Problem- Need more RPM!

[Nastyzen]

Hello ladies and gents!
I have a Mighty comet vmc mill with a vary-drive setup on it.I can get about 3600 RPM out of it but 10,000 to 15,000 would allow much faster ipm.50,000 rpm would be awesome but the machine loses accuracy past 30 ipm anyway so 10 to 15 is just fine for engraving and the like.
I have adapted a 28,000 rpm router for wood molds and other wood projects but don't like the finish on Aluminum.
The machine has a ISO tool holder setup similar to cat40 style witch I would like to be able to use with the higher rpm as I have spent oodles on tooling for these.
So basically I am looking to upgrade the machine(chop it up if I have to) or add some sort of auxiliary spindle to it.
Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Nastyzen

[skullworks]

Precise can sell you a replacement quill where the spindle motor is in the quill body it is water cooled and they have models up to 100,000rpm

They also have 25K and 40K units.

It will cost $$$ and you would likely be limited to tools 10mm dia. or less.

[Nastyzen]

Thank's Scullworks,I'll look them up.
Now I have an option to look at,I hadn't a clue as to where to even start looking.
Nastyzen

[ImanCarrot]

What on earth is that on the handle of the controller? looks like a forearm and hand lol!

[universalfab]

If you don't have the money to buy another machine with a higher RPM spindle you probably won't be able to afford the new spindle and just like skullworks said the high speed replacement spindles limit you to a smaller tool. You could get a spindle speed multiplier tool holder. If I'm correct they max out around 9,000 RPM, it also may depend on which one you go with. It's going to cost you around $600.00 -$1000.00.

[HimyKabibble]

http://cgi.ebay.com/water-cooled-spi...item3a5aa000b0

[universalfab]

That spindle is garbage.

[universalfab]

If you want to do it, do it right and go with the Precise high speed spindles. Look through these threads and you'll hear of nothing but headaches and very short spindle life if you go with a chinese spindle.

[Nastyzen]

That thing hanging off of the controller is Bob, my good luck hand.It used to belong to a little girl who lost her hand in a car accident.She outgrew it and was fitted with a new one.It's low tech, opens and closes via a cable hooked up to a harness that would pull on the cable when you shrug your shoulders to open the hand.That was 20 years or so ago,she must have a bionic one by now.
Getting back to the subject at hand(no pun intended)I don't like the idea of being restricted to 10mm dia.
Anything Chinese in my shop is totally unacceptable! I don't trust there food let alone anything they produce.That said the removable adjustable speed spindle idea I like.Maybe someone on this continent makes a more viable similar product.Even European?But North American would be best!
I have to look into the rpm spindle multiplier.That also sounds like an option assuming it's not from China of course.
If we all started buying local quality stuff instead of crap that's been copied from us in an other country and built by children in poor conditions,we as a whole would be much better off in my opinion.
I prefer paying more and making our people work.Specially if the quality is there!

[skullworks]

Originally Posted by universalfab If you don't have the money to buy another machine with a higher RPM spindle you probably won't be able to afford the new spindle and just like skullworks said the high speed replacement spindles limit you to a smaller tool. You could get a spindle speed multiplier tool holder. If I'm correct they max out around 9,000 RPM, it also may depend on which one you go with. It's going to cost you around $600.00 -$1000.00.

I have a 6:1 spindle speeder head rated at 30,000. My mill tops out @ 4000rpm so the speeder runs the tool around 24,000. The speeder will accept tools up to 1/4" but I only use 1/8" or less since the tool is now about 7" from the spindle bearing.

This might be the better option if you only have 1 tool which requires the super high speed. The best part is no permanent modifications are made to the machine.

The Precise spindles are much more rigid and run quieter but are a major investment and make the machine a dedicated high speed platform.

My custom speeder was made by the Lovejoy Corp. in the UK in the early 90's for a bit under $7000. It was a custom because I needed a Universal 200 kwik Switch shank to fit a Hurco KM3.

The speeder was sent back to be repacked with grease and have the bearings checked because it had started running a bit warmer after about 4000hrs actual use. It came back with a note not to store the unit on its side and that the bearings were fine, the internal grease had just migrated away from the bearings. The note also said an hour warm up at 1000 rpm was recommended if unit had not been used within the last 90 days..

Lastly - they noted that while they still did limited support for existing units, new speeders were no longer made.

Another - maybe cheaper (upfront) option would be an Air spindle such as the units made by NSK. I think a low end unit might be had starting around $2000. Just remember these tiny units use more air than the rest of the shop and will require something like a 10hp air compressor to keep up. That plus filters and air dryers make the actual cost of operation higher per hour.

[ImanCarrot]

That thing hanging off of the controller is Bob, my good luck hand

lol fair play, I wonder how many other engineers have good luck thingies. Mine's is a small cube of wood that I touch before I press the big green button for good luck. "Touch Wood" for good luck comes from medeival days when folk used to beleive that good spirits lived in trees or something.

[Nastyzen]

Hello all,I have come across what appears to be a spindle mounted air powered polishing motor thing(for lack of better terminology).
It is German made by W-G prazision.It is ggod for 70,000RPM.Other than there logo and the number 70351 engraved on it that is all the info I have about it.
It came in a wooden box with assorted collets and tiny polishing wheels with 1/8 diameter stems.It is Boeing surplus I am told.
Does anyone know if it can be used as an auxiliary spindle for engraving using carbide endmills?Continually for hours on end?
What line pressure should be used and do I need to also use a line air dryer to not damage the unit.
Whats it worth?

Thank's
Nasty