Harbor Freight cut out tool?
Harbor Freight cut out tool?
http://www.harborfreight.com/electric-c ... 42831.html
Anyone try this out yet? Seems like a decent $21 gamble, but a gamble nonetheless.
Anyone try this out yet? Seems like a decent $21 gamble, but a gamble nonetheless.
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Re: Harbor Freight cut out tool?
Yes: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Spindle_Options
- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... 534&p=4380
- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... rbor#p3994
- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... =40#p19429
- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... =40#p20712
- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... 534&p=4380
- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... rbor#p3994
- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... =40#p19429
- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... =40#p20712
Shapeoko 3XL #0006 w/ Carbide Compact Router w/0.125″ and ¼″ Carbide 3D precision collets
Re: Harbor Freight cut out tool?
Crap...I suck at the search function. Thank you!WillAdams wrote:Yes: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Spindle_Options
- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... 534&p=4380
- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... rbor#p3994
- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... =40#p19429
- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... =40#p20712
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- Posts: 8618
- Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:11 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania --- south of the Turnpike, East of US-15
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Re: Harbor Freight cut out tool?
's alright.
I think the Harbor Freight 1/4" Trim Router is a better choice:
- roughly the same power
- smaller
- easier to mount
- designed for continuous operation (the cut-out tools seem to be designed for intermittent use)
- metal body (this is good and bad --- good 'cause it's sturdier and the body functions as a heat sink, bad 'cause it's heavier and needs more Z-axis motor current
I drew up a mount here: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... 797#p18386
One major negative is no 1/8" collet option --- I use an MLCS adapter: http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite ... rings.html
but I believe that the Stewart-MacDonald Adapter Collet http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Speci ... ollet.html is a better option.
I think the Harbor Freight 1/4" Trim Router is a better choice:
- roughly the same power
- smaller
- easier to mount
- designed for continuous operation (the cut-out tools seem to be designed for intermittent use)
- metal body (this is good and bad --- good 'cause it's sturdier and the body functions as a heat sink, bad 'cause it's heavier and needs more Z-axis motor current
I drew up a mount here: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... 797#p18386
One major negative is no 1/8" collet option --- I use an MLCS adapter: http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite ... rings.html
but I believe that the Stewart-MacDonald Adapter Collet http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Speci ... ollet.html is a better option.
Shapeoko 3XL #0006 w/ Carbide Compact Router w/0.125″ and ¼″ Carbide 3D precision collets
Re: Harbor Freight cut out tool?
Your responses are always really appreciated. Thank you!
NEMA 17 motors ok with the HF 1/4" router?
NEMA 17 motors ok with the HF 1/4" router?
Re: Harbor Freight cut out tool?
I have and love that spindle. My machine is now only limited by the power of my steppers. I plan to throw some nema 23s on it soon and really see what this spindle can do.
Brian
Shapeoko 2 #I have no idea
HF cutout tool, 72oz nema 17 steppers, TB6600 stepper drivers, Mach3 control
Shapeoko 2 #I have no idea
HF cutout tool, 72oz nema 17 steppers, TB6600 stepper drivers, Mach3 control
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- Posts: 8618
- Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:11 pm
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Re: Harbor Freight cut out tool?
I used the Harbor Freight 1/4" Trim Router w/ my SO1 as noted in my sig line (though I see now that I didn't specify the NEMA 17 motors which I use) and it just required a slight tweaking of the motor current for the Z-axis as I mentioned.
Really, NEMA23 motors are only needed for:
- speed --- if you're charging by the hour, you should probably get them
- torque --- if you've exceptionally increased the rigidity of your gantry and its weight and are using a much heavier than normal spindle
- vanity --- the ``more power'' meme
I cut Ipê w/ mine as noted here ( http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... 072#p27072 ), and the router did fine (the belt anchoring was another story --- hoping to re-try this tomorrow).
Really, NEMA23 motors are only needed for:
- speed --- if you're charging by the hour, you should probably get them
- torque --- if you've exceptionally increased the rigidity of your gantry and its weight and are using a much heavier than normal spindle
- vanity --- the ``more power'' meme
I cut Ipê w/ mine as noted here ( http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... 072#p27072 ), and the router did fine (the belt anchoring was another story --- hoping to re-try this tomorrow).
Shapeoko 3XL #0006 w/ Carbide Compact Router w/0.125″ and ¼″ Carbide 3D precision collets
Re: Harbor Freight cut out tool?
I suppose its worth mentioning that i cut alum with my machine and added a fair amount of weight and rigidity via the 3/8 thick alum fixture plate. Im sure my machine would cut wood and plastic just fine with the current nema 17s but i have a tendency to want to push things beyond the average.WillAdams wrote:I used the Harbor Freight 1/4" Trim Router w/ my SO1 as noted in my sig line (though I see now that I didn't specify the NEMA 17 motors which I use) and it just required a slight tweaking of the motor current for the Z-axis as I mentioned.
Really, NEMA23 motors are only needed for:
- speed --- if you're charging by the hour, you should probably get them
- torque --- if you've exceptionally increased the rigidity of your gantry and its weight and are using a much heavier than normal spindle
- vanity --- the ``more power'' meme
I cut Ipê w/ mine as noted here ( http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... 072#p27072 ), and the router did fine (the belt anchoring was another story --- hoping to re-try this tomorrow).
Brian
Shapeoko 2 #I have no idea
HF cutout tool, 72oz nema 17 steppers, TB6600 stepper drivers, Mach3 control
Shapeoko 2 #I have no idea
HF cutout tool, 72oz nema 17 steppers, TB6600 stepper drivers, Mach3 control
Re: Harbor Freight cut out tool?
Brian...just to be clear....
You are using the Harbor Freight cut out tool or the 1/4" trim router? Any troubles mounting it?
You are using the Harbor Freight cut out tool or the 1/4" trim router? Any troubles mounting it?
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- Posts: 8618
- Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:11 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania --- south of the Turnpike, East of US-15
- Contact:
Re: Harbor Freight cut out tool?
This shows the HFCOT: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... 782#p22782tra wrote:Brian...just to be clear....
You are using the Harbor Freight cut out tool or the 1/4" trim router? Any troubles mounting it?
and this shows how it is (was?) mounted using the universal spindle mount: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic ... 776#p22776
Shapeoko 3XL #0006 w/ Carbide Compact Router w/0.125″ and ¼″ Carbide 3D precision collets