New spindle idea...

[WilliamD]

I was thinking of taking the spindle out of my HF drill press, and using it for the CNC router. I would use a more powerful motor, and use the two pulley's to change speeds. The runout on the spindle is very good, so not much of an issue there. I don't know if the bearings are good enough though. I really want the 1/2" chuck for my tooling. Is it not advisable to use a chuck? I don't really see anyone with them. What do you guys think of the idea?

[Chris D]

Originally Posted by WilliamD I was thinking of taking the spindle out of my HF drill press, and using it for the CNC router. I would use a more powerful motor, and use the two pulley's to change speeds. The runout on the spindle is very good, so not much of an issue there. I don't know if the bearings are good enough though. I really want the 1/2" chuck for my tooling. Is it not advisable to use a chuck? I don't really see anyone with them. What do you guys think of the idea?

Bad idea for several reasons...

Drill press spindles are designed for axial loads, not radial - not rigid for side cutting as in routing.

Bearings won't handle the speeds you use in routing - 10,000 ~ 20,000 RPM. You can run slower, but your cut quality will suffer

Jacobs style chucks are not good at holding tools for side loading - only axial loading. I would even wager a guess that in routing wood at high speed, the vibration would cause the chuck to open and drop the tool.

Stick with a router of some sort - even a small trim size router will get you going. Avoid the dremel type tools if at all possible, a trim router will have a much better spindle and bearings in it.

Why is it that you want the jacobs chuck for tool holding?

Chris

[ger21]

Plus, the chuck is held on with a morse taper, which will fall off shortly after encountering a side load on it.

[ger21]

I ws going to say look at the new Bosch Colt. 1HP, variable speed. But no 1/2" collet.

[Ken_Shea]

If vibration does not loosen the chuck it will loosen the taper shank the chuck is hooked to, but at least the cutter wont fall out, just the entire chuck Assembly

As advised, look elsewhere.

Ken

[sdantonio]

You guys beat me to it for some of these points. I had this same discussion with a couple of engineers I know recently.

Gerry - I have actually had a morse taper attached chuck fall off while I was working. Not a pretty sight.

[ger21]

When you use a circle cutter (for wood) on a drill press, there's a reason they say 250rpm max.