The Easiest Shapeoko 3/4/Pro Modification

Shapeoko 5 features a lighted gantry. Adding that feature to your Shapeoko 3 or 4 is quick and inexpensive. Kevin takes you through the install. Time to get your gantry lit!
Parts List
Captronix Lights (Non-Waterproof):
www.amazon.com...
HitLights (Non-Waterproof):
www.amazon.com...
Hitlights (Waterproof):
www.amazon.com...
Waterproof RGB Lights only:
www.amazon.com...
24v Power Supply: www.amazon.com...
Heat Shrink Tubing
www.amazon.com...
Zip Tie Mounts
www.amazon.com...

[@joshuabray37]

I got a $10 strip of USB powered lights (dephen brand from Amazon), and an $11 USB extension cable. Installation was quick and easy. I just pulled off the adhesive backing and stuck them to the gantry, plugged them into the USB extension cable, routed through the drag chain, and plugged them into the power strip (it has a USB outlet)... The whole thing cost about $20 and took about 10 minutes (9 of that was prying open the drag chain). The lights are nice and bright. I have them on my Shapeoko 3, and my Shapeoko Pro.

[@PhoenixCustomsWoodworking]

I added lights to my 4XXL about a month ago and it helped some, but I think they were underpowered. So I ended up adding a wall lamp arm to the wall over my shapeoko and installed an adjustable 4 sided LED light and that really helped a lot. On a side note, I placed my order for my 5 4x4 last night, hoping that by some fluke chance itll show up sooner than what the website was saying.

[@Aetheos]

Noticed an unused 24v "Led_con" on the control board of the shapeoko 4. Would it be possible to solder a set of 24v lights directly to the board instead of having a separate power supply?

[@unteins]

If you’re cutting aluminum or copper some kind of covered or waterproof lights would be a very good idea - don’t want conductive materials anywhere near those exposed contacts.
There are also diffusers that you could cover the lights with that come in an aluminum channel.
Another option is lights advertised as “LED Neon” they are just strips in a thick silicone diffuser.

[@wadetomczyk8043]

Been meaning to do this nice!

[@phenheyden6094]

Bright white would be the sensible option.. but rainbow unicorn puke? *chef's kiss

[@myk3l9675]

🎶 Party Mode!! 🎶

[@lyric.kayden]

I did this a couple months back to my Shapeoko Pro XXL. Definitely a nice added feature for when cutting and clearly seeing everything. I see this was only titled as Shapeoko 3/4, was this not recommended for Shapeoko Pro?

[@carbide3d]

Yes, definitely for the Shapeoko 4 Pro as well.

[@stuffsethmakes]

do you find that the capetronix (spelling? haha) is a soft/even spread of light or do you see each "spot" of light?
I recently added a frosted led under cabinet light bar under my gantry (lowes, about $20) and i love the even light distribution. When i build my new and improved enclosure this year however, i plan on lighting the entire enclosure, not just under the gantry

[@carbide3d]

Hey Seth, The spread is decent. There's no diffuser over the lights. The waterproof HitLights do have a diffuser and they are more similar to the factory installed lights for the HDM, NOMAD and Shapeoko 5. Give those a look. Pricey, but you'll have a ton left over for other projects.