I've got a 7hp HSD spindle on my router good up to 24,000 rpm, and I have been very happy with it.
I mostly cut aluminum with it, and it just gobbles it up at 85 ipm at 18,000 rpm with a 1/4" bit. I've watched the tachometer when the bit goes from air to metal and the speed doens't change at all.
The hardwood I've cut with it (mahogany) doesn't even phase it. I do some fine detail work with really small bits (1/32") at times and the 24,000 rpms comes in handy in these situations.
I've got a stack of Brazilian rosewood I'm getting ready to turn into expensive dust. I'm more worried about getting the right bit for the job than anything else. The oil in the rosewood is pretty gnarly and is hell on tooling. |