EShapeoko 1.0 and 1.1 Assembly Instructions

Step 0: Prep work

• Deburr the ends of the MakerSlide, especially the Vs. The Vs should have no protrusions, because they can damage the wheels. 200 to 400 grit sandpaper for metal works fine; a small, fine metal file may help too.
• Tap all the end holes in the MakerSlide M5×0.8mm (standard M5 thread), except the Z rail, which needs only one end tapped. Brush chips away and wipe the rail clean, to prevent damage to the V-wheels.
• Tap the round holes in the belt tensioners, also M5×0.8mm.
• Mark the side nearest the hole in the eccentric spacers by colouring it with a Sharpie or with a tiny dab of paint. The wheel will be offset in the marked direction.
• Clean and paint or grease the spindle mounts (EM-LTM). It's not urgent, and they are easy to remove and reinstall once the machine is assembled, but they will rust eventually, so they need to be protected.

During the build, pay attention to the washers: follow the instructions exactly.

Step 1: Assemble the V-wheels

Item	Part Number	Part Description	Count
For each wheel
1	EM-MW1	V-wheel sleeve	1
2	EM-G5	5 x 16 x 5mm bearing	2
3	EM-W5P	5mm precision washer	1

Lay one bearing on a flat surface. Push a V-wheel sleeve over it. The parts are designed to force-fit, so push firmly straight down. Thread this on a long M5 bolt, bearing side first, followed by a precision washer and the second bearing. Place the second bearing on a flat surface, and push the V-wheel sleeve over it too. Make sure both bearings are in as far as they will go. Remove the bolt.

Repeat 16 times (20 if you have the dual-X upgrade).

Step 2: Assemble the smooth idler wheels

Item	Part Number	Part Description	Count
For each wheel
1	EM-MW2	Smooth idler wheel sleeve	1
2	EM-G5	5 x 16 x 5mm bearing	2
3	EM-W5P	5mm precision washer	1

Lay one bearing on a flat surface. Push an idler wheel sleeve over it (lip up, of course). The parts are designed to force-fit, so push firmly straight down. Thread this on a long M5 bolt, lip side first, followed by a precision washer and the second bearing. Place the second bearing on a flat surface, and push the idler wheel sleeve over it too. Make sure the bearings are all the way in, with the first bearing resting against the lip of the sleeve. Remove the bolt.

Repeat 6 times.

Step 3: Mount the V-wheels on the right Y plate

Item	Part Number	Part Description	Count
1	EM-LMP	Motor mount plate	1
2		Assembled V-wheel	4
3	EM-MES	Eccentric spacer	2
4	EM-S5-30	M5 30mm cap screw	4
5	EM-W5	M5 washer (form A)	12
6	EM-N5	M5 hex nut	4

It may be a better idea to install the motor before anything else (see step 4 below).

The top wheels (marked A in the image) are fixed, the bottom ones (B) are adjustable. Put a washer on each bolt. For the bottom wheels, also add an eccentric spacer. Check the drawing for the correct orientation of the plate. Insert the bolts into the holes. Initially, position the eccentric spacers so that the top and bottom wheels are furthest apart (marked face toward the bottom). On each bolt, add a washer, a V-wheel, another washer, and a nut. Snug the nuts.

This is a good time to adjust the V-wheels. Slide the carriage on a piece of rail. Turn the eccentric spacers until the plate is held snugly, with no wobble, but still glides without excessive resistance. Tighten the bolts of the top V-wheels securely, readjust the eccentric spacers, and tighten the bottom V-wheels too. It's hard to describe how tight the eccentric spacers should be; there is some room for experimentation. As a guide, it should be very difficult to hold a V-wheel fixed with your fingers (to prevent it from turning) and slide the carriage on the rail. If you did the V-wheels last (after step 4), you can leave the rail in. The rail should have the only T-slot between the Vs at the bottom.

Step 4: Mount the motor and the idlers on the right Y plate

Item	Part Number	Part Description	Count
1		Assembled idler wheel	2
2	EM-S5-30	M5 30mm cap screw	2
3	EM-W5	M5 washer (form A)	6
4	EM-N5	M5 hex nut	2
5		NEMA17 stepper motor	1
6	EM-BP5	18-tooth MXL pulley 5mm bore	1
7	EM-S3-30	M3 30mm cap screw	4
8	EM-W3	M3 washer (form A)	4
9	EM-D3-15	M3 23.81mm spacer	4

Please note that in some kits, the EM-D3-15 spacer is replaced by one EM-D3-12 spacer and three EM-W3N washers each.

Install the motor before anything else in steps 3 and 4. Images to be corrected and swapped. Put a washer on each M3 bolt. Hold the plate motor face down and and put the bolts in the holes. Place a flat object, such as a business card or a small flat plate, on top of the bolt heads, and using that object to hold the bolts in, turn the plate over. Lay the plate on the table and put the spacers (and washers, if applicable) on each bolt. Slide the plate to the edge of the table until one bolt is past the edge, holding that bolt from below. Bring the motor in position and twist that bolt in. No need to tighten: just enough so it doesn't fall out. Continue sliding the plate, doing one bolt at a time. Once all are in, snug all four bolts, then tighten one diagonal first, then the other.

The idlers are installed with the protruding bearing toward the plate.

Step 5: Assemble the left Y plate

5a. Dual Y drive

Item	Part Number	Part Description	Count
	EM-LMP	Motor mount plate	1
		Assembled V-wheel	4
	EM-MES	Eccentric spacer	2
		Assembled idler wheel	2
	EM-S5-30	M5 30mm cap screw	6
	EM-W5	M5 washer (form A)	18
	EM-N5	M5 hex nut	6
		NEMA17 stepper motor	1
	EM-BP5	18-tooth MXL pulley 5mm bore	1
	EM-S3-30	M3 30mm cap screw	4
	EM-W3	M3 washer (form A)	4
	EM-D3-15	M3 23.81mm spacer	4

Follow step 3 and step 4 instructions, with the motor plate flipped. The resulting assembly is a mirror image of the right Y plate.

