If you have a spindle do you keep a router on stand by? Spindle life expectancy? Suggested maintenance schedule? I have read some spindle do not like ground fault circuit breakers. Is that a thing with our spindle?
I had a spindle that I used for eight years before I sold the machine it was installed on. Not even a hick-up. They are extremely stable. No need for a backup.
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Hey RogueMachinist,
you really can’t compare a hand trim router with a spindle in terms of life expectancy, the latter will last many, many times longer. And even when the bearings are worn you can let the manufacturer replace them. Also spindles have no carbon brushes that need to be serviced, because they have no rotor coils, only stator coils.
What can happen is that dust can enter the bearings. Good dust collection is mandatory anyway, but when milling brass, dust collection does not work so in this case spindles with sealing air prevent that dust can enter the bearings. You need compressed air for this. Sealing air is an option e.g. on the Mechatron HFS-8022 and will substantially prolong the bearings life.
Yes it’s true that VFDs due to their high internal carrier frequencies trigger normal ground fault circuit breakers. You need special ground circuit breakers that are much too expensive for the hobbyist, so usually you will have to avoid them in your supply circuit.
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