I'm looking at the 187 oz motors now thanks to Admin for help. But I live in an apartment with a spare bedroom. Without the router running how loud is the machine with just the steppers running? Do you have to raise your voice while it's running etc?

Just running the steppers would be a little whirrring....quite pleasant, I would think. The router, depending on the model and size could be a high whine, easy to converse around, or like mine, a disturbing rumbling during deceleration when the power is cut....the rear bearing/bushing is going out.:( Injecting a heavier lubricant is just delaying the inevitable.

Steppers make a unique noise, unlike any other motor. They vary in sound. The slower, the louder. Music to my ears tho. Microstepping drives are much smoother and quieter.

My Porter Cable router is deafening wide open (30,000 rpm). Cutting noise can be loud too.

Eric

Hi,
I’m in the process of building an enclosure around my (soon to finished) router.
I'll use fiberglass insulation over plywood for sound insulation.

A 2 HP router @ 25,000 rpm router is crazy LOUD! (ear protection a must)
When it is “digging in” there is no way you could have a conversation without YELLING!
I think I’ll buy a trim router for small stuff just so I don’t have to listen the big boy (2 hp).

A trim router with a 1/4" bit cutting plywood or hardwood can make plenty of noise.

Gerry

Come up with a quiet high speed spindle an folks will knock your door down wanting to buy them. I worry about the noise for my poor nieghbours and I live in a house!

Eric

My varaible speed 3-1/4 Porter Cable is not too bad at the 10,000 rpm speed. I can stand next to the router and talk to people. I think my shop vac is louder than when my router is at the slowest setting.

So back to enclosure design again. I'm with you Balsaman, I live in a small neighbourhood, where my shed (and router) back onto many other gardens. I have been thinking about an enclosure for the router spindle itself that would fit on the z-axis. Perhaps surounding the spindle with a sound dampening foam, in an MDF (or other dense material) shroud, adding intake fans at the top, and perhaps some flaps and brushes at the bottom to reduce the noise there too. I guess you could add baffles between the intake fan and the spindles top to reduce noise also.
Any thoughts/experience of this type of small enclosure would be useful, I may draw up some plans tomorrow just to get some opinions, but it's too late over here now, I'm off to bed!

This is what I have in mind. Just the z-axis is enclosed, the enclosure could be filled with flame-retardant sound-dampening foam (yes it does exist!), or some other wadding. Please excuse the rendering, but you can just make two baffles between the intake fan and the router spindle. These *should* allow air in, but reduce the sound out, due to the sound not having a direct "line of sight" exit path. Of course there will still be cutting noise, but that can be damped with the use of a rubber skirt, or maybe a brush type skirt that will easily flow over the workpiece. The biggest drawbacks will be the lack of air reaching the router, but how much does it really need, I have no idea to be honest! Comments appreciated.

most routers suck in air at the top and blast it out the bottom (blowing the dust everywhere, but that's another issue). You may not need the fan on top there at all. I am afraid the noise comes out the bottom, and your box may not muffle that much....It may be better to insulate the shed...;)

Eric

Doh!

Has anyone taken the fan out of a router and put on a quieter fan?

Marv

I think most of the noise is vibration and brush noise. It's the shear speed at which it turns. Cutting noise is a huge factor as well. Like I said, come up with a quiet high speed spindle..you will be rich.

Kong, don't let me discourage you, give it a try and let us know if it helps. I am just guessing and thinking out loud. Maybe enclose the thing in an insulated cardboard box for now as an experement.

Eric

I have a old 3 1/2 hp Porter Cable on mine and its very Noisy. Its in my attached shop about 30' from the living room. I had sense enough to put a 6" insulated wall between the Shop and house.(all one building). And a exterior door. I can sit next to the door and watch tv at a regular level with the router the 2 1/2 hp Shopfox vacuum system and the 3 hp Vacuum pump going.
Now when I open the door and enter the shop I reach for my ear muffs..
I have a Friend that has a 5hp spindle on his machine and its 5 times quiter than mine. But the spindles are $1500.00 also. And his Vacuum is a 10 hp Rotary outside in a insulated shed.
Sound is a big issue. Insulation is a big help. Dust is the next thing to conqour. That 2 1/2 hp vacuum is not enough. I have two rows of horse hair brushes around my router but it still spits the chips. And if cutting mdf the dust is terriable. I did build a filtration system for the shop air that helps some with the fine dust.

Donny

I had a Kress router on my machine. It was the 1.25 HP model 8000-25000rpm and it was very quite, even at the highest rpm setting. (quiter then my dremel tool)

I had problems with it and found out that that model was discontinued. They sent me the 0.75 HP model as a replacement (I was still under warrenty). The .75HP model would be a good choice for a quite router, but I didn't want to give up the power.

I now have the Porter Cable 1.75 HP model. Like other posts said, its quiet at low rpm, but screams at high rpms.

Bill

I have a need for a small hp router. Where is the best place to order a Kress from in the US?
Marv

I remember when the spindle on the multicam router at work went. The replacement came with an electric fan instead of the one attached to the shaft. The reduction in noise was astonishing. I cant remember which spindle it was, but it was around 1300 bucks.
The spindle on a large mill is almost silent. I know they are running in the 3000 to 5000 RPM range, but why not run a belt drive with 1 to 3 ratio and quieter motor with more torque and less RPM?
co

Marv

I got my Kress router from Techno Inc. , 516-328-3970. (located in New Jersey)
Its a well made router, but its not cheap. I think it runs around $360.

http://www.techno-isel.com/

Bill

Originally posted by yukonho
I remember when the spindle on the multicam router at work went. The replacement came with an electric fan instead of the one attached to the shaft. The reduction in noise was astonishing. I cant remember which spindle it was, but it was around 1300 bucks.
The spindle on a large mill is almost silent. I know they are running in the 3000 to 5000 RPM range, but why not run a belt drive with 1 to 3 ratio and quieter motor with more torque and less RPM?
co
I have no experience here, but I have seen some of the industrial spindles are water-cooled. How does an induction motor work differently from a brushed motor?

wjbzone,
Thanks, I'll check it out. That is a little spendy but worth it to me if it is quiet enough, ... got close neighbors.

Marv