Dover Air Bearing Spindle

[Scra99tch]

Anyone have any data sheets for these or know where to get one? I just picked one up for my mini-mill desktop cnc machine that I am building. I picked it up blindly of course not knowing what to expect. My biggest worries are side load and torque other than that I am impressed by the spindle speeds up to 18k.

If all else fails I can resell it or use the shell and put some conventional bearing in it with a bigger motor.

How do these things work by the way I mean I understand them a little bit but would like to know a little bit more about specifics.

Thanks James Knight

By the way there are no part numbers on this am trying to reach the encoders on the in side but don't want to wreck it.

[NEATman]

Scra99tch-
Post a picture of the spindle and I can help - they are made here in my building. I've attached the 1997 catalog info for reference.

I have four of this "older" type, as shown in the catalog and I've been thinking of using them on a mini-mill also. I would discourage you from removing the motor, as these are dynamically balanced to incredible levels.

Also, make sure you have a 5 micron or smaller filter and a water/oil separator inline with the air supply, as particles and liquid will plug the .003-.005" orifices and cause the spindle to crash.

I can't attach all of the PDF files from the catalog, as they are too large. Send me a private message with your e-mail, and I can send them to you that way.

Regards,
NEATman

[Scra99tch]

Here is a picture of a similar one bought it from the same guy on ebay.

Awesome that you actually make them I was dreading the fact that I would have to get into the thing to try and figure out the wiring.

[DiamondGirl]

Originally Posted by Scra99tch Here is a picture of a similar one bought it from the same guy on ebay. Awesome that you actually make them I was dreading the fact that I would have to get into the thing to try and figure out the wiring.

I was recently given a Dover spindle that looks just like this one. Problem is, I got no information with it and I have no previous experience working with servos. It's a Dover s/n 15205 and I was told its motor is a brushless servo (I presume DC Brushless). It looks like it has a BEI encoder on the back, date code 9939 but I can't see its entire serial number. The last digits of the BEI encoder serial number look like ????21-568-1.
The motor plug has 7 pins total.
The encoder plug has 6.
It came with a little printed circuit board that reads ECTS Spindle Biasing, Seagate, and I haven't got a clue what that might be for.
Frankly, I'm lost in space on where to start with this thing. Did any of you have any luck finding the pinouts for this spindle? Or does anyone have any suggestions on how to figure out what connects to what?
my humble thanks to all

[daedalus]

Sorry for dredging up a really old post, but have any of you made any use out of these spindles? They show up on ebay pretty regularly, but would be interested to know if anyone managed to get a chuck mounted and run them?