EShapeoko FAQ

What's with Shapeoko, eShapeoko and Shapeoko 2? Which is which?

Shapeoko is Edward Ford's original design. It was available in a single configuration. It was 375 mm by 375 mm, and came with pulleys, coupler and hardware for NEMA17 motors. It had a single X rail, two solid end plates, and a single Y motor.

The MXL belt was teeth-up, about 38 mm above the rails, using mending plates and zip ties as belt anchors, with no mechanism for tensioning the belt.

The first machines had painted mild steel plates, then changed to stainless steel, then to galvanized mild steel. The motor plates were 14 gauge (1.90–1.99 mm). All screws were hex socket cap screws in blackened steel.

The Z motor plate was machined HDPE with a pressure-fit bearing, later changed to acetal (Delrin). The Z axis used zinc-plated M8 threaded rod as a leadscrew, with an acetal (Delrin) lead nut.

eShapeoko is Catalin Voinescu's clone of the Shapeoko. It was initially available in a single size, 375 mm by 495 mm with NEMA17 motors, a single X rail and the standard solid end plates. Dual Y drive (with two motors) has been a recommended option from the beginning. Later, it gained options for dual X rail, NEMA23 motors on all axes (a choice of X only, X and Y, or all three), aluminium spacers for the X carriage, open end plates, and an array of sizes: 375 mm, 495/500 mm, 750 mm, 1000 mm and 1250/1400 mm (Y axis only). The larger sizes are supplied with mid-span supports for the Y axis and hardware to bolt the X rails together for additional strength.

While the eShapeoko retains the MXL belt, it gives a choice of three belt configurations, all of them teeth down: belts-on-top (the default on the X axis with a NEMA17 motor), and two belts-on-the-outside configurations (the default on the Y axis, and an assembly choice for the X axis with a NEMA23 motor). The belts are mounted through slots and secured with metal clamps, and tensioned with a simple, strong mechanism.

The eShapeoko has stainless steel plates (2 mm thick for the motor plates). All screws are hex socket cap screws in stainless steel.

The Z axis uses a flanged bearing secured between two stainless steel plates, and a stainless steel M8 threaded rod as leadscrew, with the same type of acetal (Delrin) lead nut as the Shapeoko. Each nut is tested to run smoothly on the screw before being packed with the kit.

Other differences include the more swept back gantry, which increases working area; the longer wheel base on the Z axis; and the different construction of the X carriage, with the bolts carrying the Z wheels going through both X plates, for added rigidity. As a consequence, the eShapeoko motor plates have a distinctive shape, with only one corner cut off.

Shapeoko 2 is Edward Ford's second iteration. It is available in a single size, 500 mm by 500 mm, dual X rail, and open end plates. The mechanical kit no longer includes belts, pulleys and motor fasteners; they are available to buy separately, or as part of the complete kit. NEMA23 motors are an option on X and Y. Aluminium spacers are standard.

The belts supplied with the complete kit are GT2, and they are routed teeth down on top of the rails. The buckle-type belt anchors reduce travel somewhat, but are easier to use and stronger than the original Shapeoko anchors.

The Shapeoko 2 has black powder-coated mild steel plates of impressive thickness (and weight). The screws are hex socket button screws in stainless steel.

The Z axis uses the same flanged bearing design as the eShapeoko, and a stainless steel M8 threaded rod as leadscrew, with the same acetal (Delrin) lead nut.

The most notable difference between the Shapeoko 2 and the eShapeoko is the inverted Z axis. Instead of the Z rail moving up and down on V-wheels fixed to the X carriage, the rail is now fixed, and a newly added Z carriage runs up and down on the Z rail. This has advantages (especially over the Shapeoko configuration) as well as disadvantages.