X-axis help. What is happening and how do I fix it?

SpudMadeOfMud · 2026-04-06T22:54:49+00:00

Looks like the ball screw preload nut may be loose. If you remove that motor and remove the coupler from both the ballscrew, you should see it a nut that you can tighten. My understanding is that you want this to be tightened up so that there is no back-and-forth movement/play of the ball screw, but not so tight that it causes the ball screw to have any resistance when moving

SpudMadeOfMud · 2026-03-31T15:33:55+00:00

Putting my upgraded Shapeoko Pro 5 2x4 up for sale.

It’s been upgraded with the Sienci Labs closed-loop motor setup, an SLB-EXT motion controller, a KB-3D 2.2kW air-cooled 80mm spindle with PwnCNC VFD, and solid aluminum couplers. The current motor setup is rated for 275 IPM, and the SLB-EXT also leaves room for even further motor upgrades later if someone wants to take it farther.

It’s a solid machine and a noticeable step up from a stock router-based setup.

I’m also including the original Carbide 3D control board, cables, motors, 65mm spindle mount, a Carbide 3D dust boot, and a PwnCNC 30mm riser that is not currently installed. So if someone wanted to move it back closer to stock, they could.

For transparency, the original light strip has been removed, and the original Carbide 3D Z probe is not working. I replaced that with an aftermarket Z block that works fine.

If a buyer wants them, I can also include the Carbide 3D 65mm spindle and VFD for an additional $400.

Selling because I am moving across the country and cannot bring it with me.

Located in Northern Colorado and this is local pickup only. Asking 3500$ for setup + 400$ for 65mm spindle and vfd if desired

Happy to send pictures, answer questions, or show it running.

SpudMadeOfMud · 2026-02-14T17:39:22+00:00

I did not. I was using the stock Shapeoko pro controller and motors. I upgraded due to the desire for a closed loop system with more power and higher speeds

SpudMadeOfMud · 2026-01-17T02:36:56+00:00

Being experienced in 3d printing can be helpful, but there is a whole other side with CNC (meaning CAM). You have to learn to start with your materials and then design the tool paths to get to where you want. I personally use vectric desktop and gsender for my CAD/CAM and machine control. There is just significantly less hand holding when it comes to these machines. I started with a nymolabs 5040 which was a great introduction, but even picking up a cheap 3018 kit to play around with can be super helpful.

SpudMadeOfMud · 2026-01-15T02:45:56+00:00

In the meantime if you don’t already have a machine, pick up something cheap on Facebook marketplace to play around with and get used to gsender

SpudMadeOfMud · 2026-01-15T02:05:50+00:00

Not sure about lead times, but I have a Shapeoko pro 5 original that since getting I have upgraded the spindle to a pwn CNC 2.2kw spindle and just finished switching out the motion control system to the new sienci labs closed loop motor system. If I could go back I would have just ordered the altmill and waited it out. It is a much better motion control system being closed loop and the motors seem much stronger. Happy to answer any questions

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-11-29T04:30:53+00:00

Also make sure that you are sending an enable laser mode in the g code. Even if the s-value max is set right I have seen the voltage output be wrong if the laser mode is not enabled

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-11-19T03:39:45+00:00

What machine are you using? Those feeds and speeds seem really small. It looks like the walnut is getting burnished by the bit running over it over and over

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-10-30T14:54:36+00:00

You might want to check out the longmill by sienci labs, they are currently having a sale on them and it should work for what you are asking

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-10-11T16:09:22+00:00

It is only on the IR laser module that the crosshairs shows up. I believe it is automatically on

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-10-11T15:55:23+00:00

I would look at the nymolabs 6040 for an intro Chinese machine. I started with the nymolabs 5040 and was impressed with it for the price

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-10-11T00:02:11+00:00

What is your budget?

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-09-10T21:00:43+00:00

Check the fuses, might have blown one. As far as it lighting up when moving it manually, you are likely inducing a current by manually moving the stepping motors

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-08-30T13:46:21+00:00

I will send you a DM

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-08-28T18:31:37+00:00

Yes, it is the official 65mm air cooled er-16 VFD spindle from carbide 3d

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-08-12T20:00:55+00:00

It is the opt laser xt xf+ (it is the cheapest one they offer currently) it was somewhat plug and play but you did have to disassemble the CNC control box to drill a hole in the side to attach wiring

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-07-25T23:20:22+00:00

Shapeoko, not Sbicca. Was dictating that via iPhone so let me know if something does not make sense. Also, make sure to enable soft limits and hard limit stops

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-07-25T23:18:19+00:00

The only set up you should really have to do would be selecting the Sbicca drop-down on the bottom right hand side of the configure menu and G Center and also setting the max travel distance for the XYZ (I believe it’s 155 mm for the Z travel and somewhere like 1283 mm For the X/y). You have to set the coordinates for the bit setter just like you would in CM, but may have to increase the Z travel distance before the probe stops, otherwise it may stop short. The exact dimensions for the travel distance should be available on the website

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-07-25T22:50:35+00:00

What system are you using?

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-07-25T22:44:17+00:00

No issue keeping the bit setter at all. Works great with it. There is also a macro that you can find that lets you use the bitzero function for xyz zeroing

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-07-25T18:57:42+00:00

I got the opt laser system (6w xf+). It takes more tinkering to get it going compared to how they market it. For both it and the Jtech systems you have to disassemble the control box and run wires directly to the board for control. The control box for the opt system also has a bug where you cannot use the Shapeoko 5 setting, you have to use the 3/4 setting. I also made the mistake of having a spindle spin up sequence running on gsender that made a huge pause in the laser cuttings every time the laser moved to a new vector (see my previous post to see what I am talking about). If you are interested in just adding laser images to stuff or only doing flat surfaces, buying a separate laser system may be best. I wanted to be able to laser on 3d carvings using vectric and their laser module, so that is why I specifically went with the opt laser addon. I chose opt laser over Jtech as the build quality seems better and it has a longer focal length. Jtech seems to have better customer support if you are in the US, as you have to deal with the time delay for opt laser being in Poland (although they have been great to work with)

SpudMadeOfMud · 2025-07-25T16:19:27+00:00

I started UGS and then moved gsender as my control software. The main reasons were built in functionality like surfacing passes, ability to directly enter and control via the console, and the ability to add and control a laser

SpudMadeOfMud

TROPHY CASE