I’m Stefano, a newbee posting for the first time into this valuable forum… (my english is limited … I’ll try my best)
I hope experts will take a few minutes to give opinion / guidance / relevant info how to choose a good set Spindle + VFD.
My plan : build my shop and slowly move from full time salaried to I hope 50/50 and them … to the moon
I’ve ordered the JourneyMan few weeks ago, should arrive early june
My requierements
I’m in France (220v), I plan to machine mainly wood but I want to be capable to go with aluminim + brass (I’ve many ideas…)
I plan long cycles (4 hours non stop)
Low noise is important, the CNC will be in my cellar
Why :
Seems to me a good compromize
→ 0.8kw (seems a bit weak)
→ 2.2 kw (seems too big and will suck more power)
Spent long time to find one ER16 collet for bigger tool (view below)
Evolution I plan :
Long cycle with tool changer ATC (Ex : Mechatron)
Auto Z probe
My questions :
I think the set is composed by
---- Vfd mentionned HY : Huanyang, correct ?
---- Spindle mentionned Rattm : good staff ?
What comunity can suggest good / not good ??
Does my choice make sense or sounds strage ??
Other points to consider you think I’ve missed
From my research and asking others, I understand the the HY spindles are a bit more reliable. You might want to consider buying a package from HY for both.
If your budget will tolerate it, I would take a serious look at Mechatron now rather than later.
Can I ask you where do you find HY spindles or kits, I’m using AliExpress and not always happy with the choice I found there.
Mechatron is for later, I have first to make some money with the CNC to proof my business concept is relevant and I have customer in front of my products.
Can you advice for that with links of docs ?
I’ll start learning this thing in the meantime than many other
I’m in the same position as you in terms of being new to the world of CNC. I did a bit of research and found the HuanYang factory direct sales on AliExpress. They have a VFD + Spindle combo which I purchased just yesterday. I separately bought the remaining items in the kits similar to the one you are considering (collet set, water pump and tube from AliExpress and the 80mm spindle mount from OF). I went for 2.2kw, but they have the 1.5kw combo too. I’ve got a dedicated 20 amp circuit in my garage that I’m going to use for the CNC unit and I’m hoping it will be sufficient for the maximum loads.
Here’s the link to the combo I bought: (HUANYANG VFD 2.2KW 220V frequency inverter and Spindle 2.2KW motor water cooled 4 Bearings ER20 24000rpm Free shipping|Inverters & Converters| - AliExpress)
A larger spindle isn’t going to use more power than a smaller one if using the same bit at the same feed speeds. It will give you the option of using larger and/ or pushing bits harder if needed. I got my HY spindle and VFD off of Amazon (not sure if that’s an option in France though). They have a much better track record for returns and solving problems over AE.
How warm does your basement get in summer? I’m just using a pump to supply cooling water out of a bucket for the spindle. But my basement rarely gets above 24c. If yours does and you want to do longer jobs then you’ll most likely want something more to actively cool the water.
Mine hasn’t been delivered yet. As I said I just ordered the unit and components a few days ago. But when I get them, I’ll probably follow the steps shown in Myers Woodshop’s YouTube video: How To Install A CNC Spindle - Part 1 - YouTube
I did order the 2 pack extension cable set from OF; I’ll get the remaining cables required for the setup from a local electrical supplier here in Melbourne.
Thx !
I’ll check it next days but I’ll probabely buy this set too.
The collet set, water pompe, etc is not that expensive.
I plan to add a line from my main power panel to my basement wher I’ll plus the CNC + vacum
Just waiting oneFinity ships the boxes …
I suggest that you have a view on the comment posted by → Al Amantea about Extension cords
On my side, I’ll instal a local for safety differential circuit breaker + fire detector
Got your point about 2.2 kw energy consumption … price diff is not that big you’re right to mention this.
I’m just wondering if 1.5 kw has already enough power … I mean what will first limit the system, the CNC mecanical concept / the Nema 23 … An idea ?
About basement temp, I don’t expect it goes higher than 25 but I’ll keep an eye on this point that I haven’t considered before your comment, so THANKS !
Edit: there are those who said the 2.2kw doesnt work for them. Hard to really say 1 way or the other. Im trying it, and i’ll let you know. I might end up having to purchase the 1.5kw 80mm spindle after its all said and done, which would be very frustrating.
End Edit.
Generally, I find that you can never have to big of a motor. I went with the 2.2kw 80mm 110v VFD spindle combo from HY on amazon. Will I use it to its full potential? maybe, maybe not, but the price diff wasnt there.
