What features would you like to see in 2024?

[Aiph5u (Aiph5u (not affiliated with Onefinity))]

Hey Bob, hey all,

@Flipdaddy

For Onefinity to quit sitting on their hands and start selling a spindle.
They are letting others do the work for them.
Then they have the nerve to say, if you add a spindle they will give no support.
Come on people.

The most out-of-the-box and ready-to-use VFD/spindle solution is what Daniel @PwnCNC offers. But it is the only one I know to which this applies. Generally, building a VFD/spindle installation is something that requires an electrician or an electrical engineer, as it contains so much components and so much options and requires to satisfy so many electrical safety regulations if you don’t want to be liable for something or someone damaged by your installation. You cannot expect this from Onefinity, as it is something very different to what they do and offer at the moment.

Installing a spindle is not what Ben Myers does on youtube, who still has the two videos online where he connects a spindle with three wires and no PE wire () despite the fact that doing so is very dangerous (Don’t do this at home!). Installing a spindle/VFD and manufacturing and selecting the many components like cables, terminals, etc., means a lot more if you want to ensure electrical safety. A spindle requires installing and programming a VFD, and a VFD requires installation into a control cabinet and that you guarantee to comply with all safety regulations. That is always a custom work, and I don’t think Onefinity are going to change what they do into something completely different, because building a VFD/spindle installation and then also ensuring the safety of it, and then also provide the support for it(!), that IS something completely different to what they do.

However, there is what I consider to be the best milling motor solution for hobbyists and semiprofessionals. It requires no VFD, no custom wiring, and is the standard for CNC routers here in Europe and most of the rest of the world. These milling motors are made for heavy use in a CNC machine (unlike the Makita hand trim router, which is made for short, hand-held use and which, as Makita support stated, looses its warranty as soon you mount it into a CNC machine, and is likely to burn your workshop down if you overload it.).

A mount for such “Euro” mount milling motors on the Onefinity is requested, but still no answer.

@Aiph5u

A “spindle” usually means a small, cylindrical induction motor. Induction motors forcibly need a VFD, because they are driven by three-phase electricity with a variable frequency (usually 0–400 Hz). A VFD is in principle an AC-to-DC-to-AC inverter which creates such current on the fly (see also differences between hand router and spindle).

But there could still be what many consider as the best milling motor solution for hobbyists and semiprofessionals, which need no VFD nor any custom wiring, but are simply plugged into your domestic socket, but unfortunately Onefinity still does not offer a Onefinity motor mount for such milling motors (feature requested here as of 2023-Feb-28).

@Aiph5u

@Temo

@Aiph5u

What I think in general, is that building a VFD control cabinet yourself including selecting the right parts, manufacturing and laying the necessary cabling, and really doing everything right, i.e. to meet all the safety regulations etc. will always remain something that is not something for everyone as it requires at least a part of the knowledge and the experience of a certified electrician or an electrical engineer. Many have done it anyway, but it’s definetely nothing for everyone.

That’s why I, again, cannot stress the fact enough that besides a spindle that is the best solution in technical terms (induction motors are, because of their advantages, the workhorse in the metal processing, machine construction and also the woodworking production industry) and a Makita hand trim router (that is not allowed by its manufacturer for use in a CNC and doing so annihilates its warranty, and overloading it with the workload in a heavily used CNC machine can burn your workshop down), there is a third solution between.

In the CNC world I know, there is a solution that is also the most widespread, which I consider to be the → best milling motor solution for hobbyists and semiprofessionals. It combines the advantages of the two other extremes, (i.e. reliability and durability, being made for long-term use in a CNC, plug and play (no special wiring needed), speed control possible by CNC controller, ER collets, tool changer option availabe) with at same time avoiding the disadvantages mentioned above. Where I live, in Europe, the majority of hobbyist and semiprofessional CNC machines, but also many professional machines, use such a milling motor. You can see them everywhere, e.g. here (video where it cuts steel), here, here or here. I could link you many more examples if I would take a little time. But hélas! Although requested, Onefinity has still not yet offered a 43 mm “Euro” mount for these milling motors.

Welcome to the forum!