Contemplating buying a Shapoko, but their speed/feed defaults make no sense.

[Jim_in_PA]

Something I can set running on a cut in the garage, go in and watch some TV.

You may wish to watch a few of the videos that clearly illustrate why it's not a best practice to leave the CNC running unattended for more than a few minutes. Fires happen. This is certainly a personal choice and I can absolutely appreciate how frustrating it can be to be tied to the shop while a long job runs...especially like the 7-8 hour run-times I had with a client project a little over a year ago for a complex 3D cut of architectural reproductions. What I've evolved to is working on something else while the machine is cutting something...it could be another project, cleaning/organizing, using a second computer at my bench to catch up on things, etc. But I don't leave for more than a potty break or to nuke something for lunch if necessary. If I really have to leave, I stop the job, note the line number and do a restart when I return.

[IslaWW]

Something I can set running on a cut in the garage, go in and watch some TV. I would prefer to get one that doesn't have that sensor on it that senses when you've left the room and messes up when said sensor is tripped.

Please do. Let us know when budget machines have fire sensors on them.

Make sure you take video, I can use the clicks

[TReischl]

Jim in PA: +1

I regularly run long jobs. Only had one computer in the shop. Running another app or connecting to the internet could and would cause issues with the machine running. So there I sat, cleaned up the shop, surfed on a tablet, drank coffee/pepsi. But I could not do anything really productive like work on another design.

Finally solved the problem. Bought a second mini computer and flat screen. Total cost about $250. Now that computer runs the machine, is not connected to the internet and works great. Meanwhile, sitting right next to the machine, I work on my other computer doing whatever I feel like with no worries.

I still run Mach3. When I need to walk away for more than a few minutes I just hit the Pause button, stop the spindle. When I come back I come back, start the spindle and hit cycle start. All is good!

[scottp55]

Not funny Gary, BUT was just thinking about that one as I'm about to do a cut without my Swiss Cheese spoilboard....And wondering about how many hold downs for first time in years:)

There's a reason they call them "Accidents"....finding my bit spinning with a broken tip IN the material one time...reminded me of Boy Scouts...and how to start a fire with a bow-drill.

NEVER very far away....and smoke detectors and 2 fire extinguishers between me and the machine on 5-12 hr 3Ds...and I'm always less than 50' away with door to shop open....even computer loading new code will make me levitate into wheelchair:)

The idea being Homeless.......Nightmare Stuff!!
scott
PS Wish Mr McGrew would post his "Oil" fire to educate house stainers and such of the dangers of ANY oxidization oil/any finishes and sawdust to mop it up!

[Mikehell]

Something I can set running on a cut in the garage, go in and watch some TV. I would prefer to get one that doesn't have that sensor on it that senses when you've left the room and messes up when said sensor is tripped.

Please do. Let us know when budget machines have fire sensors on them.

Make sure you take video, I can use the clicks

.
Technically, my machine isn't in a Garage. It's more of a basement lower level without a door (funky "modern" multi-level home built in the 70's). From my experience, you'll HEAR when the CNC goes crazy way before you see it. I suppose I maybe could smell smoke pretty easy. However, what's holding me back from using this spot is the noise of a router. A spindle may be quiet enough, maybe not. My China 3040 with a crappy spindle is very quiet. A Shapoko with a DeWalt router.. I'm gonna have to set up shop out in my storage building.

[IslaWW]

Something I can set running on a cut in the garage, go in and watch some TV. I would prefer to get one that doesn't have that sensor on it that senses when you've left the room and messes up when said sensor is tripped.

Please do. Let us know when budget machines have fire sensors on them.

Make sure you take video, I can use the clicks

.
Technically, my machine isn't in a Garage. It's more of a basement lower level without a door (funky "modern" multi-level home built in the 70's). From my experience, you'll HEAR when the CNC goes crazy way before you see it. I suppose I maybe could smell smoke pretty easy. However, what's holding me back from using this spot is the noise of a router. A spindle may be quiet enough, maybe not. My China 3040 with a crappy spindle is very quiet. A Shapoko with a DeWalt router.. I'm gonna have to set up shop out in my storage building.

I rest my case!

[Mikehell]

Something I can set running on a cut in the garage, go in and watch some TV. I would prefer to get one that doesn't have that sensor on it that senses when you've left the room and messes up when said sensor is tripped.

Please do. Let us know when budget machines have fire sensors on them.

Make sure you take video, I can use the clicks

.
Technically, my machine isn't in a Garage. It's more of a basement lower level without a door (funky "modern" multi-level home built in the 70's). From my experience, you'll HEAR when the CNC goes crazy way before you see it. I suppose I maybe could smell smoke pretty easy. However, what's holding me back from using this spot is the noise of a router. A spindle may be quiet enough, maybe not. My China 3040 with a crappy spindle is very quiet. A Shapoko with a DeWalt router.. I'm gonna have to set up shop out in my storage building.

This video makes a point of what I used to teach when I taught CNC classes. I stressed, and repeatedly told them, IF YOU CAN'T HOLD IT, DON'T CUT IT! Most of my major fuck-ups have come from stock not being firmly secured to the table. That and miscalculation of where I put screws or clamps.

[Jim_in_PA]

I regularly run long jobs. Only had one computer in the shop. Running another app or connecting to the internet could and would cause issues with the machine running. So there I sat, cleaned up the shop, surfed on a tablet, drank coffee/pepsi. But I could not do anything really productive like work on another design.

Finally solved the problem. Bought a second mini computer and flat screen. Total cost about $250. Now that computer runs the machine, is not connected to the internet and works great. Meanwhile, sitting right next to the machine, I work on my other computer doing whatever I feel like with no worries.

Ted, I fortunately do a variety of project types for clients as well as for my own pleasure, so there's almost always "something" I can work on. But having my backup Macbook Pro in the shop, too, makes it convenient to sit and waste time when I want to. My CNC controller machine (Win10 with WinCNC) is connected to the Internet and there's no issue with me "surfing" or doing other things on it while a job is running...it has enough memory, etc., for that...but I have to stand there to do that and it's uncomfortable other than for a quick check of something.