Chinese spindle (the 2nd best thing I've done for my Shapeok

[forgottenCNC]

After some time thinking about moving on from my rotatory tool and looking at options (Kress vs Chinese spindle) I when with the Chinese spindle based on noise level and form factor.

I ended up picking a 1.5kW air cooled spindle with ER11 collet from ebay. I've been very happy with it – it cuts some much better and the noise level is no louder then a quiet vacuum when running a full speed (24000rpm).

The added plus is that it is already has terminal connections to control spindle 'direction', 'enable', 'speed' and some other things too.


Noise read out of spindle from off to full speed.


Spindle Control terminal connection points.

[PsyKo]

It looks good.

Can you tell us more about the price and the runnout ?
What kind of material did you mill already ? Aluminium ?

The built-in connection for "enable" is quite useful I guess.

I found something similar :
http://cgi.ebay.fr/CNC-FOUR-BEARING-ER1 ... 3cc4851454
Is it this one ?

[levlandau2]

Interesting. Have you been able to control the speed/rpms on this thing? Also what is a E11 collet? Does that fit the standard 1/8" shaft endmills?

[JayTeague]

Out of curiosity - what is the best thing you have done for your ShapeOko?

[forgottenCNC]

...Can you tell us more about the price and the runnout ?
What kind of material did you mill already ? Aluminium ?
...

-This is the one I have, You need a controller to run it as its a brush-less 3 phase motor (note: you can get a water cooled one about $100 cheaper if price is a major factor)
-They say the roundout is 0.005mm.
-I have milled Aluminium with it (At 19200 rpm) and are the brackets you can see in the pictures

Interesting. Have you been able to control the speed/rpms on this thing? Also what is a E11 collet? Does that fit the standard 1/8" shaft endmills?

-At the moment I control the speed/rpm with the VFD but I see no real issue controlling it via a PWM pin on and Arduino.
-ER11 is as standard "nut" size which can hold diffident collet size, the one I got came with 3.175mm, 4mm and 6mm collets and will hold endmills around those sizes

Out of curiosity - what is the best thing you have done for your ShapeOko?

-Dual motor drive

[PsyKo]

Hello

Price is not the major issue for me, but still remains a choice parameter. I simply wanted to know if it can really be compared to the Kress motor, as you were comparing both. Regarding the price, the power (1.5Kw vs 600 or 800 W), and the functionalities, they're are definitely not playing in the same league. I'd love to have one of these, but for now my Kress does what I ask (a little noisy for sure).

[JayTeague]

I am glad to see the review on this - I have been (while assembling my kit) looking at these and wondering... Noise can be an issue - and it is nice to see someone saying it is working good. May just have to get one myself now...

[roberlin]

Awesome! I am pretty happy with the the power on my Dewalt DW660, but the noise is a major issue and I'd been thinking one of the Chinese spindles would be a good solution.
I'm glad to see they are apparently not too big to use with a Shapeoko

How much does yours weigh? Are you on 110 or 220 volts?

[zerblatt007]

How much does yours weigh?

Yeah, how much is the weight?
This does not seem to be too much power for the ShapeOko?
I did not imagine it could handle 1500W..

[forgottenCNC]

...How much does yours weigh? Are you on 110 or 220 volts?

-The spindle itself weighs about 6Kg
-I'm on 240 (Australia) but you can get VFDs that work at 110 or 220

...
This does not seem to be too much power for the ShapeOko?
I did not imagine it could handle 1500W..

-You just have to work with in your limits and not push the cutting speed.