High Speed Spindle for SIEG X2 - Finally a Solution

Well I went out after making the post and moved and stacked 6 face
cord of wood for 8 hours. Not too bad for 66, and temps in the
90s. I thought I'd check to see if there was any traffic on the
post. You guys have been busy today.

Hi Dave (turbulatordude) - yes its the spindle plate and the
Proxxon IB/E, LittleMachineShop is also selling the KDN Tool
product. The spindle does not replace the head on the mill, because
in order to do that you'd have to remove the lead screw / ball
screw, then pull the Spindle box seat casting (#63) which rides the
Z axis column vee ways, and has the Spindle box casting (#49)bolted
to it from the back of (#63). The heads of the bolts are covered by
the Z axis column. It would take forever to exchange spindles. The
beauty of the KDN Tool solution is that it virtually takes no time
to switch between the main spindle, and the Proxxon IB/E spindle.
Elegant solutions to complicated problems are simple. You loose
2.7" of the X axis travel because the Proxxon sits next to the stock
spindle. I'm doing 3" by 3" engraving, and sculpting so I won't be
loosing anything.

Hi, John Stevenson - the spindle is right below "Just Born" which is
a Proxxon MF70 Micro Mill converted to CNC. The product I am
talking about is labeled "Our Latest Innovations", "High Speed
Spindle Attachment For The X2 Mini Mill", click HERE for more
information will give you all the information you'll need.

Hi, Andy Wander - you're right, you did find it.

Hi, Alan Marconett, I also have looked at Trim Routers. They are
tempting, but as you mentioned thay are not variable speed, but a
VFD will solve that. What concerns me is the run out of the
spindle, which effects the resolution of the engraving / sculpting,
as well as the finish. The trim router would be great as a wood
router on a gantry machine. Mounted on the side of the SIEG X2
spindle box, too much of the X axis travel would be lost.

Dave (turbulatordude), the Proxxon IB/E is much more than a Dremel,
and much more than the other Proxxon Hand Grinders. Of course high
powered spindles run from $1,000 to $5,000. Now the Proxxon IB/E
isn't in the high powered price range at $110 but it has some
steller performance features that many have overlooked. For price /
performance you can't beat the Proxxon IB/E. The Proxxon IB/E does
not have a plastic housing where the spindle mechanism / bearings
resides. The housing is metal.

Hi, Lester Caine - you're right, the Proxxon IB/E is designed for
heavy use. Take a look at my torque requirement calculations - for
aluminum, brass, and steel - for the two extremes of end mill
diameters that the IB/E holds. 100 watts covers a lot of machining
range for engraving and sculpting. In a sense I am into high speed
machining with very small chip loads, and high feed rates and high
rpms. I was just reading an article about Branchline Trains who
machine their model train steel dies, with 0.005" diameter end
mills. This is only possible with high speed machining technology,
and that requires a high speed spindle, and I don't have $1,000 to
$5,000, but I do have $100. I also don't have the time to develop,
and machine a bracket.

Hi, Graham Stabler - I always enjoy reading you posts, thanks for
sharing all the information, and your time. I believe that you are
right that the Proxxon IB/E is the same motor technology as the
Proxxon MF70 mill spindle motor. I've been wondering what the motor
technology is. Is it an AC or DC motor? What are the poles all
about? If AC then what kind? If DC then brushed or brushless? I
joined the IRK Torque Max group hoping to adapt a RC brushless motor
to a high speed spindle. I never got any where because of my lack
of knowledge of electronics. Was very complicated. I contacted
brushless DC motor manufacturers, too expensive, and disapointing
duty cycle.

Hi, Alan Marconett - I guess I don't know which of the laminate
trimmers or routers you are thinking of as being noisy. The Proxxon
IB/E is quiet, even at high speed, and milling away on metal.

So in conclusion, if you own a SIEG X2 (Micro-Mark, MicroLux #82573
sale price $483.95), and you want a good price / value solution for
engraving, and sculpting of wood, plastic, aluminum, and brass
(maybe even steel) you may want to consider the KDN Tool Proxxon
IB/E, and mount for your machine. It will probably mount on an X1,
or X3 with a modification to the mount design, but you'll have to
ask KDN Tool. Well I'm tired from hauling and stacking wood all
day. Have a good night, and God bless you all.

Bill Perun