Howdy, I have a standard Porter Cable Router and since testing and info from you guys have realized that the standard collets have .003 run out. This is fine for wood working but when doing inlay using a .0156 bit it poses a bit of a problem. Even for woodworking I would like as much accuracy as possible. So does anyone know an after market collet for the porter cable? I know Precision Bits (a.k.a. Think and Tinker) is making one due in a month. Although they are an awesome company I can't really wait that long and when a company is coming out with a new precision product it could take a lot longer for said product to come out to market. So any after market collets?

As a side note, I know it's been discussed ad-nauseum, but what is the cheapest spindle that can go in the 20,000 range?

I think the runout varies widely from collet to collet. Check the runout of the actual spindle itself with no collet first to make sure there's no runout there. If the spindle is OK, you might want to try a few different collets to see if you can find one that may have less runout.

If you're doing work that's that detailed, you might want to look at those Wolfgang Engineering spindles on Ebay.

http://stores.ebay.com/Wolfgang-Engineering_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm

I just saw this the other day. http://www.homeshopcnc.com/page7.html
They may be able to get a smaller one, but don't know if it would be much cheaper

Probably add another $400-$800 for the drive for it.
http://web4.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/AC_Drives/GS2_(115_-z-_230_-z-_460_-z-_575_VAC_V-z-Hz_Control)/GS2_Drive_Units_(115_-z-_230_-z-_460_-z-_575_VAC)/GS2-23P0

That is an interesting find Ger... Don't know off hand what size the max collet is for ER20 though..

But that is the drive I'm using for my ekstrom spindle. Least cost I've found and works very well.

That china spindle motor is cool though.. I'm a big fan of my ekstrom spindle.

Trying to get precision out of a PC router (if not already satisfied with what it does off the shelf) is kinda a lost cause. Motor balance probably induces more measured run out then a precision collet would ever be able to correct.

After all It's a router..

The WolfGang Eng spindle with a sewing machine motor is a killer combo (see my other thread about that.)

b.

wcarrothers1, these spindles seem small what kind of loads can they handle?

Never mind I just looked them up seems like 1/8" is the biggest I can get. I would rather have something that would work for all my bits. I need to hold 1/2" shank bits.

I'll look more on here but how would one begin to build their own spindle that would work with a pulley and belt system?

I would use tooth pulleys and belts. I then would get a steel tubing, thick wall, then turn down the outside between centers, then chuck it up and cut pockets in the end for the bearings on both ends. Seems like it wouldn't be too hard. All I would need is to know what kind of bearings to use, not size but type, and rated for at least 35,000 RPMs. The only problem I see is being able to find a straight wall shaft on the outside with an R8 taper on the inside. Then it would just be a matter of finding bearing with an ID slightly smaller than the straight wall R8 adapter. Press in the bearings so about 1" is exposed on the opposite side where a pulley can be mounted. Then add a draw bar...bingo bango you got a spindle. Add a motor and you're ready to go.

Is that about it or am I missing something? Thanks.

I've found what I need. It's actually easier than I orignally anticipated. This may be a viable solution for the mass amount of us out there who need a high speed precision spindle but can't afford $900 plus... This would use ER20 collets, which are not super expensive and has a TIR of .0004.

The only question I need to know is...I never knew what size a shaft should be when pressing a bearing on. Let's say I have a 2" I.D. Bearing, what size should the shaft be if I want to press it on. It will be a steel shaft.

Another quick question. Is there a thread on here talking about pulley ratios? So let's say I want to run a spindle at 30,000, what should I be looking for in a motor RPM and then what corresponding pulleys would I need.

I know a lot of questions but I'm exicted.

Don't know off hand what size the max collet is for ER20 though..


I think it's 5/8.


I've found what I need. It's actually easier than I orignally anticipated.
Are you going to share?

I think it's 5/8.


Are you going to share?

several years ago Precisecut (now Precisebits) was selling an accessory collet for a Porter Cable laminate trimmer that had a runout spec of less than .001. The laminate trimmer itself without the P/C collets has an excellent runout if the bearings are in good shape. They stopped selling this collet because the job shop they had hired did a crap job on the last batch because the job shop had a new owner with an 'attitude'. They didn't want to do 100% inspection so they pulled the product. If anybody knows a machine shop that would do a high quality job we could probably get the Precisebits head guy to license the design.

BTW, Precisebits just announced a precision 1/4" to 1/8" sleeve. The target is to allow their microtools to be used in a Carvewright.

-James

Kelinginc sells three different spindles, on takes ER11 collets for $590.

http://www.kelinginc.net/CNCSpindleandController.html

For what it’s worth Dept:

I ordered a Wolfgang spindle, it was the one with the double bearing. I used it for less than 10 hours cutting corian and acrylic taking very light cuts doing lithopanes before the bearing(s) went out. Sent Wolfgang email via ebay asking if it could be rebuild and never received answer.

Thanks for the info on the collets from Precision Bits, just sent in my order.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60553

I'll be reviewing the new Think and Tinker (Precise Bits) Precision Porter Cable Collets this week.