Carbide 3D has announced new Shapeoko 5 Pro CNC routers.
Carbide 3D claims that the new Shapeoko 5 Pro is a “massive upgrade in capability and performance,” and that it “is meant to be the last CNC router you’ll buy, and not a stepping stone to something better.”
They add that:
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There’s no other CNC router on the market that can do what Shapeoko 5 Pro can do at the same price point. Some machines can’t touch the Shapeoko 5 Pro, even at twice the price.
Let’s look at some of the notable features.
First, the good and bad news. Carbide 3D says that “there’s nothing shared with the Shapeoko 3, 4, or Pro.” They have a new frame, extrusions, motion system, electronics, motor, GRBL, and “new everything.”
The company says that they wanted this to be the flagship Shapeoko for a long time.
It will be available in 3 sizes:
- Shapeoko 5 Pro 2×2 – 24” x 24”
- Shapeoko 5 Pro 4×2 – 48” x 24”
- Shapeoko 5 Pro 4×4 – 48” x 48”
The Z-travel will be the same for all machines – 6″ (155mm), with 4″ of clearance space beneath the gantry.
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They have a new hybrid table, that’s pass-through capable. Carbide 3D says users can slide a full 4′ x 8′ sheet of plywood through 4′ x 2′ and 4′ x 4′ machines.
The t-slot spacings and dimensions have been tweaked so that all of the MDF spaces in between can be completely machineable by the cutter.
In other words, you can flatten the entire top to ensure you can pass through oversized sheet metals, flat.
They moved away from belts and went with ballscrews.
They also upgraded the Shapeoko 5 Pro to linear rails, which are said to be a big upgrade over the V-wheels or rails of earlier Shapeoko machines.
There’s a new router motor spindle, plus accessory clamp (accessories are planned but not yet announced), and new BitSetter for quicker bit changes.
There will be a new optional Sweepy Pro dust boot, with grounding points to help with static-mitigation efforts.
A new power pendant with emergency stop allows for easy controls, even if the CNC router is placed inside an enclosure. This will let users pause or stop a program mid-job.
Additional upgrades include a new electronics box, drag chains for all of the wiring, and lights under the gantry.
Pricing
Shapeoko 5 Pro 2′ x 2′: $3200
Shapeoko 5 Pro 4′ x 2′: $3500
Shapeoko 5 Pro 4′ x 4′: $3750
Users will need to buy or supply a router or spindle motor separately.
Carbide 3D expects to start shipping the new machines by December 2022. They will start accepting orders on November 21, 2022.
They say the Shapeoko 5 Pro is built and supported in the USA.
Discussion
Here are all of the other current Carbide 3D machines:
- Nomad 3 desktop CNC mill
- Shapeoko Pro CNC router
- Shapeoko 4 CNC router
- Shapeoko HDM
It is worth reminding everyone that all of these CNC routers are meant for use with wood boards, sheets, and other such materials. Machines like this simply are not built for cutting stronger materials.
They say that this CNC can cut non-ferrous metals such as brass and aluminum, albeit slowly, but it will likely require more trial and error and user experience to dial things in.
I own a Shapeoko 3, and this new series-5 Pro machine does look to fix a lot of the small complaints I have about my machine, although at several times the price.
It’s interesting to see the direction the company is heading in. Their Shapeoko CNC routers start at $1700 – that’s for the Shapekoko 4 “standard” size, plus an $80 for a router motor (or about the same if purchasing from a different brand). The new Pro model costs about twice as much.
Carbide 3D says that there will not be a non-pro Shapeoko 5, and so the 4 will continue to be their entry-level CNC router.
The new Shapeoko 5 Pro is not Carbide 3D’s most expensive CNC router, however, a title still held by their pre-assembled Shapeoko HDM machine.
I don’t know enough yet to recommend for or against the Shapeoko 5 Pro CNC router, but I do thoroughly recommend Carbide 3D (so far).
Ray
Looks like a typo on the third item in the price list. I’m guessing that was meant to be 4×4 instead of 2×2.
Feel free to delete this comment.
Stuart
Ah – thank you! – *fixed*
(I tend to not delete correction comments, in hopes it encourages others to speak up if they spot an egregious mistake.)
MoogleMan3
Very interesting and worth a look when it releases. I’m guessing that the popularity of the onefinity cnc really put some pressure on shapeoko. IIRC the onefinity is still a bit cheaper, but this seems fairly priced for what you get.
If I can ever get to finishing up the shop renovation I plan to add a CNC, so fierce competition in this space is welcome. It drives manufacturers to do better while still being priced competitively.
Jeff
The OneFinity Elite Foreman base machine may be cheaper, but after you buy everything that the Shapeoko comes with the OneFinity is more expensive.
chase hansel
Dang, I bought a pro earlier this year. Had I known this was coming, I might have held off. Then again, I have been doing a ton of aluminum with good precision and the belts are very low maintenance.
John
Much better pricing than Xcarve Pro versions which are silly overpriced.
Eugénio cabral
Shipping to portugal is included in the final price?
Stuart
I’m sorry, I don’t know their international shipping rates, you will have to ask Carbide 3D for an accurate quote.
William Adams
I work for Carbide 3D (remote tech support).
