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What Spindle Are You Using?

Discussion in 'CNC Mills/Routers' started by Aeneas, Oct 29, 2016.

  1. Aeneas

    Aeneas New
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    What spindle/router are you guys using for your CNC routers? How do they work with various materials? What kind of results are you getting?
     
  2. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    I am using a Makita RT0701c and am very happy with it. I cut a saber tooth tiger skeleton puzzle out of 5.2mm plywood today at the lowest rpm (about 10000) at 2500 mm/min, depth of cut was 5.2mm and I used a 1/8 inch single flute endmill. It is very quiet for a router. The shop vac however is not. I have also used it for aluminum, hardwoods, and foam.
     
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  3. Aeneas

    Aeneas New
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    That sounds really cool. I'd love to see pics of the puzzle if you have time. =)

    How did the router do with aluminum?
     
  4. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    The router did fine with the few aluminum parts I have made. However, I have not used it much with aluminum. I do have a bunch of newer cutters I bought specifically for aluminum, but I just haven't come up with something I need to cut right now. I will be cutting some plates soon for an eggbot I am building. Maybe I will give it a shot tomorrow. I do like that the Makita minimum RPMs can get a little lower (10,000-30,000RPMs vs. other routers).

    Here you go for the sabertooth pictures. A couple angles.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    #4 Giarc, Oct 30, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2016
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  5. Aeneas

    Aeneas New
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    Wow! That is really cool!!
     
  6. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    Thanks. I just edited my post to include the answer to your other question about aluminum.
     
  7. Aeneas

    Aeneas New
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    I think that the lower speed would be helpful with aluminum. I am not sure that I want to go with the Bosch router recommended for the XL bundle as the min speed is 16,000 RPM...although I'd have to figure out a way to properly attach a router of a different diameter.
     
  8. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    Besides the lower RPMs, one of the reasons I went Makita is because they have a repair shop near my work. Basically, you can bring a tool in for repair and they will rebuild it for about $35 if it fails. I had a random orbital sander and needed a new pad. The pads were $25. They guy said for an extra ten, they would replace all the other damaged parts, as well.

    I have had great luck with other Makita tools I own, as well. I have no experience with Bosch so I can't comment on them other than I thought I read somewhere it was now harder to get precision collets for them. Bosch Colt TIR Measurement
     
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  9. Aeneas

    Aeneas New
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    That's an interesting link. The inability of the Bosch Colt router to run at low speeds got me thinking that I may not want it, the TIR tests sealed the deal - I'll go with something else.

    Now I've got tho figure out which router, and how to attach it.
     
  10. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    Here is a video of the Makita RT 701C milling 1/8 aluminum plates for my eggbot built. I could have just ordered the Nema 23 and 17 plates, but I had some leftover 1/8 " thick x 3" wide aluminum plate from my CNC build I needed to use up. Plus this was more fun.:thumbsup: There was one goof. The motor mount slots on the Nema 17 plate were 3.1 mm wide. My cutter settings in Sketchucam were 3.175 so it would not cut the slots. I didn't notice until it was too late. I just put the plate back where it was mounted and lied to sketchucam and said the bit was 3 mm. It worked after that.

    I used a fairly cheap 1/8" single flute end mill (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EQ1WG4C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) at 700 mm/min with ramping set at 10 degrees in Sketchucam. The Makita 701c was set to speed 3 on the dial (15000 rpms-ish). It worked very well. I squirted quite a bit of WD40 while it was cutting because I am out of cutting oil.

    [​IMG]
    Cleaned up and sanded with 320 grit.
    [​IMG]
    Right now either Amazon, or Home Depot is selling refurbished Makita's for $69.99 (I think). I got a precision set of collets from Elaire Corporation
     
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  11. Aeneas

    Aeneas New
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    Thanks! The Makita definitely seems up to the task. The final product is clean, and it appeared to have been done in a reasonable amount of time.

    You made an EggBot? Like the thing that draws on eggs? That's pretty interesting also.

    Isn't that what this is all about? I'm still in the extreme novice phase, but once I get some knowledge/experience I plan on making all kinds of parts for a new machine. My first project after this one will likely be a 3D printer.
     
  12. Aeneas

    Aeneas New
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    I saw this guy's video on YouTube recently. Have a look and see what you think...

     
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  13. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    I am working on the eggbot now. Still waiting for the EiBot board to get here. After milling those plates yesterday, I just need to assemble and wait for the board.

    As for the Makita, the only downside I found was the lack of an Openbuilds mount for it. I had to order a 65 mm spindle mount from China and I tapped my own holes to mount it to my z-plate.

    That wd40 drop is a good idea. I bet cutting oil could be subtituted, but the wd40 is a cheaper alternative.
     
