91
Resources / Re: Metalworkingfun.net is Back!
« Last post by vtsteam on July 03, 2025, 10:00:40 AM »Too bad the old content was lost. There was some pretty amazing stuff there.
Recent Posts
92
CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by vtsteam on July 03, 2025, 09:13:44 AM »Thanks Russell. 
Thanks John I ordered a set of bearings from the site you listed. Much obliged!
I think today I'll try fitting that 500 watt spindle to the mill, just to see what it can do. I did spend some time looking at various spindles in the $100 to $300 range on Amazon, and reading reviews and it wasn't very informative. Some were DC some were VFD 3 phase, some air cooled some water cooled. Seemed like the most expensive (water cooled 2.2 kw 4 bearing w/vfd) had comments like "not much torque compared to my ________" router, or even as much torque as the reviewer's old 300 watt spindle.
So I'm curious about this 500 watt DC spindle I already have. What can it do?
When I think about this stuff, I'm thinking it's likely I will probably settle on a 1/8" 2 flute mill bit for whatever I use this machine for in future. Aluminum, not wood. Small parts. That means to me, considering the overall stiffness of the machine, a speed probably where I am now - 8000 rpm 16 IPM, and depth of cut yet to be determined.
So if that's true, an ideal spindle would be running at 8000 RPM at its peak power output, not a 24000 or higher spindle throttled down to 8000. Bearings are obviously a major consideration. Ideally I would make up a non-motorized spindle driven by a belt of some sort, and a separate motor. Is that right?
Thanks John I ordered a set of bearings from the site you listed. Much obliged!I think today I'll try fitting that 500 watt spindle to the mill, just to see what it can do. I did spend some time looking at various spindles in the $100 to $300 range on Amazon, and reading reviews and it wasn't very informative. Some were DC some were VFD 3 phase, some air cooled some water cooled. Seemed like the most expensive (water cooled 2.2 kw 4 bearing w/vfd) had comments like "not much torque compared to my ________" router, or even as much torque as the reviewer's old 300 watt spindle.
So I'm curious about this 500 watt DC spindle I already have. What can it do?
When I think about this stuff, I'm thinking it's likely I will probably settle on a 1/8" 2 flute mill bit for whatever I use this machine for in future. Aluminum, not wood. Small parts. That means to me, considering the overall stiffness of the machine, a speed probably where I am now - 8000 rpm 16 IPM, and depth of cut yet to be determined.
So if that's true, an ideal spindle would be running at 8000 RPM at its peak power output, not a 24000 or higher spindle throttled down to 8000. Bearings are obviously a major consideration. Ideally I would make up a non-motorized spindle driven by a belt of some sort, and a separate motor. Is that right?
93
Resources / Metalworkingfun.net is Back!
« Last post by rleete on July 03, 2025, 07:01:47 AM »Metalworkingfun.net is back online, thanks to the efforts of Ed K. As most of you know, the original forum was lost when the guy running things passed away. R.I.P. Vinny.
Anyway, be sure to use the .net extension, as the .com one was hijacked by someone. It's still pretty baren over there, as all the original content was lost.
Not trying to steal anyone away, just another place to discuss all sorts of machining, electronics, 3D printing and related hobby stuff.
Anyway, be sure to use the .net extension, as the .com one was hijacked by someone. It's still pretty baren over there, as all the original content was lost.
Not trying to steal anyone away, just another place to discuss all sorts of machining, electronics, 3D printing and related hobby stuff.
95
CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by RussellT on July 03, 2025, 05:36:42 AM »Hi Steve
I think most Bosch stuff is pretty well made - so I'd be surprised if the bearings could be upgraded.
Russell
I think most Bosch stuff is pretty well made - so I'd be surprised if the bearings could be upgraded.
Russell
96
CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by vtsteam on July 02, 2025, 10:34:38 PM »Then there's just replacing the bearings per:
https://www.forums.woodnet.net/showthread.php?tid=7355275
Unfortunately he doesn't say what bearings it takes. Wonder if they can be upgraded?
https://www.forums.woodnet.net/showthread.php?tid=7355275
Unfortunately he doesn't say what bearings it takes. Wonder if they can be upgraded?
