Next Wave Automation CNC Shark or CNC PIRANHA Users?

[Bill George]

I am in the market for a smaller CNC router, and I had a IMService 12x24 inches one a few years ago and it worked fine but it had some issues and the product was more or less built one off by high school students or so it seemed. There were upgrades always in the works, but it never happened.

The one good thing it had a post processor in VCarve and used standard gcode.

Now looking for a decent one about the same size and I need it to be able to run VCarve generated gcode code so I can use all the files I still have with a few changes.

Interested to hear from users of the CNC Shark or Piranha XL? I realize this is not commercial grade but I do not have $10 k to invest. Yes I could build one but not interested.

[Steve Peterson]

I don't own either one of those, but they look like scaled down versions of the $5K machines. If there is a Rockler in your area, then see if you can check them out in person.

One thing to look for is flex in the rails. The Piranha has unsupported rails. Look at the short axis with 2 rails about 4" apart. If one rail flexes in 0.01" and the other rail flexes out 0.01, then the relative movement is 0.02". The tip of the router is about 12" away, so it would have 0.06" of movement. Of course, the rails might not flex that much because they are so short. It would be good to check it out in person. See how easy it is to lift the head with slight pressure.

The long rails can also flex, but the movement at the router tip is reduced because the head is between the rails.

The $5K machines all have supported rails that are significantly more robust. There is no measurable flex in them. They look like really nice machines if you could afford one of them.

[Bill George]

Thanks Steve, I know those machines are not equal to the commercial ones and I have a small machine shop so I know about flex. But I do not plan to be doing cabinet or standard doors, I was hoping to hear from some actual users as to how reliable they are?

[Jerome Stanek]

I believe the Shark comes with V Carve desktop

[Cory Newman]

I have a Shark. I bought the Black Diamond version about 5 years ago. Its served me well in my hobby shop. I wanted an entry level machine to tinker with, so far its done what I have asked of it so I haven't found the need to upgrade it yet. It comes with Vcarve.

[Bill George]

I have a Shark. I bought the Black Diamond version about 5 years ago. Its served me well in my hobby shop. I wanted an entry level machine to tinker with, so far its done what I have asked of it so I haven't found the need to upgrade it yet. It comes with Vcarve.

Well I am trying to decide to get one like yours with a bigger work area, or just get the 12x24 inch I was planning on. My other CNC router was the smaller size and it was about right. But with the larger size which is only about $500 more I could do cabinet door fronts, maybe.

[Bill George]

So now the Shark II is coming out. My question on all the New Wave stuff is what appears to be a wimpy power supply and now the flex.

I see the Chinese 6040 machines built with all aluminum frame and steel rails, but I know they have very poor controls that are suppose to be Mach 3 but USB. I had a Chinese CNC blue diode laser and it was cr@p for controls and power supply so I am assuming these would be the same.

[Jerome Stanek]

I see Automation Technologies carry some units that run off Mach 3 or 4 and they can sell you a copy of Mach 3 software along with cables to go from usb to DB25

[Bill George]

I see Automation Technologies carry some units that run off Mach 3 or 4 and they can sell you a copy of Mach 3 software along with cables to go from usb to DB25

I will check those out. I would like to buy US made but the Shark with the plastic and bolted together aluminum has to have a lot of flex, not to mention what seems like a pretty small power supply. I can find no spec's on the PS or motors. The 6040Z-S80 3 Axis with Mach 3 control looks interesting on Amazon but its 220 volt so I would need to make up a power cord. My concern is Mach 3 on a Chinese machine but VCarve has a post processor so I am assuming those machines are out there.


I just checked out the Automation Tech machines, impressed, thanks,

[Bill George]

I see Automation Technologies carry some units that run off Mach 3 or 4 and they can sell you a copy of Mach 3 software along with cables to go from usb to DB25

I just ordered the 6040 CNC Router from John today. It was at least $1000 less than the other one I was considering and from my research perhaps better! Thanks for the tip!! PS your PM mailbox is full.

[ed vitanovec]

Check out Axiom Precision.
https://www.axiomprecision.com/

[Gerry Kaslowski]

I +1 that. My Axiom is fantastic... and accurate.