Thread: 6040 CNC questions

Mike,
You are not factoring in the spindle mount so the difference isn't that great.
Air cooled is simpler with no plumbing and lighter. I have used both air and water and just buy air now.
Can you give a link to the four bearing model - I won't be convinced until I see one pulled apart though.

Originally Posted by rodm

Mike,
You are not factoring in the spindle mount so the difference isn't that great.
Air cooled is simpler with no plumbing and lighter. I have used both air and water and just buy air now.
Can you give a link to the four bearing model - I won't be convinced until I see one pulled apart though.

Also, the top model includes a 4 axis controller box, which the others don't.

Only important if you want to get a 4th axis down the track.

Big shed
With the cheap drivers included i don't see the lack of the 4th one to be a problem, will most likely end up chucking it all anyway. I also ordered the 4th axis to play with. Don't think much of it, only good for very small diameters with a 3 to 1 reduction. It comes with the driver card so fit that up ez, if it works.
I don't realy expect the electronics to be of any value.

Mike

Originally Posted by rodm

Mike,
You are not factoring in the spindle mount so the difference isn't that great.
Air cooled is simpler with no plumbing and lighter. I have used both air and water and just buy air now.
Can you give a link to the four bearing model - I won't be convinced until I see one pulled apart though.

rod
Yes no mount but that shouldn't be hard to make, 2 bits of ally and bore a hole. i like the included dc spindle as well so thats a bonus for me i suppose.
i'm not real keen on water in a spindle. Have to be a bloody good reason to go that way for me.
link to 4 bearing spindle, seems to have a thicker nose.
.8KW air cooled http://www.ebay.com/itm/UPDATED-AIR-...L-GRIND-NEW-4-
1.5KW 65mm DIAMETER 1.5KW WATER-COOLED SPINDLE MOTOR ENGRAVING MILL GRIND HIGH QUALITY | eBay

Found this spindle, would love to hear from anyone that has tried it. 60,000 rpm, water cooled though. I had a 60k Perske motor on the big machine and that was so smooth. Never put a dial gauge on it but claimed runout was so stupid low. It should have been i suppose cost $5,500
60000RPM 1.2KW SPINDLE MOTOR SPECIAL FOR METAL T8 | eBay


Mike

Look forward to hearing about your experience with both Carving-CNC and the shipping and the machine itself.

Originally Posted by Whimsical

60,000 rpm, water cooled though.
60000RPM 1.2KW SPINDLE MOTOR SPECIAL FOR METAL T8 | eBay

Mike

Hi Mike

I haven't tried this spindle but it has a couple of things in its favour.

First,I would have thought that 60000 rpm was a bit useless unless used as a grinder. You can't really use a router bit at those speeds as they would burn unless you could get your travel speed up way over the Australian speed limits.

It uses Japanese bearings instead of Germany bearings. The Germany bearings are actually made by a company in China that is called -- guess what -- that's right, Germany. A quick check seems to indicate that Japan(ese) bearings may also be made in China, Pakistan or India.

I also like the end covers which appear to be of a much higher quality than the normal ones. I amy even copy these and make some for my own spindle.

The spindle still uses an audio plug connector for transmitting power.

That seller does have other nice spindles as well. The 'nice' bit is comparative.

I just noticed that the VFD that particular supplier sells for use with their 4Kw spindle is a 1.5Kw Huanyang. I don't know enough to be positive, but it seems to me that this would be the wrong VFD to go with this spindle if one ever hoped to draw the full 4Kw of power that should be available.

Bob
I tend to use single flute D cutters so they run at double the speed of a 2 flute and when the cutter has an included angle of about 25 degrees with a 2 thou tip then 60k isn't so crazy. Doubt i would get one though as i doubt the machine would be fast enough. thats part of the reason i may dump the electronics. I will do the mods as suggested by Helloagain on CNC Zone and see what happens. Its all a bit of a toy anyway, have a few jobs i need to do then toy only. I could never see that spindle provide 4KW and i doubt the balance and runout would be good enough.

Carving offer to undervalue the product on the shipping paperwork

Mike

saw the motors were now CE certified , with a audio plug on top ??? looked up ISO9001 ," ISO9001=quality management , " , well at least thats a start ( less dud's sold )

can you purchase the machine cheaper with out the control box ?? , and purchase the VDF , Gekko drives , power supplys ( 48 volts , 5 volts ) , opto coupled BOB's , separate , it might cost more , but the quality will be a heap better

the optocoupled " brake out boards " need 2x 5volt inputs , the PC side of the BOB can be powered by a USB cable , and the Gekko side with a "Wall Wart"or small PSU , if you power both sides of the bob with one PSU , the optocouples are useless at stopping spikes from killing your PC

the best feature about these machines is that you can not build one with these parts for that price , the part that lets them down " stepper wire used " and the electronics box , just take the good

when i went for my 6545 , i opted for the 1.5kw over the 0.8kw , i dont think i can use the extra power (numa17 motors ), and with the extra weight the acceleration settings are lower , i would now agree with rod , a 6040 with a 0.8kw is well balanced , but then again , if you are going to use this machine to beef its self up with larger motors and more accurate parts and a dual x axis ball screw , then go for the 1.5kw

dont forget to earth your machine

Originally Posted by Whimsical

Big shed
With the cheap drivers included i don't see the lack of the 4th one to be a problem, will most likely end up chucking it all anyway. I also ordered the 4th axis to play with. Don't think much of it, only good for very small diameters with a 3 to 1 reduction. It comes with the driver card so fit that up ez, if it works.
I don't realy expect the electronics to be of any value.

Mike

Has yours arrived yet Mike?

Not arrived yet. Ordered it 1 week ago and the carving site says processing still. Sent him an email and haven't had an answer yet

Mike

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Also, the top model includes a 4 axis controller box, which the others don't.

Only important if you want to get a 4th axis down the track.

When considering the value of a fourth axis driver, it is worth remembering that most 4th axis work is done with only three axis.

So it is very plausible to unplug the Y axis, and plug in the 4th axis for rotary work.

Unless you have very sophisticated CAM (read very expensive) then true 4 axis work (X, Y, Z and A) is not applicable.

All my 4th or rotary axis work is done with three axis. (X, Z and A)

Greg

Originally Posted by Greolt

When considering the value of a fourth axis driver, it is worth remembering that most 4th axis work is done with only three axis.

So it is very plausible to unplug the Y axis, and plug in the 4th axis for rotary work.

Unless you have very sophisticated CAM (read very expensive) then true 4 axis work (X, Y, Z and A) is not applicable.

All my 4th or rotary axis work is done with three axis. (X, Z and A)

Greg

But you would still need a mechanical way of rotating that 4th axis, wouldn't you Greg?
Could you point me how you hold and rotate your 4th axis, if you haven't already put up pics, perhaps you could upload one?

In my case I want the 4th axis to work on pen stuff, barrels, centre bands and finials etc.

As the complete 4th axis from Carving-CNC is only an additional $180 it appears to be cheaper than most separate 4th axis units available on Ebay. It is also about $80 cheaper than their separate 4th axis.

The top model with the 4th axis also includes the 1.5Kw spindle and VFD.

Big Shed

We may have had a misunderstanding.

I was talking about the value of an extra axis in the controller. So that four axis can be operated simultaneous.

Not saying that you do not need a rotary axis. Just that you can do rotary axis work with a three axis diver/controller.

Here is an old youtube video. This is using three axis. X, Z and A

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWFSdogFx_g"]Toolpath Wrapped with CNCWrapper - YouTube[/ame]

Greg