Next Wave Cnc Shark Sd120

This is a well-known built, solid machine. The use of drive screws instead of belts is a real advantage. No assembly needed other than adding your router and plugging in the cords. The included processor means you don't need a computer in your shop, you can just load your gcode files on a flash drive and you are ready to go. I was carving my first design within half an hour of unpacking. The machine costs a bit more than some competitors, but as I noted, it has its own procesdor, and Vcarve desktop is included in the price. I have been running mine almost continuously since it arrived, and so far it has been great.

I am a newbie to the cnc world. I did plenty of research before purchasing this machine and must admit I was intimidated when it arrived. It has been a few months now and I absolutely love it. Set up was pretty straightforward. I have not had any problems. It does what you program the software to do. So far the software has been the greatest learning curve. I am really enjoying this machine and it has been a great introduction into the cnc world. I am really amazed at the projects I have been able to create!

I am writing this review as I am in the process of getting everything going. Instructions are really lacking but the biggest problem is that if you buy a Bosch Colt router, it will not fit this machine. Yes, I know it says it will but I can assure you it will not. My unit actually came with a collar with a tag on it that said "Bosch Colt". But the router is too wide to go through the collar. If I REALLY stretched the collar to get the router through it the holes, collar will not line up with bottom base. Even if you can force the router collar over the router, the router will not go through the bottom collar, and that one is not adjustable. I did some research and as it turns out, Bosch has increased the horsepower for their Colt router by .25hp and along with the power increase they have also increased the diameter of the router. I measured the Piranha collar at about 70mm and the Bosch Colt is a hair over 72mm. I ended up taking BOTH collars off and putting them through my spindle sander for a few circles to finally be able to get the router through the collar. I guess the good news is that once I get the machine going I can machine a couple of new collars that actually fit. OK, moving on. This morning I continued the process. I installed the Vectric software as instructed in the note from NextWave Automation When I attempted to register the software using the Vcarve Desktop License Code sent to me by NextWave Automation it will not register the software saying my user name and registration code do not match. Well I don't have a user name with Vectric. The label from Next Wave says "Registered User Name Next Wave OEM - 119XX. So I tried using 119XX along with a few others and got nowhere. Finally gave up and sent an email to [email protected] along with an email to [email protected] too. I will update the process as it unfolds. So far I am disappointed in the number of problems I am having and I haven't even been able to get the unit running. Well the good news is that I heard back from Vectric AND Next Wave Automation within 24 hours and got the issue about registering the software resolved. So even though I have seen a review criticizing Next Wave's Customer Service. I would give both Vectric and Next Wave Automation 4 stars for responsiveness on this issue. I had some things get in the way and didn't do anymore on the Piranha until last week. The latest problem I had was that the router would not turn on when the program was running. The internet was no help suggesting that I had a bad cable or the program code was not correct. Since I am using the Vectric Software I figured the code was probably OK. I used an ohmmeter to check the RCA cable and it was fine. Next I measured the voltage on the RCA cable with the router program running. I measured 5 volts DC so I knew the program was sending the proper signal to turn the router on, but it was not responding. I took the 4 phillips crews out of the back of the router power supply and measured the voltage to the internal SSR connection and got no voltage. I was getting 5V to the center pin of the RCA but no voltage to the SSR. I found that the factory had tightened the SSR connection onto the insulation instead of the bare stripped wire end. I properly made the connection with the wire connected to the SSR instead of the insulation. Tested it and it worked. Made my first trial cut after that. I know I could have called Nextwave to get them to replace the router power supply but that would have taken time and multiple phone calls in order to convince them the problem was not something connected incorrectly or something I was doing wrong. Still haven't cut any project wit the Piranha but I am making progress. Have I mentioned the the instructions that come with the Piranha are REALLY bad? They jump around all over the place with no apparent sequence to them. It's like they took 4-5 instruction books and put them all together in a jumbled mess. Be prepared to spend a lot of time on the internet looking for solutions to the confusing instructions.

I bought my machine in 2020. Just getting started using it and having a lot of fun. Unbelievably disappointed that my Shark has special grease fittings. You can not grease this machine without a special coupler/nozzle for your grease gun. Of course the special grease nozzle did not come with the machine! Next Wave is out of stock on these fittings and will not have more for 3-4 weeks. So my machine and my customers are now sitting and waiting on the slow boat from China. Keep in mind this grease nozzle is small. You could air ship hundreds of these things in a small box from China for maybe 50 cents each. The Customer service team at NW told me if I replaced the special grease fittings with standard grease fittings, then I would invalidate my warrantee. They do not seem to understand that I bought my machine from Next Wave so I did not have to wait on the slow boat from China for something simple . I like my Shark, just very disappointed with my first experience with their service group.

I bought the Piranha FX on sale 2 years ago. Still payed over $2000. I should have read the reviews, I would have been happier with the Shapeoko. ( a friend has one). 12" x 12" can be useful but the Shapeoko for the same money gives beter than twice as much usable milling space. The controller is a pain as well, Just loaded the upgraded firmware and it won't read any new tap files. Just don't waste your money on Nextwave Products. Buy a Shapeoko, AVIDCNC, Legacy, or Axiom. I'm replacing the Piranha as soon as I figure out what to replace it with.

This machine is capable of marvelous things. I would recommend it as a Made in America item that is supported by a top level support staff.