Name

Shapeoko 3 XXL

Date Acquired

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

- 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)