Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Air Powered Spindle

on 2014-10-16 10:36:32 UTC

I used a die grinder for a similar setup on my turret. I was using it to grind a rubber part because no cutting tool would do the job with any favorable results.
There is air available on the turret of my Wasino LJ63M, controlled by M36 and M37 for on and off.

The die grinder was mounted in a 2.00" I.D. toolholder on the turret, using a special adapter so as not to clamp on the body of the die grinder in the wrong place. (Do not distort the die grinder body!) Also this adapter will have to hold the valve of the die grinder "on". I removed the paddle lever of the die grinder and worked with the button under the lever. I replaced the male air chuck fitting in the grinder with a bulkhead fitting that had an o-ring groove machined into the face of it. this lined up with the air block behind the I.D. tool holder on the turret and mated with the face of the block. The o-ring provided a seal.

I use a 1/4" endmills in the die grinder for deburing parts all the time, used carbide mills can be severely dull and damaged and work great for deburing still. As long as you have a good grinder with some "balls" it should do the job. You may need to take lighter cuts.

Denis Knobloch
Kam Inc.

From: "'CS Mo' cs@... [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO]" <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2014 11:01 AM
Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Air Powered Spindle

The problem isn't that I don't have electricity - but wiring it in. I have air available where the tool will be. The tool has to live on a turret that only turns counter clockwise (cable will get tangled without a rotating fitting) and must be able to function in a coolant rich environment.

--CS

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> Agree they are called high speed grinders not high torque grinders
>it would be very difficult to maintain any given speed better off with
>an inverter setup batteries and a generator. Good luck
>T-Mobile. America's First Nationwide 4G Network.
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>------ Original message------From: Hannu Venermo gcode.fi@......
>Date: Wed, Oct 15, 2014 10:35 AMTo: C
>AD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com;Subject:Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Air Powered
>Spindle I am fairly sure no grinder will run
>1/4" end mills in any metal.
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>Grinders spin fast, with little torque.
>You need the opposite .. slow speed and high torque.
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>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.
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>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 ..
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>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.
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>Maybe need about 2000 l of air, at 10 bars.
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>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
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>--
>-hanermo (cnc designs)
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