As far as electrical pull. Someone on here a few days ago mentioned that there 2.2kw was pulling 3.3amps @ 220v’s. Which would equate to 7.6a at 110v. He said he had done this test over multiple hours, and those were the max numbers. I havent seen these numbers, so I can’t verify or deny. I’ll be running my 2.2kw 110v at some point this week (currently waiting on parts for drag chains and such).
From what I have learned so far regarding circuits for the CNC. Best practice is to have the Spindle/Router on a different circuit from the controller to avoid noise and voltage fluctuation. What I have done was ran a 20amp circuit dedicated for the 2.2kw spindle. I also placed a UPS to power the water pump, controller, and any other various accessories such as leds and cameras. UPS runs on a different circuit.
For cooling, I just purchased a 2 gallon bucket. The spindle came with 5 meters of orange/red hose. I purchased 10meters of blue hose (smallest you can get on amazon). I drilled some holes into the lid of the bucket, threw some grommets in there, cut the power cable and will solder it back together. I live in florida, and my garage is not insulated, I expect this should still be sufficient. If it isn’t, I might have to find like a radiator type solution, but I suspect I should be fine with just the bucket.
The 2.2kW spindle is less about extra power and more about flexibility. They use the larger ER20 collet. For example I use a CMT insert surfacing bit. It has a 12mm shank. It’s over 2" in diameter and doesn’t cost a fortune. I know most people try to create a program to surface things automatically but I just use the joypad and manually move it. I’ve done the spoilboard as well as several large blocks of wood that were too wide to fit onto my planer.
The downside, sort of, is that you need the 80mm upgrade the to the Z axis. The spindle does weigh more but that’s not an issue. If you don’t have enough power in your shop you can limit how much the VFD puts out.
Alex, can you better describe this “you need the 80mm upgrade the to the Z axis”
I’ve asked oneFinity team few weeks ago if the extra weight of a 2.2kw will be OK or an issue for the frame of step motors
They answerred … no prob … simply add the 80mm sindle mount
I hope I havnt’ miss someting … Arrghh
Just the 80mm mount upgrade. Nothing else is needed. It may be different now but when I got my 1F they sent it with the 65mm mount installed and the 80mm mount in a box. The customer has to then switch it over. It’s not too hard but it’s one more step needed before you can start using the 1F.
This is the case. Got my 1f journeyman in late February, I had to switch over to the 80mm, as the 65mm was installed.
Aiph5u
(Aiph5u (not affiliated with Onefinity))
16
Hey Kyle, hey all,
It may very well be that in many situations a 2.2 kW 220 V spindle only sucks 3 A, but please always remember that the electrical work a spindle performs is dependent on workload. A 2.2 kW 220 V spindle is rated 10 A and a 2.2 kW 110 V spindle is rated 20 A. An asynchronous motor like a spindle is not only able to pull inrush and starting currents that are about 4 to 12 times higher than its rated current - no problem, it’s the VFD’s duty to prevent that - but the VFD is perfectly able to suck the current you have set in the “motor’s rated current” field of VFD at any time. Even if a spindle does not seem to suck more than 3.5 or 7 A at a certain moment e.g. when it does some milling wood, it is perfectly able to suck the maximum current set in the VFD, e.g. if there is a heavy nail in your workpiece or your endmill suddenly gets blocked due to a mistake made when creating your g-code program or whatever can happen (e. g. suddenly getting the idea “Hey, can I mill this piece of hardened steel too?”)
It is not safe to attach an electrical appliance with a rated power to a mains circuit that is not able to deliver this power. I hope you always do things the safe way!
On the other hand, by setting the “motor’s rated current” parameter in the VFD to a lower value, you can limit the maximum power that is allowed to be fed to the spindle. This is also the way to attach a less powerful spindle to a higher-rated VFD, e.g. if you buy a 2.2 kW VFD but with a 1.5 kW spindle. In this case setting the “motor’s rated current” to the corresponding value is mandatory in order not to overload your spindle.
PS: By the way, based on your time zone, you could be in the US. In the USA, split-phase electric power is very common, i.e. it could be that already you have 220 V in your fuse box, between the “hots” of two different phases. An electrician could put the 220 V out for you and then you would not need to use a 110 V VFD/spindle with its high currents and thicker wires that this necessitates.
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Aiph5u
(Aiph5u (not affiliated with Onefinity))
17
Hey Stefano,
welcome to the forum!
Aiph5u
(Aiph5u (not affiliated with Onefinity))
18
I’ve just seen on the HY guide that a DC reactor should be installed in case > 1000KVa … The HY I’ve ordered is above (2.2 kw) so a DC reactor is suggested … do someone has any further info about it ??
I don’t remind to have read something about it on other topic…