  14. Aeneas

    Aeneas New
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    I was thinking that I could shim the Makita in the openbuilds mount, then cut one for a permanent solution.
     
  15. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    That would probably work very well. I didn't have access to either a 3D printer to print one, or a router to cut one so I went for the Chinese made one.
     
  16. GrayUK

    GrayUK Openbuilds Team Elder
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    I think the drip feeder/cooler is a great idea, but it didn't really need to be a WD40 can did it? :rolleyes:
    In fact a heat proof plastic container and plastic fittings would probably do the job just as well. :thumbsup:
    Would eliminate all the soldering. Might see about making something similar for myself. :)
     
  17. Aeneas

    Aeneas New
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    I imagine that would work just fine. Once I'm up and running I'll be doing something similar.
     
  18. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    I was thinking the same thing. I would have used plastic tubing and valves. Another thought I had, since I have multiple spoil boards I use depending on what I cut, was to make a smaller removable one just for aluminum cutting (2' X2' square, or smaller) which would incorporate flood cooling.
     
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  19. Aeneas

    Aeneas New
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    I'm ordered the Makita router, and now I'll be ordering the Elaire Corp collet. What size(s) would be good?
     
  20. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    I bought the set (1/8,1/4, 5/16). However, the Makita comes with a 1/4 so I would get at least the 1/8" because you will most likely end up using some 1/8" inch shank cutters.
     
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  21. Aeneas

    Aeneas New
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    Ok, thanks =)
     
  22. Gary Caruso

    Gary Caruso OpenBuilds Volunteer
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    The Makita looks like a great choice! I like that it goes down to 10k RPM, great for cutting plastics or gummy aluminum, could not find the dia anywhere, now i know 65mm! thanks
    also can be found for ~$90
     
  23. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    I love the Makita. It is nice and quiet at 10,000 rpms which is the speed I use for engraving with v bits. I just bought a dust collector to replace my shop-vac. If I had known how much quieter they are than a shop vac, I would have done it years ago.
     
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  24. GrayUK

    GrayUK Openbuilds Team Elder
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    Must admit I have never heard how much noise a dust collector makes. Any chance of a comparison video? :rolleyes:
    Noise is something I have to take into consideration here.
    Gray
     
  25. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    I will do it ASAP and report it back here. I have no way of actually measuring it. It is just the cheap Harbor Freight model. I figured it would be tough to screw up a motor and a fan. I plan to permanently mount it outside the work area so 5 microns vs 2 microns didn't matter much to me.:)

    Edit: Here it is. It does not be as noticeable on the video, but the higher pitch whining of the shop vac bothers me whereas the lower sounds of the dust collector don't. Maybe it is all in my head. :confused:


    Most annoying video ever.
     
    #25 Giarc, Nov 30, 2016
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2016
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  26. GrayUK

    GrayUK Openbuilds Team Elder
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    Thanks for going to the trouble of doing that video. :thumbsup:
    It might be quieter when you hook up the hose to something. However, it does have a more mellow sound than the annoying whining of a vac.
    Food for thought. :rolleyes:
    Cheers
    Gray
     
  27. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    The upgrade was worth it for the increased suction. Now I just have to come up with a good way to hook it up to the CNC.
     
  28. Metalguru

    Metalguru Veteran
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    I've recently switched from the Bosch Colt to the Dewalt DWP611. The Dewalt is much quieter, has LED lights, has a wider speed range at the low end, and has a much better collet than the Bosch. It also has a much longer barrel which allows a wider range of depth settings. You can actually run dual OB router mounts on a double wide C-Beam gantry plate.

    I got Po'd after breaking my second Bosch collet. They are really flimsy and have just a very thin web of metal holding the inner conical collet jaws together. The Dewalt has a chuck with MUCH heavier jaws and looks like it will be really hard to break. There are a lot of reviews on the web that say the Bosch collets have very bad runout in recent models.

    MG
     
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  29. Saint Billy

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    Hi, I am at the very beginning of the Ox Cnc experience and at present collecting all the materials for the build. I have decided to purchase the Makita RT0700CX4 UK version.

    My main interest is the wood side of things, cutting joints, carving and engraving softwoods such as pine and ply etc. Can anyone recommend a good quality end mill kit that will give me a good selection of bits for most purposes, and any info regarding collets would be a great help.

    Cheers
     
  30. Jen

    Jen Well-Known
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    Hi Billy,

    I just built my first OX and am using it to make ukuleles and guitars including shell inlay work. I chose the DeWalt model D26200 which I think is also called the model 611. I purchased my collets from think and tinker. They sell very well made collets for most popular spindles. Their web address is: www.thinktink.com . They also market bits of all types.
    The best bits in kit form I have found were purchased from regal tools here in the U.K. Their web site is www.regaltools.co.uk

    Have fun with your endeavours,
    Jen
     
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