motor/spindle suggestions for _metal_ copy router

[a77]

Hi guys, I'm making a 2d copy router for metals. I will be making some patterns in plastics for my guides and then using this router to cut them out of thin blanks in aluminum, titanium, carbon steel, and some free machining stainless steels too. It's only intended to cut materials 1/8" to 1/4" thick.

I have my 'apparatus' generally laid out but I need a motor and spindle arrangement. I was hoping I could have my motor located 8 inches away and then run a spindle with a belt. The motor would be variable speed that could go to 4000rpm +. I'm looking at using 1/8" cutters. The spindle would have a 1/8" chuck.

Any recommendations on any models or manufacturers for the motor or spindle? Where should I look first?

Thanks!

[Zygoat]

you may want to check here.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/general_metal_working_machines/

that is the metal working section, you are currently in the wood working section. not saying people in this area dont do metal, but those guys focus on it. i would post there.

[a77]

Thanks, I'll repost there.

EDIT: well I tried, I guess it got deleted for cross-posting :/

[jsheerin]

Try a minimill spindle from littlemachineshop.com. Get an R8 collet for your bit. You can buy the complete head or buy just the headstock with spindle. Then you'd have to add a pulley, draw bar and the motor. Search for previous posts by me on this if you're interested.

[a77]

Thanks jsheerin, that minimill spindle might just be what I need.

[a77]

This looks like something: http://littlemachineshop.com/product...1944&category=

If I understand this correctly, all I would need is a drawbar to pull in my 1/8" r8 collet, then a motor (mounted elsewhere) that would run the top gear? ( i would replace the top gear with a pulley).

Or am I over-simplifying this?

Thanks

[jsheerin]

Correct - the draw bar can be a bolt and washer. Personally I plan on putting a pulley directly on the spindle and removing all the gears, but this typically takes a little bit of machining on the pulley to do.

[a77]

Cool,
Are you planning on using the minimill motor also offered by littlemachineshop? After inspecting the gearbox, I may just do what you are, and put the pulley right on the spindle.
Thanks.

[jsheerin]

No, I have a DC motor and controller I could use for it, but I'm trying to figure out if I can drive it with a servo motor so I can do rigid tapping.