5b. Single Y drive

Item	Part Number	Part Description	Count
	EM-LMP	Motor mount plate	1
		Assembled V-wheel	4
	EM-MES	Eccentric spacer	2
	EM-S5-30	M5 30mm cap screw	4
	EM-W5	M5 washer (form A)	12
	EM-N5	M5 hex nut	4

Follow step 3 instructions, with the motor plate flipped. The resulting assembly is a mirror image of the right Y plate, but without the idlers and the motor.

Step 6: Assemble the X carriage: motor and idlers

Item	Part Number	Part Description	Count
1	EM-LMP	Motor mount plate	1
2		Assembled idler wheel	2
3	EM-S5-30	M5 30mm cap screw	2
4	EM-W5	M5 washer (form A)	10
5	EM-D5-4	M5 6.35mm spacer	2
6	EM-N5	M5 hex nut	2
7		NEMA17 stepper motor	1
8	EM-BP5	18-tooth MXL pulley 5mm bore	1
9	EM-S3-6	M3 6mm cap screw	4
10	EM-W3	M3 washer (form A)	4

Please note that, on the bolts holding the idlers, there are two washers between the plate and the nylon spacer. Align the pulley with the idlers now, or just loosely tighten it to the shaft of the motor and align it once the belt is in place.

Step 7: Assemble the X carriage: X wheels

Item	Part Number	Part Description	Count
1		Assembled V-wheel	4
2	EM-S5-55	M5 55mm cap screw	4
3	EM-W5	M5 washer (form A)	28
4	EM-W5B	M5 washer (form B)	4
5	EM-D5-12	M5 19.05mm spacer	4
6	EM-S5-55	M5 70mm cap screw	4
7	EM-D5-16	M5 25.4mm spacer	4
8	EM-D5-04	M5 6.35mm spacer	4

The next two steps are tricky, and an extra hand or two would help. If you can clamp or prop the X motor plate vertically, you can then do the bottom four bolts, add the second plate, add the parts from step 8 on those bolts, and thread the nuts just enough for the parts not to fall off the bolts. Then proceed with the middle bolts, working between the two plates, and finish with the top bolts.

When the bolts are tightened, the nylon spacers compress somewhat. While on paper the parts on the X wheel bolts and the Z wheel bolts add to the same length, the Z wheel bolts (the longer ones) have more nylon so they compress more. In the prototype, the difference is about 0.2mm, which is the difference in thickness between a Form A and a Form B M5 washer. To make the lengths roughly equal, one of the washers on each of the X wheel bolts is the thinner Form B (the orange washer in the drawing). If necessary, you can replace the washer next to it with a Form B too. Conversely, you can install a Form A washer for the orange washer; there are enough spare washers either way.

Step 8: Assemble the X carriage: Z wheels

Item	Part Number	Part Description	Count
1		Assembled V-wheel	4
2	EM-MES	Eccentric spacer	4
3	EM-W5	M5 washer (form A)	16
4	EM-D5-04	M5 6.35mm spacer	2
5	EM-N5	M5 hex nut	8

There are two washers next to each other on top of the eccentric spacer on the adjustable Z wheel (green B). This is to give the same length as the washer + spacer + washer on the fixed wheel (green A).

Position the eccentric spacers for the largest distance to the opposite wheel.

Once this carriage is assembled, insert the X and Z rails and adjust the eccentric spacers and tighten all the bolts. The rail should have the only T-slot between the Vs at the bottom. Leave the X rail in and proceed to the next step.

Step 9: Assemble the gantry

Item	Part Number	Part Description	Count
1	EM-R-375	375mm MakerSlide	1
2	EM-LBA	Belt anchor	2
3	EM-S5-14	M5 14mm cap screw	4
4	EM-W5	M5 washer (form A)	4

Attach the two Y carriages to the ends of the X rail. The rectangular hole in the belt anchor, where the belt will go, is slightly offset. The anchors should be installed so that it is offset toward the rear of the machine (the side of the X motor).

Before tightening the bolts, use a set square to ensure that the X carriage is vertical. Again, this is a step where an extra set of hands can help, to hold the rail and the set square while you tighten the bolts.

Step 10: Assemble the frame: rear end plate

Item	Part Number	Part Description	Count
1	EM-LEP	End plate	1
2	EM-R-495	495mm MakerSlide	2
3	EM-S5-14	M5 14mm cap screw	4
4	EM-W5	M5 washer (form A)	4

The rail should sit as in the drawing, with the single T-slot between the Vs at the bottom. Don't tighten the bolts all the way yet.

Step 11: Assemble the frame: front end plate

Item	Part Number	Part Description	Count
1	EM-LEP	End plate	1
2	EM-S5-14	M5 14mm cap screw	4
3	EM-W5	M5 washer (form A)	4

Slide the gantry on (if not already there), then attach the front end plate. Slide the gantry all the way to the front, position the end plate symmetrically, and tighten the bolts. Move the gantry all the way to the back, position the rear end plate, and tighten those bolts too. Check that the gantry slides smoothly on the rails (it may bind if pushed only from one side, so use two hands, or push in the middle).

Step 12: Assemble the Z leadscrew

Step 13: Assemble the Z mounting plate

Step 14: Attach the Z plate to the Z rail

Step 15: Attach the spindle mounts

Step 16: Install the Z axis