Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Air Powered Spindle

I am fairly sure no grinder will run 1/4" end mills in any metal.

Grinders spin fast, with little torque.
You need the opposite .. slow speed and high torque.

It will be a lot easier to run a genset for power, than adapt any other
strategy, imo, ime.
Even a few PV panels, batteries and a VFD will work, much cheaper and
easier.
Or just a battery-depending on what your restrictions re:electricity are.

Air motors of all sorts could be used (these exist, I used to use these
in the air force as a mechanic).
They are noisy, inefficient, and very expensive (relatively).
Think thousands as a start point ..

Also, (small and cheap) grinders are usually low power devices.
A typical air grinder might be 200W.
You depth of cut might be 0.1 mm or less, at 6 mm wide endmill.
So for 3/8" or approx 9 mm deep, that would be 90 passes.

Maybe need about 2000 l of air, at 10 bars.

On 15/10/2014 19:21, 'CS Mo' cs@... [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] wrote:
> Does anyone have any experience using an air die grinder or similar as
> a high speed spindle? I need to be able to run up to a 1/4" end mill
> and will only have air available for power - no electricity! I'll be
> cutting aluminum slots that are ~1/4" wide, 1" long and 3/8" deep. I'd
> like to be able to cut 1/8" deep per pass, but could live with less.
> This will be as a live tool on a lathe - no Y control, so I can't
> effectively use a smaller end mill with a pocket.
>
> --CS

--
-hanermo (cnc designs)