The CNC Shark HD4 is an improved version of the previously successful Shark Pro Plus. It's a design by Next Wave Automation Designs, an Ohio-based firm. Next Wave is a market leader in the design and manufacture of low-cost, high-quality CNC machines.
The CNC Shark HD4 is part of the company's Shark line, and it provides significant upgrades over its predecessor, as well as a few additional incredible features that advanced users will love. The initial update includes a stronger gantry for added stability, as well as a robust interlocking aluminum table.
A new touch-screen pendant controller, auto-alignment function, and X & Y homing capability are also included. Many customers were satisfied with the machine's capabilities since it can operate with professional routers and cut metal as well as other materials. It also has a very large workspace, allowing you to work on projects of various sizes.
Pros
It can cut precise pieces from a variety of materials.
With each pass, a large amount of material may be removed.
It completes tasks pretty quickly and provides ample working area for huge projects.
It is capable of cutting a variety of materials.
Has a solid general structure.
It's easy to set up and has a 2-year warranty.
Cons
It's bulky and takes up a lot of room.
The pendant may begin to fail over time. The VCarve software is only compatible with Windows operating systems.
When moving on all three axes, the spindle does not immediately shut off after reaching the home position.
Specifications
Next Wave Automation T30506 water-cooled spindle is an option.
Horsepower of the Spindle: 2 Spindle Collet: ER-11 Cutter Diameters: 18" and 14" Maximum 24,000 RPM spindle speed
Working Dimensions: 25 x 25 x 7 inches
Connectivity: USB Flash Drive Machine Controller: Touch-screen Pendant Controller
VCarve Pro and Vector Art 3D sampler bundle are compatible software.
Dimensions: 36.25 x 63 x 24.5 inches
187-pound weight (84.8 kgs)
Design
The Shark HD4's general stiffness and stability are the first things that stand out about it. The gantry is built of heavy-duty aluminum plate and polyethylene, while the bed is made of thick extruded aluminum with many clamping grooves.
It's a solid and steady setup meant to eliminate wobbling and backlashing, which were issues with prior Shark models, particularly when cutting metal and other somewhat harder materials.
The stepper motors that control the movement on all three axes (X, Y, and Z) are likewise heavy-duty, and they drive the threaded lead screws, which are also thick and sturdy, while the movement is guided by adjustable linear bearings on strong steel shafts.
In general, we found the HD4's overall structure to be fairly sturdy and capable of offering excellent cutting stability. Some users have reported that it shakes somewhat while milling metals like aluminum, however many have stated that it seldom flexes during operation or when doing large cuts.
The spindle is a Next Wave Automation T30506 water-cooled spindle with an ER11 collet framework that lets you utilize either the 18-inch or 14-inch shank bits. It's a huge 2HP brushless spindle that's long-lasting and rather quiet when running.
However, some customers have noted that when the power is switched off, the spindle's weight tends to exceed the tension of the drive screws, allowing the spindle to drift/drop-down until its collar rests on the table. It does, however, cease descending over time and remains where you left it after each project run.
The device is completely compatible with other big 2 HP routers such as the Porter-Cable 890, Bosch 1617 and 1618, and Dewalt 610, 616, and 618 series routers. It can also handle the Porter-Cable 690 series, albeit the 6902VS must be started manually.
The Shark HD4 is not a little machine in terms of size. It measures 24.25 x 36 x 24.5 inches in total, making it huge for a desktop table. You'll need enough room in your garage or workshop to accommodate it. It's also rather hefty, weighing in at 187 pounds, as compared to earlier Shark models. Once fully completed, it will require at least two persons to transport it.
Speed and performance
The Piranha FX, like the NWA Shark versions, is compatible with Porte-Cable, Dewalt, Bosch, and other comparable palm routers. The equipment comes with a 14-inch V-router bit and is strong enough to give precise and accurate results for the majority of the jobs it handles.
Its precision is rather impressive, especially when combined with the 3D carving module. It makes use of the NWA 3D digital touch probe, a 3D duplicator that can scan/trace a 3D picture and duplicate/reproduce the object to the smallest details — it can copy an object down to roughly 0.001-inch resolution.
Because of its excellent precision, it is ideal for cutting out delicate forms or undertaking detail-sensitive operations like carving/engraving a bespoke circuit board.
It can also handle more intricate jobs like carving inlays and corbels out of plastics, wood, or soft metals. It can create a variety of carvings and engravings based on your designs. The module is quite useful, especially when recovering furniture or replicating broken components for repair. It's excellent for making plaques and precise pieces.
The laser engraver module's performance is similarly outstanding. It is a feature found in just a few CNC machines on the market today. Whether it's a picture or a sketch, the tool can engrave practically anything into a perfect match. Furthermore, because it is a fully tunable laser, you can adjust the amount of power you utilize.
The machine's cutting/carving speed is also relatively fast. For example, a sample test using wood (measured 7 x 7 inches) at 16,000RPM spindle speed, 30inch/min plunge rate (with a thickness of 34 inches), and 7200inch/min feed rate took around 57 seconds to complete, which is rather fast compared to many similar machines, and the results were quite good.
The Workplace
The CNC Shark HD4 has a work surface that is 25 x 25 x 7 inches, which is about four times the size of the company's basic X-Carve model. That's a huge workplace, and it offers up a lot of opportunities for you in terms of projects you might work on. More elements can be cut from larger workpieces, full-size signs may be made, and even carved panels can be produced in a single session.
