Chinese Spindles

[kthomson]

For anyone out there considering either building a router or modifying a router with one of the Chinese spindles, I bought a motor with VFD for $523.00 including shipping from China. They advertised 3 to 5 day delivery, but mine actually took 10 days (but still not bad). Here is my recent experience:

1) The motor works great
2) It is much quieter than a router (I was using a 3 1/4 HP Porter Cable)
3) It is still not 'quiet'. The pitch is higher than a router, and my wife finds it more annoying than a router, but I CAN listen to the radio while it is running, which I could NEVER do before.
4) I have the water cooled version, for which I used a fountain motor from HD. I first bought the cheapest one ($18.00), but it couldn't handle the head pressure from 50' of 1/4" poly-tite. I ended up changing to another fountain pump ($39.00) which seems to be working fine. I circulates with no problem and the motor stays cool (room temperature). I mounted a container up on the wall with the pump in it and it is working fine..
5) You can download a pretty complete VFD manual to help set it up, and mine came with instructions for the NECESSARY settings for startup. There are others that need to be changed, and I found the settings online from other users.

If you have any questions or problems getting it set up and working I will be glad to tell you what worked for me.

Ken

All in all, it was a VERY worthwhile upgrade, and I would recommend it to anyone using a router for a spindle.

[Billyisgr8]

which company and is there a link so we can see these?

Thanks

[stk2008]

im looking at getting one of these im after finding out what is the slowest rpm of your spindle?.

cheers

[ger21]

I think realistically they are good to around 6000-7000 rpm.

[hemsworthlad]

Originally Posted by stk2008 im looking at getting one of these im after finding out what is the slowest rpm of your spindle?. cheers

My advice from experience would be to only buy the spindle from china and buy the vfd more local.

My spindle 2.2kw WC is fanstastic and worth every penny, but the vfd's (the clue is in **d's bit) that I experienced left alot to be desired.
Vfd's can be very complicated to setup and understand so a good manuel is a must in my opinion.

The spindle will run as slow as you want but the main meat is between 6000 - 24000rpm.

[eloid]

Originally Posted by hemsworthlad My advice from experience would be to only buy the spindle from china and buy the vfd more local. My spindle 2.2kw WC is fanstastic and worth every penny, but the vfd's (the clue is in **d's bit) that I experienced left alot to be desired. Vfd's can be very complicated to setup and understand so a good manuel is a must in my opinion. The spindle will run as slow as you want but the main meat is between 6000 - 24000rpm.

who is the manufacteure of your spindle who did you get it from?
what are the spects on the spindle, what bearing are in it? do you have a picture?
what is the weight of the spindle , what was the shipping cost?

[Larken]

im looking at getting one of these im after finding out what is the slowest rpm of your spindle?.

You don't want to run a spindle like that much lower than 6000 rpm, since its designed for light chip load at High rpm.

[hemsworthlad]

Originally Posted by eloid who is the manufacteure of your spindle who did you get it from?

Dont know the manufacturer but the supplier was Chai at linearmotionbearings look on ebay.

Originally Posted by eloid what are the spects on the spindle, what bearing are in it? do you have a picture?

2.2kw watercooled 220v 3ph 400hz 7.5A dont know what kind of bearings are inside, I havent had it apart yet.
If you want a picture i can sort one for you but to be honest just have a look on his site and you can see it for your self or just look on some of the other posts on here theres plenty about.

Originally Posted by eloid what is the weight of the spindle , what was the shipping cost?

To be honest I havent weighed but again i can if you want me too, but i can tell you they are heavy. . . . I would say just about the same as a large-ish router.
The shipping costs will be dependent on where you live in the world, i'm in uk so will be totally differant to us.
The total cost inc shipping for both the vfd and spindle was $485.usd or just a tad over £300.GBP. . . . Which in the Uk is very very cheap the spindle alone would be over £500 and probably more like £600-700 then another £150- 200 for a vfd.

So you see it doesnt really matter what bearings are inside for this money because as soon has i feel it's in need i will replace them with a good quality set and will still not be any were near the price it would have cost me to buy over here in uk.

[eloid]

Originally Posted by hemsworthlad Dont know the manufacturer but the supplier was Chai at linearmotionbearings look on ebay. 2.2kw watercooled 220v 3ph 400hz 7.5A dont know what kind of bearings are inside, I havent had it apart yet. If you want a picture i can sort one for you but to be honest just have a look on his site and you can see it for your self or just look on some of the other posts on here theres plenty about. To be honest I havent weighed but again i can if you want me too, but i can tell you they are heavy. . . . I would say just about the same as a large-ish router. The shipping costs will be dependent on where you live in the world, i'm in uk so will be totally differant to us. The total cost inc shipping for both the vfd and spindle was $485.usd or just a tad over £300.GBP. . . . Which in the Uk is very very cheap the spindle alone would be over £500 and probably more like £600-700 then another £150- 200 for a vfd. So you see it doesnt really matter what bearings are inside for this money because as soon has i feel it's in need i will replace them with a good quality set and will still not be any were near the price it would have cost me to buy over here in uk.

i understand that shiping varies from place to place im probly closer than you are... from china... just want a ball park idea.. sometime shipping is more than the spindle... send a link or pic of the unit you got do you know who made this spindle there so many cloes out there? any info fro chi or manual
i know the lower end model spindle are lighter weight?

[ger21]

Shipping is $75.
http://cgi.ebay.com/a-water-cooled-s...item3a54e351c5

[hemsworthlad]

Originally Posted by eloid i understand that shiping varies from place to place im probly closer than you are... from china... just want a ball park idea.. sometime shipping is more than the spindle... send a link or pic of the unit you got do you know who made this spindle there so many cloes out there? any info fro chi or manual i know the lower end model spindle are lighter weight?

Like Ger says about $75 shipping.

I dont have a clue or care for that matter who makes these spindles, they are not complicated pieces of kit, just bearings and windings no rocket science involved.
The only thing that concerns me is that the quality is ok and in my particular case it is good and i'm pleased.

If you want know who makes it ask Chai i'm sure he'll tell you (not).

[eloid]

Originally Posted by hemsworthlad Like Ger says about $75 shipping. I dont have a clue or care for that matter who makes these spindles, they are not complicated pieces of kit, just bearings and windings no rocket science involved. The only thing that concerns me is that the quality is ok and in my particular case it is good and i'm pleased. If you want know who makes it ask Chai i'm sure he'll tell you (not).

There hundred of chinnses spindle manufacture... quality is not all ways visual
eg the rotor is the most import and hardest item to find a replacement if damaged...most cheep motors ie general use thinly coated insualting enmal wire coating on the rotor with time heat vibration dirt you will develop a short and prehaps melt thany internal plastic parts... if you dont know what product you have your s.o.l for replacement and if chi is long gone then you sol again... Im my case i looking for 3-5 kw with ATC
which around 3-5 k$ not a cheap investment.... for me its not a throw away part. the rockeket science come into play when you try to source a part to a spindle you dont know who it made it. And chi is around wanting to help you
cause he looking for fast buck to sell you a nother 3-5k spindle