The Sweepy Pro is available now:
https://shop.carbide3d.com/collections/accessories/products/sweepy-pro
(it also fits the HDM — the product page will eventually get updated to mention that it also works w/ the SO5 Pro)
Folks have done quite a bit of aluminum since the SO3 days:
https://community.carbide3d.com/t/hardcore-aluminum-milling-on-an-s3/9744
and the Pro, 4, and HDM have let folks push this even harder — even the Nomad had a turn in the spotlight:
https://community.carbide3d.com/t/nomad-large-aluminum-part/4917
Stuart
Thanks for chiming in!
I’ve seen Vince’s work, and was under the impression he wasn’t running stock machines.
e.g. https://www.instagram.com/p/CH-xdCbnn92/ : “Datron 4-1 6mm SF, Datron 6mm SF Ball”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B61cWtOHe23/ : “my machine is modded and has a heavy duty Z.”
It seems the newest machine(s) makes such modding unnecessary, which seems like a big plus for anyone with ambitions to cut beyond wood and plastic.
William Adams
My understanding was he started out stock (early portion of the thread), then modded, then picked up new machines as they became available.
A user who does similar work is discussing getting an SO5 Pro here:
https://community.carbide3d.com/t/shapeoko-5-pro-how-is-it-with-aluminum-vs-hdm/52389/12
Luke
Seeing the aluminum projects was super cool, thanks for sharing
Brian Kelly
XCarbide3D has always left off things that should have been there on any CNC, i.e., Emergency Stop button (not software based) a true hand slam big red button (like they have now. This is something that has been on CNC, PLC and end even non CNC machines to prevent further or any damage.
I noticed right off that their software is not a good user experience and seems to be styled by people who were never really a machinist or some who used the devices in a real world system.
To cancel size upgrades and actually tell you to sell your existing 3 and buy a new 4 just a few months ago and now release 5. Not like they didn’t know of this new model. They should not have said anything (knowing you never want to say anything about new models). Seems they think average Joe can afford new machines that have some (not all) upgrades that belong on any CNC to start.
That being said the cost of the new items are very over priced.
On another note, as an electromechanical designer for over 20 years (designed from scratch many aluminum extrusions for Kodak, ART, etc. There has been no change in design only pricing) and as a current UX Designer, SW developer and SQA eng.) I know what I say is fact not just lip flapping.
Knowing I can build a new CNC based on the new 5 features for less than a quarter of the price. Then use Plasma CNC for software. Only diff will be my machine will have changable features of operation. No comment on what that means until I show the unit.
Thomas Stanley
Thanks for this overview. Pretty beefy machine for sure. Does this use the same Arduino-based controller, or has Carbide3D moved up to a Raspberry Pi or equivalent Linux controller?
Stuart
They don’t specify other than to say “new electronics” and “new GRBL.”
Carbide3D doesn’t seem to have any press/media info; I only have access to what they’ve disclosed publicly.
William Adams
That it runs a 328 chip (presumably the Atmega 328P, so Arduino) was specifically mentioned by one of the product designers:
https://community.carbide3d.com/t/introducing-the-shapeoko-5-pro/52365/49
If you wish to use a Raspberry Pi, you can run Carbide Motion on one:
https://carbide3d.com/carbidemotion/pi
Dave
Have you checked out the specs of the Langmuir MR-1 gantry mill yet? I got in back on launch day. Units are supposed to start shipping in the next few days.
Stuart
I have not. Interesting. Looks to be a lower-priced Tormach competitor. There are too few brands in this space.
Hmm. Taking a closer look… I don’t know how I feel about it. It looks like they’re more of an Avid CNC competitor than Tormach.
The machine rails look a bit dainty to me to be able to cut steel, but looks can be deceiving. The specs say it weighs 750-900 pounds depending on installed options. 750 pounds should be very rigid. 240V spindle… “concrete reinforced steel structure” – which explains the 750 lb starting weight.
I wouldn’t be an early adopter, seeing as how this looks to be the brand’s first machine of this kind. Shapeoko is a mature platform, and Carbide 3D is still iterating in significant ways. The starter price of $4495 is not going to be ideal for most users. You can always enhance an entry-point base machine on your own, but most will likely look at the $6146 “full” setup and go in that direction. That’s a lot of money for a system that’s not tried-and-true.
I’ll look more into the company, thank you!
Michael McNally
Looks pretty good! I have a few questions that perhaps a company person can answer?
Is there a jog pendant?
Is there a 4th axis?
Is there laser support?
Is there Automatic Tool Changer support?
Thanks!
Stuart
From what I saw?
No.
No.
No.
No.
Carbide 3D might be able to point you in the right direction for some of those options, but others (ATC, laser) are definitely not possible (in my opinion and based on what I’ve seen or not seen).
Michael McNally
OK. Thank you for the info! I was getting excited there.
William Adams
The keyboard shortcuts allow using a numeric keypad for jogging, and there is support for using a gaming controller as well.
No, no support for a 4th axis, folks have added them by either replacing the controller, or working up a system which translates Y-axis motion into rotation.
While we don’t support a laser, folks have added them, and there are some 3rd parties which do them.
We don’t offer an ATC, again folks have added them, but it’s a big expense — needs a vacuum pump, possibly a compressor, tool holders for each tool, and a tool station/carrel.
Michael McNally
Thank you for the info! A jog wheel pendant is kinda of a show stopper for me. I love this machine and the company vibe but I want it all 🙂
Brady Stephens
Have you seen or heard of any Shapeoko 5 Pro 4×4 table/enclosure designs? Trying to find one preferably that can mount to a wall and fold away due to space constraints.
Stuart
Seeing as how the Shapoko 5 Pro just launched, you’re probably not going to find many mods or DIY enclosures yet.