Router or spindle (chinese)

[allengambrell]

I am in the process of getting the part for a crp4848 type machine and am trying to decide on how to go for the cutter. I want to be able to control the speed from mach3. I have a boach 1617, but I would still want to use that in handheld work, and it would be hard to take it in and out.

I see 2 options.

First would be a router with a super pid for the speed control, but I guess i would have to modify the router to disable its own speed control (compensation). So the cost would be a router (~$180), Super PID ($155), mount (~$100) for a estimate of $435.

The second option would be a 2.2 kw chinese spindle. I would need spindle (359), vfd (199), mount(99), cooling (50) for a total of 707 from kelling. Or less than $300 + mount and cooling on ebay (which is what I would do).

I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this and if I am missing something big? I was also thinking about getting a smoothstepper for the control of the speed. The machine will be using 878oz motors from longsmotor and I will be cutting mdf, birchply and some alum (maybe).

Any thoughts?

[ger21]

Or less than $300 + mount and cooling on ebay (which is what I would do).

The $300 on Ebay does not include a VFD. Most people recommend getting a Hitachi VFD, rather than the Chinese, which is about $200. The spindle is at least $175-$200 more.

[allengambrell]

The spindle I saw on ebay was this one WATER COOLED SPINDLE MOTOR 2.2KW & INVERTER for $264 with both?

Where can you get the hitachi vfd?

[ger21]

The shipping is $135. Again, most people don't redcommend the Chinese VFD, as they go bad quite often.

[allengambrell]

Ok lets just say I was to go with a chinese spindle and a Hitachi vfd. Thats looking about $100-$200 more the the router setup.
Question is how much better would the spindle setup be? I just don't want to go the router way and then replace it with a spindle later.

[LazyMan]

I don't have any experience with a super PID and router setup, but I found the 2.2KW spindle to be a significant improvement over a router alone. If the 1.5KW came with and ER20 collet I would have gotten that, because at around $220, its disposable after making the investment in a quality VFD.

[HorridHenry]

Those water spindles,they also do an air cooled one which will then mean you don't have to
buy the coolant pump and line.

[ger21]

The air cooled ones with shaft mounted fans can be extremely loud at high rpm's.

[Drools]

Here is a thought, I read in one of Gerry's posts that he has been using the Porter Cable 690 at his place of work for quite a long time (number of years) they have been very reliable. There is a video on you-tube which shows how to change the bearings which do not cost all that much. I like the idea of the PC690 having a RPM curve of 5K to Max 23K or so (With S-PID), I’m not sure if the Chi spindles will do the low end range. I was even thinking of purchasing a spare PC690 and spare set of bearings so when the eventual failure occurs, I can swap out the routers and carry on with the job while replacing the bearings in the original router. Down time would be at a minimum and the cost would be about the same as the Chi spindle + VFD setup + shipping.
The drawback of the PC690 can be the loudness, they scream at max RPM while I have heard the Chi water cooled spindles are very quiet.
Just a thought…

[vtx1029]

A router mount from K2 cnc is only about $55.

I chose the Router & super PID route only for the $ issue. No regrets Its working great! If it was the same price i would go for the spindle & hitachi vfd.

[allengambrell]

If I go with the super pid and the router wouldn't I have to do something to it to disable the the speed control in it? If so this would void the warranty right?

[jjacstcy]

If you go with the hitachi the heck with the warranty. You can get all of the bearings from NAPA. The routers are easy to rebuild. Removing the speed control would void the warranty.