CNC Spindle and VFD

[TubsAlwaysWins]

Anyone know much about CNC?

I got a Probotix v90mk2 for free and dont have a router or spindle. I think I want to get a spindle, but I cant decide if I should get a 110v or a 220v. Or maybe I should just get a router. idk.

Id like one of the 2.2KW Spindle/VFD setups I think, especially because id like to be able to go through sheet metal. 

I dont have great power options right now, frankly nothing is ideal about the setup.

 

I would just get a router for now but I feel like if im gonna spend money I might as well get a spindle.

 

Will any of them run on either 110v or 220v? Or would I need a step down/up transformer? 

 

Thoughts? Recommendations? 

[manikyath]

if you dont have the means to run a 220v spindle, just get something 110v and call it a day. you're not gonna cut heavy things on this thing either way.

[FlyingPotato_is_taken]

Get a router for it. Easier, lower cost and good enough. Downside is the very high RPM.

 

With a spindle your shopping list also contains a VFD, line-filter (EMI) and shielded cables.

Benefit of the the 2.2kW isn't the power. It is the ER16 or ER20 mount meaning you could use 10mm shafts and as such insert face cutter for wood. Power? 800W would  already be enough. Most of my cuts are approx. 500W (6mm endmill; aluminium).

As you want metal go with a water cooled setup as you can run the spindle below 5000 RPM. Assuming you choose the spindle option.

 

[TubsAlwaysWins]

4 hours ago, FlyingPotato_is_taken said:

Get a router for it. Easier, lower cost and good enough. Downside is the very high RPM.

 

With a spindle your shopping list also contains a VFD, line-filter (EMI) and shielded cables.

Benefit of the the 2.2kW isn't the power. It is the ER16 or ER20 mount meaning you could use 10mm shafts and as such insert face cutter for wood. Power? 800W would  already be enough. Most of my cuts are approx. 500W (6mm endmill; aluminium).

As you want metal go with a water cooled setup as you can run the spindle below 5000 RPM. Assuming you choose the spindle option.

 

I ended up getting a Dewalt DW618 (Wondering if I should have gone for a DW611 though...) router as its 2.25hp and fits in the mount I already have... It offers speed control, just not the speed control a VFD gives you.

Hoping to update to a spindle and VFD in the future but I guess this is the cheaper option and if I like it and it makes me money and brings joy Ill move to a VFD.

(A GOOD router is about 1/2 the price of a cheap Spindle/VFD). 

In theory I think I could do metal with that router but I dont know anything about speeds and feeds yet. I think minimum speed is 8000rpm. 

 

What tooling do you recommend? I have 1/4" and 1/2" collets for the router. All the kits I see on amazon include the side cutting tooling with the bearing for location... Which is worthless to me since its on a CNC router. 

Not sure which brands to use, etc. 

[FlyingPotato_is_taken]

1 hour ago, TubsAlwaysWins said:

ll the kits I see on amazon include the side cutting tooling with the bearing for location... Which is worthless to me since its on a CNC router. 

Xuhan on Aliexpress is a good seller.

Not comparable to high end tools but good enough and cheap.

1 hour ago, TubsAlwaysWins said:

What tooling do you recommend? I have 1/4" and 1/2" collets for the router.

Depends on what you want to mill.

 

If you can get an 1/8" collet buy it: v-carving bits, PCB drills and fiberglass rasp cutters are usually this diameter.

side note: Try v-carving bits for engraving but also get a ball endmill for comparison. Personally I favour ball endmills while others use v-carving bits.

next size is 4mm: This is a common shaft size for micro milling (e.g. 0.2mm).

 

Beside that I think you should be fine with 1/4" shafts.

 

What tool diameter should you get?

face mill: cheap face mill to face the MDF scrap board.

end mill: 1/8", 1/4", 1mm (get 5pcs. or so of the 1/4")

up-down cutter (for wood): 1/4" What is this? The tip is a down cutter to put pressure on the material to get a clean cut on (wood)-fibre material. The remaining lenght is the usual up cut meaning wood dust/"chips" are removed.

ball endmill: 1/4", 1mm 

 

these are optional:

chamfer: 1/4" 45°: front-back cutters are nice but only buy them if you know you need them

thread milling: Each size thread bit can do a range of thread diameter: One tool might do M5 to M10 threads while the second does the M5 to M3 threads.

fillet: Depends. Chamfer are versatile since you can mill an entire range of chamfer lengths. With fillets each radius requires it's own cutter.

t-slot cutter: I like them as they enable undercuts on 3-axis machines.

 

1 hour ago, TubsAlwaysWins said:

In theory I think I could do metal with that router but I dont know anything about speeds and feeds yet. I think minimum speed is 8000rpm. 

 

Try it. Start with a smaller bit e.g. 1/8". 

Chip clearing is critical and as soon as aluminium builds up on the end mill stop the machine. Clean the cutter in NaOH, adjust the parameter and continue.

[TubsAlwaysWins]

1 hour ago, FlyingPotato_is_taken said:

Xuhan on Aliexpress is a good seller.

Not comparable to high end tools but good enough and cheap.

Good enough and cheap are exactly what Im looking for right now. Ill check them out. 

1 hour ago, FlyingPotato_is_taken said:

Depends on what you want to mill.

 

If you can get an 1/8" collet buy it: v-carving bits, PCB drills and fiberglass rasp cutters are usually this diameter.

side note: Try v-carving bits for engraving but also get a ball endmill for comparison. Personally I favour ball endmills while others use v-carving bits.

next size is 4mm: This is a common shaft size for micro milling (e.g. 0.2mm).

 

Beside that I think you should be fine with 1/4" shafts.

 

What tool diameter should you get?

face mill: cheap face mill to face the MDF scrap board.

end mill: 1/8", 1/4", 1mm (get 5pcs. or so of the 1/4")

up-down cutter (for wood): 1/4" What is this? The tip is a down cutter to put pressure on the material to get a clean cut on (wood)-fibre material. The remaining lenght is the usual up cut meaning wood dust/"chips" are removed.

ball endmill: 1/4", 1mm 

 

these are optional:

chamfer: 1/4" 45°: front-back cutters are nice but only buy them if you know you need them

thread milling: Each size thread bit can do a range of thread diameter: One tool might do M5 to M10 threads while the second does the M5 to M3 threads.

fillet: Depends. Chamfer are versatile since you can mill an entire range of chamfer lengths. With fillets each radius requires it's own cutter.

t-slot cutter: I like them as they enable undercuts on 3-axis machines.

Mostly wood of various types (No clue yet tbh. Going to start with MDF because I have some). Would like to be able to do maybe 1/8" or less Aluminum or Steel sheet at some point. 

 

It looks like I can get a 1/8 collet. May not be 1st party but they look available. 

Hoping to get a variety of bits to try and use, see what I like and dont.

I read about the up-down cutters and Ill have to pick one up as well.

I will have to look more into thread milling. Struggling to see how that would work without any knowledge of them.

I do want a T-slot cutter. Thinking about adding T slots to my machine for clamping but we will see. Ill have to check them out.

 

Thanks!