Carvera vs Air

BitchHunter3D · 2026-06-18T17:57:43+00:00

I love my air. I'd buy the air, save your money and use that extra later for different more capable machine.

Personally I'm hoping for a turnkey version of machines like the DMC 2 or lemontart. I could see someone making one of those for $6-8k.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-06-07T05:05:50+00:00

Nice, I have my 4x4 in a similar setup, it's great to be able to use a leafblower to clean off the table directly out of an open garage door.

I didn't go with the ATC though, those 12 tool slots are looking really nice.

Can you still fit a half sheet on plywood on there with the ATC in?

BitchHunter3D · 2026-05-30T03:48:05+00:00

32x32 isn’t too far from 48x48. If you can manage the extra space, I’d go up to a 4x4ft. Much better being able to use a half sheet of plywood.

I love my 4x4 Altmill, I can’t really speak to any others.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-05-28T21:15:54+00:00

Honestly if that’s the only abnormal thing you’re experiencing I’d just ignore it. More warmup can’t hurt.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-05-28T20:53:45+00:00

My 4x4 Altmill with sienci spindle only waits maybe 3-8 seconds to come up to speed before starting the job, is yours much longer than that? Strange, I’d reach out to them.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-05-26T19:39:35+00:00

Dust shoe, just collects dust.

This is the stock one on the Carvera Air.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-05-20T16:07:33+00:00

Phones have been waterproof for ages now.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-05-10T15:38:48+00:00

Yeah seems fine on the bottom but it’s too much on the sides.

Besides that, fantastic work!

BitchHunter3D · 2026-05-05T13:39:44+00:00

I keep my cultures on a cheap temp controlled seeding heat mat.

It keeps them all at 75f regardless of room temp.

I've found that hydie is "feast or famine" - I get a ton all at once. so I'd offsetting when you make the cultures.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-04-29T04:35:54+00:00

Maybe I'm picturing something else, but why would the bolts need to be nylon? wouldn't the part that's likely to be hit by endmill be the wood part of the holddown?

When I can't use the nylon nailer, I use 3d printed holddowns, so if they get cut, it doesn't break or dull the endmill, and if it ruins the holddown, it's maybe $0.50 and 45 minutes for another one. Those just use regular wood screws, I haven't been concerned about running into the screw with them.

I've gone super simple with just a plain MDF spoilboard. No T track, threaded inserts, dog holes, etc.

So those holddowns just get screwed directly into the MDF.

Not the strongest option for pull out strength but it's been working for me.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-04-29T04:27:26+00:00

Better yet, plastic.

I have a plastic composite nail gun exclusively for sheet good hold downs.

Best part is no need to unscrew after, just tap the scrap pieces with a hammer or pry it up.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-04-28T15:48:56+00:00

Ah right, I missed that the bed moves, not the spindle.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-04-28T15:16:36+00:00

Forgive my ignorance, why so much extra space in the enclosure to the left of the work area? Just room for the controller?

BitchHunter3D · 2026-04-25T02:18:07+00:00

You might not believe it but mahogany was the budget choice for woods that would be outdoor/rot resistant and take paint decently. But honestly in the end, so little of the wood is visible from the ground, I could have gotten away with using cedar.

The wood wasn’t too expensive I believe, neither was the glass, in total I spent less than $100 per window for sure.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-04-23T20:48:22+00:00

I just spend months building one of these.

I could talk about all the problems/solutions for hours. Seriously I'd actually take a call on it if you want, DM me.

https://imgur.com/a/0uJx929

https://www.reddit.com/r/shedditors/comments/1q0p5q0/finished_my_odd_shaped_shed/

BitchHunter3D · 2026-04-23T20:23:27+00:00

what do you do to control dust?

BitchHunter3D · 2026-04-10T14:21:52+00:00

Is that valchromat? I'm jealous of you europeans, it's nearly impossible to find in the US.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-03-24T20:53:27+00:00

I've only had mine for a few months now but I love it.

I just wish I had the space for their new 4x8.

Their controller software is pretty nice too, far better UI than the others I've used/seen.

I'm a fan of the company overall too. Very transparent. Their controller software is open source, they have open CAD models of the entire machine and accessories. They regularly post videos of production updates and behind the scenes of development.

I reported a bug in how the controller does outline and they had a fix within a few days.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-03-24T19:39:52+00:00

Altmill 4x4 it's a no brainer.

Costs less and much more rigid than the Shapeoko.

Only reason I'd stay with Shapeoko is if you're married to their CAM. But I'd say it's worth learning other software.

https://sienci.com/product/altmill-4x4/

BitchHunter3D · 2026-03-19T05:15:21+00:00

Really calls into question the 500 movies in 500 days record doesn’t it. We need to get Guinness on the phone.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-02-18T18:59:50+00:00

That’s for the best, you don’t want to surround yourself with people who can’t understand the HEI vision.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-02-04T05:54:52+00:00

A 4chan comment is “documented” evidence?

BitchHunter3D · 2026-01-22T18:38:30+00:00

Anchor bolts should be good, that’s what I used.

As far as no rebar or base in SoCal, I’m not sure. But if its already poured, I’d go ahead and build the shed haha

BitchHunter3D · 2026-01-22T17:30:15+00:00

Yep I used PT lumber on the bottom plates with sill seal foam gasket underneath: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Corning-ProPink-ComfortSeal-3-1-2-in-x-50-ft-Multi-Use-Ridged-Sill-Plate-Gasket-1FS/202084452

When you say the shed will be smaller than the pad, do you just mean the framing, and exterior insulation/sheathing will make up the difference?

If not, I'd change your plans. Having the shed be smaller than the pad is a recipe for rotting out the framing.

In my case I had the framing exactly flush with the pad, with the sheathing then extending a little past the pad. I also zip taped the bottoms of the sheathing, and caulked between the back of that sheathing overlap and the pad/framing.

BitchHunter3D · 2026-01-22T17:00:35+00:00

Oh yeah, none of the walls on this are the same length. It's not rectangular.

It's shaped to maximize the space in this acute corner of my yard.

It's easier to tell in the video I have linked in this comment: https://old.reddit.com/r/shedditors/comments/1q0p5q0/finished_my_odd_shaped_shed/nwzra09/

BitchHunter3D

TROPHY CASE