Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: spindle extensions

I have seen various setups that look proprietary in that you can't really
find much on the net about them. When you can find information about unique
spindles, the pricing seems more heavily guarded than your local bank. This
usually indicates that you will never be able to afford it if you are just a
hobbiest.

My Tube design simply used a DC drive motor with feedback to turn a shaft via
toothed belt. That shaft was not much more than a good quality junk of steel
with a 1/2" bore and setscrew in one end, mounted in a simple tube. Simple,
Cheap, Affordable.

6" wide ?, Well, as you pointed out, it is a common approach for a universal
design. For one, you need to get some "spread" on the bearings especially if
using the more affordable Round Linear Rail. Obviously, you could get much
narrower with THK/IKO style rails. I am not too sure I would want to go much
narrower when mounting a conventional 2 to 3hp router.....

The trick is building so you can have the "specific" machine advantage, While
still capable of universally mounting other cutting, dispensing, or
sawing/grinding devices. In most cases, this means, do not neglect building
enough Z axis travel. My DATA-CUT router runs about 6.5". Next time it would
be at least 12".

Chris L

ballendo wrote:

> Chris,
>
> Are you aware that there are spindles made for cutting foam? Used by
> mold-makers for boats, surfboard carving, etc. (I had a customer once
> who wanted a cnc for making surfboards). I don't know if I still have
> the info, but it was much as you have described, used a "surform"
> type toolbit...
>
> Why six inch width for z axes? This is the difference between design
> for a specific function compared to a general-purpose approach. And a
> lot of "Armchair" designers will often copy a design without
> understanding the "whys" of the design. (I'm not saying this is
> necessarily bad, just pointing out that it happens with regularity
> and leads to sometimes less than ideal results.)
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Ballendo