Which post processor do I use for a Shapeoko running Carbide Motion, and how do tool changes work?

What to select

Recent versions of the software list two choices for these machines: one named Shapeoko and one named Carbide Motion ATC. Carbide 3D staff answered this exact question on their community site: Carbide Motion ATC is the one to use with Carbide Motion, and it handles tool changes. Experienced owners in the same thread add that both will run, but the Carbide Motion ATC post is the one you want when a job has more than one tool.

Steps

1. Open Machine > Machine Configuration and find your machine with Search Machine Online, or add the post by hand under Associated Post-Processors.
2. Save the toolpaths with the Carbide Motion ATC post, in mm or inch.
3. Load the file in Carbide Motion and run it as you would a Carbide Create job.

How tool changes behave

• With a BitSetter: put every toolpath in one file. Carbide Motion pauses when it reads the tool change command, moves the router forward for access, and after you resume it measures the new bit on the BitSetter by itself.
• Without a BitSetter: save one file per bit. Change the bit, zero Z again, then load the next file. Toolpaths that share a bit can stay together.
• Give every bit a different tool number in the tool database, or the sender cannot tell that a change is needed.

Gotcha owners report

With this post the router travels over the material first and then asks for the speed change, which surprises people used to Carbide Create files. One owner's fix is to set a taller Home / Start Position in Material Setup so there is room to fit the dust boot before the cut starts.

Pro tips

• When zeroing by hand for a multi-tool job, zero on a spot that will still exist after the first tool has finished.
• A community-maintained alternative post exists on the Carbide 3D forum for owners who want extra status messages. Test any custom post in the air first.
• Nomad owners should confirm the choice with Carbide 3D, since the thread above only covers Shapeoko.