Hello everyone. I was looking at an older thread on spindle choices and just thought I would get an updated perspective. I dont really care if its a 65mm or 80mm. I do want to be able to run off of 110v power. Also the setup process… is it a pain to configure, are some easier than others?
I was looking at this
https://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/cnc-spindles
I was thinking about the 1.5kw and VFD kit.
Also do you need to run a chiller or can you just circulate water from a reservoir like a 5 gal bucket. I have a similar setup for a CO2 laser and the cooling really just depends on load. Thank you in advance for any advice.
Hey Jason,
there is a lot of info on your topic in this forum. Please use the search function.
It is not really difficult if you know how to read the VFD documentation and to follow the instructions. Note that cheap chinese spindles have a lousy manual in bad english that often teaches you nothing. An example for a good VFD manual is the Omron MX2 Users Manual.
But you got to know that a VFD is a device that is intended to be built into a electrical control cabinet, and assembling a VFD, a spindle and a CNC machine means building a machine and in this case you should follow all the safety regulations. You should not wire it yourself without an electrician. However, you can get ready-to-use systems from spindel-shop.de.
Regarding VFD choice, I would pay attention to buy a VFD that can do Sensorless Vector Control (so avoid Huanyang HY Series and other noname crap) and ModBus override.
Also I would never buy a VFD that willingly omit the VFD input current rating on their nameplate to fool you.
Also be aware that on cheap chinese spindles, their power rating is often wrong.
If you are in North America you usually find split-phase electricity which means, 240 V is already there. You just need an electrician to install a MCCB and a NEMA 14 socket so you don’t need to use 110 V.
Welcome to the forum!
I’m very satisfied with the setup I got from Stepperonline, the same folks 1F sources their stepper motors from. It was a spindle/VFD pair, and was perfectly matched, no parameter settings needed messing with. I chose air cooled to eliminate the extra equipment and maintenance of water cooling, and it’s been great. Only comes as 220V, though…
1 Like
Hey all,
VFD in this kit:
EV51 VFD (User Manual)
Have no experience with this brand. Incredibly low price, but
[OK] Has sensorless vector control (SVC)
[OK] Supports both induction (asynchronous) motors and synchronous motors
[OK] At least the EV50 Series version Full user manual does not omit input voltage rating (23 A / 220 V for single-phase version, size: for 2.2 kW spindle, 14 A / 220 V, size: for 1.5 kW spindle), table in EV51 Easy user Manual seems to be wrong (you can’t have 8.2 A input max single phase current if it says it provides 7 A per phase for the three-phase spindle. 14 A input current should be the correct value for 1.5 kW version (and fuse/MCCB selected accordingly).
Spindle in this kit:
[–] flimsy “aviation” connector, recommended spindle cable solution here
1 Like
Gotta tell you, I studied, asked a ton of questions, fretted over my power source and such before ordering a Vevor 2.2kW spindle and Chinese VFD on Amazon. Having no knowledge of electronics and a carpenter’s bare understanding of electricity, this was no fun for me, at all. I’m a not an engineer and don’t have the budget for a plug and play set up or name brand equipment. It was a nightmare to get up and running, and caused me hours and evenings of trial and error get the parameters set correctly, troubleshoot wiring issues, and finally get it going. Two years up and running with absolutely no performance concerns, so I’m happy with my choice of inexpensive, off-brand equipment. When I accidently stripped the chuck threads and had to replace the spindle, it was the cost of a Makita router to swap it out.
For my X50, hanging vertically on my wall next to the Elite, I chose to use a 1.5kW spindle at half the weight of a 2.2kW. The Stepperonline model was a breeze to set up, and ran perfectly on powering up, no settings or parameters needed messed with. Sure, the spindle might not last 5 years running 40+ hours per week, but at my 10-20 hours use it probably will. And it’s the cost of a Makita router, spindle and VFD together!
Not trying to talk you into doing things the amateurish, easy way, but it was a good choice for me. Good luck with your project!
1 Like
Hey Justin, hey all,
the reason why I recommend professional brand equipment like the Omron MX2 or the Hitachi WJ200, is that they have an excellent manual that leads you from unpacking to understanding what a VFD is, over wiring and configuring a setup until you can do your first successful test run. And then, all necessary optional parts like EMI filters and brake resistors with their part numbers, and all other options in an easily understable way.
That is unfortunately not found in the manuals of cheap chinese VFDs.
I find it unreasonable and nonsensical to try out options that you search for on youtube that you don’t know the meaning of, just because the manual for the cheap Chinese VFDs is incomprehensible. I expect from a VFD to have a good, detailed and didactical manual and that I don’t have to search for anything on youtube, but that every option is introduced and explained in the manual, in a way that is easy to understand, and in my language, and in good language (not auto-translated from chinese). You find such good manuals on Omron / Hitachi VFDs as they are used in the industry. Or Invertek Optidrives.
Or you can get ready-to-use systems from spindel-shop.de. Then the VFD is already programmed to match the spindle, and it is ready to use. You also get the matching spindle cables there. It is practically plug and play including service, it is the spindle manufacturer’s shop.
1 Like
All good advice. The spindle/VFD from Stepperonline is a great entry level ready-to-use product, for a hobby budget. It’s easy to sink a ton of money into commercial quality equipment and all sorts of cool accessories. I’m more of a bare bones operation, but lovin’ it!
2 Likes
Thank you all for the great information. I have been in building maintenance for most of my life. I’m not an electrician by any means but I have a pretty good understanding of vfd’s and electricity. My biggest limiting factor is going to be power. My wife is in the Coast guard so we move every few years. Sometimes I have 220 available but most often I don’t. Last house I found a pre wired circuit in the attic that was intended for a heater that was abandoned, I was able to pop a breaker in the panel and use it to heat and run a welder etc. so with all that said I think I would be better to Stick with the 120v options. As I said above thank you all for the information. I really appreciate all the different points of view on quality of equipment and setup.
1 Like