I learned CNC in an architectural millwork. Custom entry doors, coffered ceilings, kitchens that matched the library. So although I’ll be making smaller projects, I’ll still want to surface a rough 2" board, then detail and cut through 1 3/4" of maple. What spindle do y’all recommend?
Do you want plug and play or do you mind wiring it yourself? If you’re comfortable with a little soldering and some basic programming you can get a chinese spindle for $200-400 on amazon or from other vendors. Gpenny, one of the better basic china spindles unless you want to do a diy atc with a jianken or something.
If you feel like spending big money there is always mechatron and other more industrial makers out there, but you’ll be spending around the base price of your machine.
Really depends on your comfort level, finances, and needs. You could cut through 8/4 lumber with a long endmill and a makita router if you wanted. Wouldn’t be my first choice though.
Here you will find most people are using makitas, chinese spindles. Probably in that order of prevalence if i had to guess.
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In another thread someone mentioned that the Siensci spindle only has an ER11 collet accommodating only 1/4 inch bits. For going through 1 3/4 inch, you may want the additional stiffness that a 1/2 inch bit in an ER20 collet provides.
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A CNC is not necessarily the best tool for what you are describing.
Jointer, planer and Circular saw might be better suited.
You can do all that on the CNC, it will just take much longer.
I have a 110V 1.5kW spindle and can take no more than 0.3 mm depth in hardwood with a 25.6mm surfacing bit at 100% stepover, or the spindle stalls.
I recommend at least a 80mm 220V 2.2kW spindle.
You can cut through, but not in one go
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Honestly, it mostly depends on how much you want to pay and how comfortable you are with simple electrical wiring. I have a 240V 2.2kW spindle made by a company in Germany, but it’s not necessarily any better than a Chinese one I could purchase on Amazon for 1/10 of what I paid.
You’ll be able to easily surface boards with any spindle, assuming your machine is properly trammed. Cutting through 2" boards shouldn’t be an issue, though success will probably be closer related to your bit choices and hold down methods than your spindle.
As Tom mentioned, a cnc may not be ideal for your application, though its tough to tell specifics from your description.
Though, I will say that, in relation to Tom’s stated example, my Mechatron spindle will allow me to do 4mm deep cuts in walnut, with a 2" surfacing bit, at 200 ipm, without stalling.
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Excellent and informative, but that’s about what I already know. Now I’m trying to narrow it down… I will DIY, and will take my time setting up a good system.
Yeah, almost dove at that, but the wait saved me. Are they shipping yet? I’d rather have an 80mm spindle with 1/2" collet, because I’ll want to dig deep and wide; slow is okay, but bigger than veneer, most of what I build is block like.
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Exactly. I’ve got a full shop of tools, but my 13" planer won’t prep a 40" mural, mostly, but you know the limitations. I’m leaning toward the 80mm 220v 2.2kW.
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Forum lords just informed me that answering all you guys at once makes life easier. Live and learn. Everybody gets a like, I get an 80mm 220v 2.2kW spindle with the brake motor and Stiffy… now, anybody have a favorite?
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I have an HY spindle 2.2kW (inexpensive Chinese one) that will easily cut that deep. I wouldn’t go with anything less. It’s not the spindle it’s the diameter of the bit it can hold. While you can get long 1/4" diameter bits they will deflect a lot more than a 1/2" bit. That means you’ll want an ER20 collet since they are the smallest size that can hold a 1/2" bit.
There’s other benefits to having the larger spindle as well. For example, surfacing. I use a bit from CMT that has replaceable carbide inserts. It’s over 2" in diameter. That makes a huge difference in the time it takes to surface wood. It has a 12mm shank. Maybe you can get a 1.5kW spindle that has a collet that big?
It really comes down to time. As someone who works with wood you must know that smaller tools often will do the job but they add a lot of time to the process. For example, your 13" planer. You can get by planning two boards under that width then gluing them together and hand planing to finish it. Of you could get a larger machine that can do it once it’s glued up.
My HY (Huanyang) spindle and VFD was a fraction of the price and I have yet to have any issues with it. HY is an actual manufacturer whereas a number of other brands are made by a different company and they put their names on them. Often they are clones of the HY.
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I also have the huanyang 220 spindle. Works great! I use a 3 inch surfacing bit at times and it scares me so much I wear an adult diaper when I spin it up, but it sure does plane slabs fast.
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A water cooled 2.2kw 220vac has been running in my shop pretty much non-stop for the last week surfacing rough cut live oak using an SPE 2-1/2" insert surfacing bit. No problems and no stops. There are certainly better spindles (and ones with thermal monitoring embedded) out there and cheaper spindles available but for a prosumer grade CNC I have nothing but good things to say about it. As plug and play as you can get and the water cooled version is almost too quiet. Dust collectio0n woosh is louder. Not much DIY other than provide a 220-240vac circuit circuit and plug things in. (add 115vac for the water cooler if you go that route. Think drag chain upgrade if you go water cooled. Easy and worth it,
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I don’t think I saw what machine you plan on using. Nor did you say if you were deeply experienced with VFD configuration.
With the background you did share, I believe you will want a spindle with ER collet capability and not a Makita router.
The newer Masso controlled machines are built for plug and play with the PWC spindles. Remember that OneFinity does not support spindles and you will get that thrown back at you even with the simplest of questions to support.
So if you are comfortable with doing the VFD configuration yourself, you have a spectrum from cheap Chinese offerings to spindles made in Germany. There is info here in the forum on most but be sure to turn your filter on as you go through it all. As with most forums and social media, no one is assuring the accuracy or quality of the information that is posted here. Some of it is excellent and some of it is not so good.
Have fun with your journey.
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I have the cheap Huanyang 2.2 220v spindle with their VFD. I just did a job where I cut out ring segments from 2"x6"s with nominal thickness of 1.5". I did it with a 1/2" straight bit. I did 100 pieces on my 1F in a few hours. I used this https://www.amanatool.com/45427-carbide-tipped-straight-plunge-1-2-dia-x-2-1-2-x-1-2-inch.html
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