97
CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by vtsteam on July 02, 2025, 09:41:55 PM »Thanks for that Art. That's helpful to compare to.
I decided to try another part in the same piece of aluminum, but this time at 16 IPM instead of 8. It cut perfectly fine except for the fact that in redrawing the part I forgot to put in tabs.
Luckily I noticed it at the very last pass, and was able to stop and withdraw the spindle before the part came loose. It's still a usable part, with just a thin skrim of aluminum on part of the bottom.
So since that worked out, I added tabs to the drawing, rewrote the g-code, this time with a .032" depth of cut instead of .020". The machine got a few passes down, but got wonky at one point, so I hit e-stop, and withdrew the spindle. I'm not sure exactly what happened. I checked the flutes and didn't see any aluminum welded onto the bit.
I checked the router in the mount because I thought I might have seen it rise slightly. Seemed solid. I took it out of the mount and checked shaft play. It clicked when pushed sideways, so I'm thinking maybe the bearings have had it. Could be. It's ten years old at least, and humidity in the shop is high, plus cutting aluminum is going to be hard on router bearings.
Not sure what to do now, try to repair, or think about a better spindle. I know I said at the outset I didn't want to buy a new spindle, but now I might have to. I do have one of those little 500 watt 100VDC fan cooled motorized spindles which I use for milling on my lathe. But they seem even lighter weight than the Bosch Colt router. I wonder if they can cut the mustard for milling up to 1/4" in aluminum? They don't look too rugged.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
That's helpful to compare to.I decided to try another part in the same piece of aluminum, but this time at 16 IPM instead of 8. It cut perfectly fine except for the fact that in redrawing the part I forgot to put in tabs.
Luckily I noticed it at the very last pass, and was able to stop and withdraw the spindle before the part came loose. It's still a usable part, with just a thin skrim of aluminum on part of the bottom.So since that worked out, I added tabs to the drawing, rewrote the g-code, this time with a .032" depth of cut instead of .020". The machine got a few passes down, but got wonky at one point, so I hit e-stop, and withdrew the spindle. I'm not sure exactly what happened. I checked the flutes and didn't see any aluminum welded onto the bit.
I checked the router in the mount because I thought I might have seen it rise slightly. Seemed solid. I took it out of the mount and checked shaft play. It clicked when pushed sideways, so I'm thinking maybe the bearings have had it. Could be. It's ten years old at least, and humidity in the shop is high, plus cutting aluminum is going to be hard on router bearings.
Not sure what to do now, try to repair, or think about a better spindle. I know I said at the outset I didn't want to buy a new spindle, but now I might have to. I do have one of those little 500 watt 100VDC fan cooled motorized spindles which I use for milling on my lathe. But they seem even lighter weight than the Bosch Colt router. I wonder if they can cut the mustard for milling up to 1/4" in aluminum? They don't look too rugged.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
98
CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by Country Bubba on July 02, 2025, 07:13:14 PM »On my cnc mill (RF31 conversion) which is limited to 4000 rpm, IIRC routinely would run ~10IPM with a DOC ~.100" (Trying to boot up my old win7 machine to find my info, but looks like microstooopid had done me in again:{( It won't boot:{(
I also ran flood coolant and that makes a difference.
OK, took half an hour, but win 7 finally booted and I was able to find my toolset for the 1/8" endmill and I was running at 4000 rpm, feed of 6IPM and as I remember, played around with the DOC (Been a while since I did anything on that machine and even longer on the router for aluminum!
I also ran flood coolant and that makes a difference.
OK, took half an hour, but win 7 finally booted and I was able to find my toolset for the 1/8" endmill and I was running at 4000 rpm, feed of 6IPM and as I remember, played around with the DOC (Been a while since I did anything on that machine and even longer on the router for aluminum!
99
Project Logs / Re: Making the best of Global Warming
« Last post by Joules on July 02, 2025, 05:56:14 PM »I hadn't considered a mini gun Andrew, but now you mention it. Keep the pigeons and other vermin at bay...
100
Project Logs / Re: Making the best of Global Warming
« Last post by awemawson on July 02, 2025, 03:45:55 PM »That footing and bolt circle look more like the gun mounts found along the south coast for repelling unwanted visitors in 1939-40!