High Speed Spindle - Engraving

[Magnum164]

Anyone have/using the highspeed spindle option for engraving with the 1100? I am considering that option for engraving intricate details to make molds. I am insterested in how it can be setup in SprutCAM as well. From what I can tell the engraving option is mostly for text, so does the high speed spindle simply use the std machining options?

[justgary]

Magnum164 -

The only real difference with the HSS is the HSS. In other words, you program everything the same in SprutCAM but just use the HSS instead of the main spindle. When I use it, I set the main spindle speed to 250 and just let it run.

Several of us have "graduated" from the Proxxon HSS to a wood router. My HSS can hold 1/2", 1/4", and 1/8" tooling, plus any Dremel collets, and runs from <15K to >25K RPM. You might consider making a bracket and buying a router, and use the Proxxon (if you have it already) for bench work.

Feed rates tend to get very slow with small tooling, so jobs run long. You'll find that the job will finish at 2 AM but the spindle runs until 8 AM when you check on it. Randy (zephyr9900) modified his machine to select the spindle so that the machine will stop the HSS at the end of the job. I have the parts to modify mine, but have not yet done it. I hate to put hours on the spindle after the job completes.

You'll have to get creative when zeroing since wigglers, etc. don't really work that well at high speed. Zeroing is the worst if you plan to use both the main spindle and the HSS on the same job. I have developed my own method, and it is not too hard to do, but can get tedious after many repeats.

One thing I have found that helps is to "tram" the HSS to the main spindle in Y when I install it. In other words, I adjust the HSS mount until a fine line engraved with the main spindle and one engraved with the HSS are the same (zero Y offset). Finding the X offset is not too difficult, and should be constant for most work. Then you can use a wiggler or probe in the main spindle and set the offset properly for the HSS. Note that you still have to touch off Z with every tool change, but Randy has made great progress with Z rings on 1/8" tooling, similar to TTS.

Look through old posts in this forum to find a rich library of examples of HSS setups and work accomplished. You'll find that while some parts of the setup require more attention, the rest of it is pretty much the same as using the main spindle.

Engraving in SprutCAM is basically just following lines. It doesn't care if the lines are text or something else. In fact, the text part of SprutCAM simply creates lines for the CAM part to follow, and you still have to create the tool path. In other words, you can create lines and text in your CAD program or in SprutCAM, but you still treat them exactly the same way when creating the tool path. Play with it and ask questions.

Regards,

- Just Gary

[Magnum164]

Thanks Gary,

I think I was searching for the wrong phrase, will try searching for HHS. A lot of the information you gave is helpful, not sure I understand it all as I am new to the CAM side, been on design side for years.

When you say you have moved to a wood router, are you talking about a dedicated CNC router, or modifying the Tormach for its hold the router?

Thanks for the info on StrutCAM as well. Just got my lic version of Rhino3D so I can actually save my work and start sending info to SprutCAM.

For me - I have no hardware yet, so I am indeed looking for lessons learned. Only hardware or software I have is my CAD systems/Software.

[Magnum164]

Ahh.. Found my answer to mounting a router at least