I am thinking to replace Makita router with Redline Spindle, either 65mm or 80mm. But both spindles have their pros and cons. My biggest concern is weight of 80 mm Spindle. Will 80 mm spindle drop when power abruptly stops, since Z-brake motor is not available for pro series.
Also do I need Stiffy for 65mm Spindle considering comparatively lesser weight than 80mm.
Thanks
I have a 65mm spindle without stiffy, but on a wood worker. Seems fine. But OF support recommended the stiffy with the 80mm. Possible stiffy might be recommended for the journeyman given the extra length.
-Tom
Yeah, it makes sense to have Stiffy if Spindle is to be used, considering the span. Thanks for sharing light on this.
But do you, know if using 80mm spindle (or even 65mm) without Z-braking on Pro OF, won’t have the same issue like Elite Series (i.e. spindle dropping a bit due to weight).
Thanks
I have a Woodworker Pro with 80mm Redline spindle. If I cut power to the BB controller while the spindle is running, the spindle will drop down and bore a hole in my spoil board.
If I first turn the spindle off and then cut power to the controller, the spindle doesn’t fall.
It seems there is just enough vibration from the spindle (when running) to cause it to drop when the controller is turned off.
HTH, Mike
So in this case, for emergency stop we can’t shut-off spindle and Controller together at same time. We need to shut off the spindle first and then the controller a few sec after. If so the spindle will damage the workpiece and damage the bits, may be even the collet assembly, is the bit is inside the workpiece. Since the Controller will still be running .
BTW what happens during all the power abrupts. I believe the spindle will still drop.
And do you think a 65mm spindle won’t have this issue, due to nearly 1 kg lesser weight.
I would like to go with 80mm, but this dropping issue is making me paranoid already.
I’m still waiting for my 80mm spindle to arrive. But I am going to be looking into making a counterweight system to hold it up.
I had thought somebody on the forum did this but the search is not finding it for me.
I’m very lucky that we rarely have power failures in my neighborhood. Once, maybe twice a year. They are almost always associated with severe weather so I don’t use the CNC during those times.
As for E-stop, I don’t know because I’m currently running my spindle manually from the VFD console.
For users who have connected their VFD to the data port on the controller: When the BB controller shuts off and the data signal is lost does the spindle RPM drop to zero???
Mike
Nice. Hope you figure out any way to counterbalance the spindle. Thanks
Yeah, good point. It’s rare to have power outages here as well. So at least one scenario can be ignored.
Current users can chime in, but I believe in both situations (manual VFD or BB controlled), the vibrations will make it drop during E-stop, just because spindle will still keep spinning for few seconds. I can be wrong on this.
Thanks
I replaced the Z axis stepper with one that has a brake. It appears to be more of an issue on the Elite models but more than once I had my spindle drop down. I have a current monitoring device that trips a relay engaging the brake. Simply put as long as there’s holding current on the stepper the brake is released. If the power to the stepper get’s cut it trips the board and turns on the brake. I used parts I had form a different project with the intentions of using the tool enable (pin 15 on the break out board). I believe that running a macro to enable the stepper would allow it to toggle a relay turning off the brake. I haven’t found time yet to try it out.
I’ve got an 80 mm spindle from PWNCNC. When I power off my machine the spindle will sometimes start dropping. If I hold it for a second it generally will stay in place. I always raise it to the top before shutting down. Sometimes I need to hold it a couple times, but it never goes more than half way down and then it stays. To be on the safe side I don’t think I would leave my 15 degree V-bit in the collet. I wouldn’t worry about a 1/4" bit even if it went all the way down to the spoil board.