Need Help!- Chinese Spindle Alternative!

[diyengineer]

My current CNC MILL build.

Above is my current 80/20 build. I have searched all over and found that the Chinese spindle is a good bang for the buck in most cases, but for $1000 dollars I think i can do better with a little engineering and elbow grease.
Fellow Cnczone "Jalessi" (Jeff) Suggested that i could modify a sieg x2 spindle head (Found here)and adapt a power draw bar with tormach style tool holder. I would rip out the internal gears, replace with pulley and add on a large DC motor 2hp+. Then i wouldn't have to worry about cheap components failing as long as i went with a decent brand dc motor and my engineering was sound. This would also give me access to a much larger collet along with automatic tool change capabilities.
Any one want to shoot me there 2 cents i would much appreciate it being that the concept is very doable and would result in a better machine! I'm just trying to figure out how i could link the motor to mach to control speed, or possibly control it manually with swappable pulleys like a drill press? I'm not after milling wood, just aluminum (.063 sheet+). This might be a bit overkill but id rather have overkill for the same ballpark price as a Chinese spindle.

HossMachinePowerdrawbar 1

YouTube- Automatic Tool Changer

YouTube- Automatic Tool Changer

[jalessi]

Diyengineer,

Hoss2006 is the pioneer of the spindle concept, I only made the suggestion.

Jeff...

[diyengineer]

Is there any place online that sells 2hp+ dc motors new? I wouldn't mind picking up a used one but i would feel better with a reliable brand new motor on it, that is if it doesn't cost a monstrous amount... Maybe Hoss can pipe in and lend any suggestions on how to adapt that head to a fixed gantry style mill, like the one found HERE

[jalessi]

Diyengineer,

Starleper1 machined a nice mount for a X2 head assembly with belt drive.

See attached image:

Jeff...

[diyengineer]

Originally Posted by jalessi Diyengineer, Starleper1 machined a nice mount for a X2 head assembly with belt drive. See attached image: Jeff...

Ok that clears up a lot of confusion, i can easily just bolt it to a plate right onto my Z axis. The only issue i foresee mounting the motor vertically above the unit is interference with the pneumatically assisted pullbar. will that be a problem or can i just build around it.

[jalessi]

Diyengineer,

See attached image with the side view of Hoss2006 spindle with drawbar and D.C. motor.

A new 2.5 hp D.C. motor is going to cost big bucks unless you find one surplus.

Surplus Center sold several thousand of them for $30.00 brand new however they have been sold out for almost a year.

Maybe one of the guys that is hording some will give you some mercy.

Jeff...

[diyengineer]

I have a very expensive norditrac treadmill that i'm sure has a monster dc motor in.. I never use it and was actually going to GIVE it away!!!! Tonight i will open it up and explore whats inside, its practically like new used a few times since i purchased it from the store.

[diyengineer]

2.9HP,1.75 continuous duty.
Basically like new.

Also come to find out i have a SWEET electric 2" stroke ball/acme screw actuator, used to raise and lower the incline/decline. Maybe i could mod into the equation and not have to use air to actuate the atc? Regardless i think i'm on to something lol. When my funds increase i would like to later on buy a new motor rated for continuous duty (and more HP) but for now i had a little diamond in the rough without even knowing it! Best part is, it already has the power supply and all the goodies for it, along with a controller that i can turn the speed of by .1 I.e 1.5,1.6, all the way to 10, which is REALLY fast. I would rather wire the beast to Mach and control it digitally, but well cross that road later.

[diyengineer]

Does anyone have a clear picture of the top of the unit? Now if i bolt the unit to a flat plate (z axis gantry), i wont need any access to the inside of the unit for any reason correct? I'm pretty excited!

If i could also get dimensions so i could model it tonight, it would be MUCH appreciated! Thank you!!!

[jalessi]

Diyengineer,

Don't forget the spindle box extension, on a stock X2 it mounts the spindle box to the dovetail.

It is necessary to use a extension otherwise there would be insufficient space for the motor.

The CNC4PC C6 will interface Mach3 to your motor controller.

http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/prod...products_id=58

Jeff...

[analogman]

What max RPM were you hoping to run that at? The chinese spindles go up to 24k RPM. Also, the chinese spindles are more like $500, not 1000

[jsheerin]

Actually, the Chinese spindles are more like $350 without the VFD. I bought a 5HP one for $550 without VFD.

And yes, agreeing with analogman, the milling head is for low speed operation. The spindles are for high speed operation - two different problems. In fact I plan on mounting both on my future router for exactly that reason (plus using the milling head to drill with at lower speeds).

Diyengineer, that picture is the top of the milling head along with the back and side, so I'm not sure what you mean. I have one of these heads. Search for my name - I posted some pics of it a while ago in this forum.