180W DC Spindle

[edwardrford]

I picked up the 180w DC ER11 spindle recently.

Screen Shot 2012-12-01 at 5.03.37 PM.png (365.98 KiB) Viewed 4723 times

Here are a couple of things I've found:

1.) It's ninja quiet. Seriously. If you didn't know it was running you wouldn't know it was on. It's a very soft whirring noise.
2.) It fits perfectly into the mount that comes with the kits! Bonus.
3.) It does a nice job at engraving. I was using a v-bit and carving some scrap pieces of plexi-glass. Very nice job with that.
4.) Cutting was lackluster. Although, I have some hopes for improvement, and a couple of thoughts.
a.) This is embarrassing, but it may be the bit that I'm using. Right now the only cutting bit I have left (waiting for a shipment!) is an 1/8" two flute end mill. It's really dull. So I'm sure that's not helping at all.
b.) The spindle will take up to 48v DC. At first I was using a 24V 6A Power supply, I managed to stall the motor a few times. Thinking I needed more power, I ordered a 48v 8A supply from MPJA. That arrived yesterday and I hooked everything right up. The spindle spins CONSIDERABLY faster (at least it seems). I haven't stalled it yet, but it seems like it gets bogged down if I do more than 0.03125" depth passes into wood (pine or aspen). It still cuts, but there's a lot of "skipping" which makes me think the bit needs to be spinning faster. Although, I guess this could be due to the dull bit as well...

I'll report back after I have some sharper bits regarding the cutting action. However, I have some v-bits that I could try out in the meantime. I'd really like to do some PCB milling and picked up a 25 pack of boards from work. If anyone has an isolation design I could cut, please send it my way

I have it hooked up now, so if anyone wants me to test something out, or shoot a video, let me know and I'll get that done.

-Edward

[xpix]

Wow, so cheap?! I give it a try and order this spindle:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251201710796?ss ... 1497.l2649

May i must wait 3 weeks, but i need a silent motor. My Proxxon Cutter is very good, but he vibrate at PCB Cutting a lot and i think it's better to try a quit spindle

We see forward

[RSWeaverAz]

@Edward
Did that 180 watt spindle come with any collets?
the picture {on Ebay ... its re listed BTW} shows one partially disassembled but does not show the bearings,
you probably wont take it apart, but if you do can we get some pictures?


The same seller has a 300 watt unit, with a mount and a 3.175mm collet.
It also looks like it might have some kind of built in cooling fan on top,
(the video seems to show that ... sort of).

its almost 2x more expensive at $75.90 + $21.90 shipping
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ER11-300W-12V-2 ... 3ccae335ed

collet sets on ebay seem to run from about $39 and above, although you can get individual ones for $4-6 ...

[Improbable Construct]

@RSWeaverAz

I am selling a 300w spindle, power supply, PWM speed control, and collet set.

SOLD

[zerblatt007]

I am selling a 300w spindle, power supply, PWM speed control, and collet set.

I was looking into one of these, in hope that it was ninja quiet like Edwards 180W one. My Dremel'ish spindle is killing our cats ears..
Why did you sell yours?
Too slow?

[Improbable Construct]

It was super quiet but it just did not have the power I was used to with the DW660.

[Tom Smith]

Sooo, while I like the power of the DW660, I am conscious that the noise is significant, and I tend to not run it much so I don't annoy my neighbors. (I live in an apartment building, and run my ShapeOko indoors)

Therefore, would any of you who have used these spindles (particularly the 300w model) care to describe the use? Keep in mind I know it will be less powerful, but I have to compromise between power and noise.

IC, while you state yours was not as powerful as the DW660, were you able to use it for wood cutting, etc?

Edward - now that you have (maybe) tried it out with some sharp bits, what are your impressions of the 180w model?

I am happy to cut shallower and make multiple passes if I can run quieter and therefore, more often.

Thanks!

Tom

[LTMNO]

I picked up the 180w DC ER11 spindle recently.

Screen Shot 2012-12-01 at 5.03.37 PM.png

I have it hooked up now, so if anyone wants me to test something out, or shoot a video, let me know and I'll get that done.

-Edward

Hi Edward, just curious as to what are the final findings to the spindle?
Any limitations to the cutting minus the power upgrade... are we cutting wood/aluminum?