jan 2021
Training	Training Required
Manufacturer	Carbide 3D
Description	Part of the Plastics Special Interest Group (PIGSig) and used as a CNC for primarily plastic materials. Also available for soft metals that do not require coolant. 33" x 33" x 3"
Volunteers	Jay Phelps

Related Pages

DMS Resources

• Shapeoko 3 XXL Safety & operation v2.0: Shapeoko 3 XXL Safety and Operation.pdf\
• BitZero v2 Setup & User Guide: BitZero_V2_Shapeoko.pdf\
• DMS Shapeoko Checklist: Shapeoko 3 XXL checklist.pdf\
• Talk post for more info

External Links

• Quick Start Guide and other manuals \
• Carbide 3D User Community Forums\
• Carbide 3D downloads\
• A good site on Shapeoko and general milling/routing practices for this kind of machine\
• Bit Setter was added on 4/5/2023 (for setting tool offsets at tool change).

Basics

THIS EQUIPMENT REQUIRES TRAINING. DO NOT USE UNLESS YOU HAVE TAKEN THE CLASS AND BEEN SIGNED OFF BY A QUALIFIED INSTRUCTOR!

This machine is located in the Machine Shop and belongs to the Plastics Special Interest Group (PIG-SIG).\

It is intended for router-based machining of primarily thin/flat materials. It is not intended for machining blocks of material that would be better suited to the Bridgeport or HAAS.

It’s a Shapeoko 3XXL from Carbide 3D.

• It uses a Dewalt DWP611 router and has a belt-driven Z-axis.
• The machining area is 838mmX x 838mmY x 76mmZ [approximately 33” x 33” x 3”]
• All cutters, including drills, must fit into the provided 1/4” and 1/8” Dewalt collets provided.
  • You may bring your own collet adapter sleeve (available at Rockler) if desired.
• There are four parallel T-slot tracks for clamping (one on each side edge and two equally spaced in the center). They will accept a 1/4” T-bolt. Four low profile wooden “clamps” are available on the machine.
  • This clamping method is somewhat limiting and users should plan their clamping and fixturing in advance.
  • NO SCREWS IN THE SPOIL BOARD! Any screws required for your holding method must be completely within your own self-provided spoil board.
• As of June 2021, you should bring your own computer with Carbide Motion installed in order to use the Shapeoko 3 XXL. It is difficult to use without a mouse. The download link is listed below.

Rules

1. Spoil board.

• You may not damage the machine’s spoil board.
• You also may not use screws in the spoil board.
• All users must provide and use their own sacrificial “spoil board”.
  • The only exception is users who are engraving only, but they do this at their own risk and must pay for the repair/replacement of the machine’s spoil board if they damage it.
  • Damage and cost are as decided by the committee chair.

2. Only specific materials are authorized (listed below).
3. While there is a dust collection/enclosure at this time, users should clean up with the shop vac after use.

Materials

ALLOWED:

• Plastics
• Glass (diamond drag bit engraving only)
• Soft metal, thin, as noted earlier

NOT ALLOWED:

• Any cutting oil or coolant
• Fiberglass, composites or any materials containing toxic additives
• Wood (allowed only with the explicit, advance permission of the committee chair - and we can’t think of a good reason why this would be given)