Another benefit of the thick metal bed (approximately 1-inch thick) is that it is stiff and stays level throughout, and the machine comes with a bed mapping tool that scans the surface and makes necessary modifications to cancel out irregularities.
Furthermore, it is a T-slot aluminum table with many interlocking channels/slots for clamp attachment. You have nearly endless clamping locations to guarantee that the workpiece does not wobble during engraving, which is especially important for workpieces with unusual forms or that are difficult to repair.
The disadvantage is that the clamps take up some room in the working area, so if you're milling a large workpiece, you may not have much additional space on the table for clamping. Worse, the clamps might obstruct the spindle's movement along the x-axis.
The device has an auto-edge and auto-sensing capability (known as virtual zero programming) that locates and measures the workpiece before determining where the tool path start point is located in the bed. It maps the exterior of the workpiece or table for optimal precision, which aids in the elimination of difficulties caused by bent or deformed workpieces.
The Shark HD4's solid interlocking aluminum table, robust gantry, and overall construction, including thick steel shafts, lead screws, and adjustable bearings, provide stability during heavy cutting.
Because of its sturdy overall structure, it may be used with most big routers designed for commercial usage or heavy machinings, such as the Porter-Cable 890 or the Bosch 1617 and 1618. As a result, it can carve and machine a wide range of projects from various materials such as hardwood, laminate, soft metals such as aluminum, and plastics.
Usability
The CNC Shark HD4 has a handle control in the form of a touch-screen pendant, which is fairly useful because it eliminates the need to connect to a computer and saves space in comparison to having a bulky control box.
It features a straightforward user interface that makes it simple to understand and apply. The pendant contains all of the machine's controls. You may manually move the machine up and down, away and near, or right and left. You may also choose the X and Y homing positions. If something goes wrong, you may also use the pendant to halt the movement of both the gantry and the spindle.
Despite being simple to use, some users stated that the pendant began to malfunction after a time, controlling/doing things it wasn't programmed to do, such as entering "touch screen calibration mode," jogging the wrong axes, and failing to respond to touch.
However, the machine also has a separate spindle controller that does not connect to the CNC controller. It resembles a UPS with an LCD panel and many buttons for adjusting the spindle speed and changing the format/measuring unit of the speed.
When you change the tool, the pendant will inform you what it is, and after the machine completes the first tool path following the pocket tool path, it will restore the spindle to the home position. The spindle, however, continues to operate after it has reached the home position; it does not shut off on its own. You must manually turn it off using the spindle controller.
Compatibility of Software
This Shark HD4 model comes with the VCarve Pro design program as well as the Vector Art 3D sampler set, so you won't need separate CAM software.
The VCarve Pro, for instance, has more functionality than most other CAM software and far more than the ordinary user would ever want. It enables the unit to cut in 2D and 3D, and it has strong drawing tools and hundreds of clip art files that you may use to create the design of the part/project from scratch.
The program also contains a virtual zero function to correct for twists and warps in the workpiece and the table. Another important function, especially when working with large projects, is the ability to automatically tile a project, which means that you may divide a workpiece into portions to accommodate them on the machine.
Understanding and mastering the program does need some study, however, instructional videos/tutorials are provided to guide you through the process. The software is interoperable with a variety of different 3D modeling tools, including Sketchup. It's also completely adjustable - you can change the router bit profiles or even develop your own that corresponds to the bit you wish to use.
The one significant drawback is that it is only compatible with Windows 7 or higher and requires a PC with at least 300MB of disk space, 4GB of RAM, and a 2 GHz multi-core CPU. It is incompatible with the Linux and Mac/iOS operating systems.
As previously said, this type does not require a computer to manage or run it, which makes it ideal for repetitive runs. The pendant has a USB connector. Insert a USB flash drive storing your project's file.
You develop the g-code using the VCarve Pro, store it on a USB drive, and then connect it to the pendant controller to start the milling process. The program lacks a preview capability, make sure that the g-code is valid before sending it to the machine.
Many customers found the item to be simple to set up. Other than installing the gantry to the base, mounting the router, adding the pendant, and calibrating the bed to ensure it's flat, you have little work to do.
After that, the final step is to register the equipment on the company's website. Maintenance is also straightforward. The only thing you'll have to do regularly makes sure you have a pail of water on hand for the liquid-cooled spindle.
When functioning, the machine is quiet, however, it occasionally makes a scream when rotating the spindle along the Z-axis. Some claim it howls on all three axes on occasion, but the Z-axis is by far the worst.
If you have any problems with the unit, contacting the company's customer service is simple. You may contact them through their website or by phone, and the crew is always fast to react.
The firm also has a highly active and friendly community, including their shark forums at cncshartalk.com, where you can get valuable information on this model and others in the Shark series from other users. Furthermore, you may extend the machine even further since it has an extensible electronics package that allows you to add attachments like the CNC Shark 4th axis, laser, and 3D printer.
Final Thoughts
The CNC Shark HD4 is a high-performance CNC machine with several features. It has a sturdy and reliable build quality, cuts all kinds of diverse materials with precision, and has an adequate working area to handle big jobs. An excellent choice if you need a sturdy machine capable of producing nearly professional-quality work or if you need heavy milling like in commercial CNC machines