How Loud is a router?

[CNC Brute]

I'm looking at the 187 oz motors now thanks to Admin for help. But I live in an apartment with a spare bedroom. Without the router running how loud is the machine with just the steppers running? Do you have to raise your voice while it's running etc?

[Bloy2004]

Just running the steppers would be a little whirrring....quite pleasant, I would think. The router, depending on the model and size could be a high whine, easy to converse around, or like mine, a disturbing rumbling during deceleration when the power is cut....the rear bearing/bushing is going out. Injecting a heavier lubricant is just delaying the inevitable.

[balsaman]

Steppers make a unique noise, unlike any other motor. They vary in sound. The slower, the louder. Music to my ears tho. Microstepping drives are much smoother and quieter.

My Porter Cable router is deafening wide open (30,000 rpm). Cutting noise can be loud too.

Eric

[DaSigntist]

Hi,
I’m in the process of building an enclosure around my (soon to finished) router.
I'll use fiberglass insulation over plywood for sound insulation.

A 2 HP router @ 25,000 rpm router is crazy LOUD! (ear protection a must)
When it is “digging in” there is no way you could have a conversation without YELLING!
I think I’ll buy a trim router for small stuff just so I don’t have to listen the big boy (2 hp).

[ger21]

A trim router with a 1/4" bit cutting plywood or hardwood can make plenty of noise.

Gerry

[balsaman]

Come up with a quiet high speed spindle an folks will knock your door down wanting to buy them. I worry about the noise for my poor nieghbours and I live in a house!

Eric

[HomeCNC]

My varaible speed 3-1/4 Porter Cable is not too bad at the 10,000 rpm speed. I can stand next to the router and talk to people. I think my shop vac is louder than when my router is at the slowest setting.

[kong]

So back to enclosure design again. I'm with you Balsaman, I live in a small neighbourhood, where my shed (and router) back onto many other gardens. I have been thinking about an enclosure for the router spindle itself that would fit on the z-axis. Perhaps surounding the spindle with a sound dampening foam, in an MDF (or other dense material) shroud, adding intake fans at the top, and perhaps some flaps and brushes at the bottom to reduce the noise there too. I guess you could add baffles between the intake fan and the spindles top to reduce noise also.
Any thoughts/experience of this type of small enclosure would be useful, I may draw up some plans tomorrow just to get some opinions, but it's too late over here now, I'm off to bed!

[kong]

This is what I have in mind. Just the z-axis is enclosed, the enclosure could be filled with flame-retardant sound-dampening foam (yes it does exist!), or some other wadding. Please excuse the rendering, but you can just make two baffles between the intake fan and the router spindle. These *should* allow air in, but reduce the sound out, due to the sound not having a direct "line of sight" exit path. Of course there will still be cutting noise, but that can be damped with the use of a rubber skirt, or maybe a brush type skirt that will easily flow over the workpiece. The biggest drawbacks will be the lack of air reaching the router, but how much does it really need, I have no idea to be honest! Comments appreciated.

[balsaman]

most routers suck in air at the top and blast it out the bottom (blowing the dust everywhere, but that's another issue). You may not need the fan on top there at all. I am afraid the noise comes out the bottom, and your box may not muffle that much....It may be better to insulate the shed...

Eric

[kong]

Doh!

[marvinstov]

Has anyone taken the fan out of a router and put on a quieter fan?

Marv