Newbie- Porter Cable Runout

[GeorgeRace]

My first post to the CNCZone!
I recently purchased a K2CNC router. Boy am I ever impressed with the quality of the machine. It is the best I have ever seen for the price, and I think it was very reasonably priced.
The problem I am having is that I purchased a Porter Cable 980 router to use with it. I fitted a 1/2 precision collet chuck to the router and the runout is absolutely unbelievable. It is so bad it vibrates the whole table. With this much tool wobble I will never be able to use a 1/32 tool to drill printed circuit board holes. At 2 1/2 inches down from the router collet the runout is almost 100 thousands of an inch!

I have yet to talk with Porter Cable as it is a weekend and I just discovered the problem last evening.

Has anyone ever had this kind of a problem with Porter Cable, and do you think there is a solution? I would hate to think all their routers have this much of a runout error. Guess it would be OK for routing wood moldings, but useless for drilling fine precision holes in circuit boards.

All advice and comments welcome,
George

[diecutter]

Something is definitely wrong. The amount of runout on any quality router such as the Porter Cable should be small enough that it would be difficult to measure;probably under .001". I would check that your collet chuck is compatible with the router. If there is a taper, does it match the router's spindle taper.

If you mount a cutter in the router using the collet supplied with the router and the runout disappears, then the problem is in the compatability of the precision collet you are using to the router.

I use a Hitachi router with the collets supplied, and when I cut for example a 2" dia. pocket .400 deep, it ends up measuring 2" dia. , .400 deep plus or minus .001". Suprised the heck out of me when I measured the first couple.

[lovebugjunkie]

I'm running the 890 with the collets I received from PreciseBits.com.
I have no problem running a 1/32 ball nose 1/8 shank with this setup.

http://www.precisebits.com/

Is this the collet you are using?

[GeorgeRace]

Thanks for the comments, i do think I have a defective Router.

I put a 1/2 inch by 3 inch carbide end mill in and checked the runout, using the Porter Cable collet nut that came with the router. I did not measure it but I can see the wobble as it comes to rest. There is a lot!

Went to a couple of "big box" lumber yards today and noticed a difference in my router and the ones they have on the shelf. Theirs all say made in Tennessee. My brand new one says made in Mexico. Wonder if that is where the difference is coming from.

Also saw a RIDGID R29301 at one of the stores. I think it is probably the same case as the Porter Cable but does have access to the brushes without having to disassemble it. My guess is that it was probably made by Dewalt or one of its holdings.

Before I buy another one I will take my collet chuck, with collet and end mill, and put it in and check to see if I can see any runout. If it looks straight I will buy it.

George

[Pplug]

Why not skip the router and get one of the cheap Chinese spindles on e-bay? They are much quieter and more accurate.

[teamtexas]

I've run a Porter Cable router on my cnc for about a year and I'm very pleased with it. No detectable run out. If your going to use a router, stick with PC! I got mine from amazon.com and it saved me about $30.

Dan

[wongster]

hi Pplug,

Any recommendation?

Regards,
Wongster

Originally Posted by Pplug Why not skip the router and get one of the cheap Chinese spindles on e-bay? They are much quieter and more accurate.

[stevespo]

I've run two different PC 890's on my CNC, and both had less than .001" of runout, 1" from the collet. A .125" wide slot is actually .125".

I just installed a 2.2kW Chinese spindle, and I'm measuring .003" runout, 1" from the collet. A .125" slot is measuring over .130".

In theory, a spindle is more accurate, but it depends on the particular spindle. This is too much runout for my application, so I need to see if I can swap it for another. Your mileage may vary.

Steve

[Hirudin]

Originally Posted by wongster hi Pplug, Any recommendation? Regards, Wongster

I think Pplug is talking about spindles like this from this seller (linearmotionbearings2008).

Originally Posted by stevespo ... I need to see if I can swap it for another. ...

Did you buy it from the seller I posted above? If I remember correctly: one of his feedbacks has a similar complaint, the seller responded with something along the lines of "we'll replace it, we'll pay the shipping for both ways". Good luck! Let us know what happens would ya?

[stevespo]

Yes, it is from linearmotionbearings2008. I'm waiting for a new collet to see if that makes any difference, but I believe the problem is in the spindle. For many applications, it wouldn't be a big deal. For spinning a .023" endmill to cut pearl, it is a problem, so I'll pursue a replacement if the new collet doesn't improve things.

Steve

[BobF]

Sorry, I am not that big a fan of PC routers. I have 2 Milwaukees and a Makita, and I like all of them better than the PCs I have used.

[jemmyell]

Originally Posted by stevespo Yes, it is from linearmotionbearings2008. I'm waiting for a new collet to see if that makes any difference, but I believe the problem is in the spindle. For many applications, it wouldn't be a big deal. For spinning a .023" endmill to cut pearl, it is a problem, so I'll pursue a replacement if the new collet doesn't improve things. Steve

Did you order a collet from PreciseBits.com? Also see the microtools they have for mother of pearl cutting and the feed / speed tables. Much good advice there.

-James