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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
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    0

    DIY Spindle idea

    Hi,

    I read yesterday one diy spindle project on mycncuk.com and it did use rc airplane motor and speed controller for the spindle. There were also hard to build housing and needs to be machined. So I got my idea using same motor and flexible drill cable with some kind of diy coupling.

    I don't have any glue if this works well for wood cutting or engraving but should work for pcb drilling. Positive thing is that motor speed can be adjusted. Though I don't know how it can done by EMC.

    Any comments/suggestions about my idea? There is links where I got my idea...

    http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...idProduct=6461
    http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s..._1400Kv_/_550w
    http://www.mycncuk.com/forums/showth...spindle-design

    [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Eazypower-30167-40-Inch-Flexible-Extension/dp/B0009XAFXU"]http://www.amazon.com/Eazypower-30167-40-Inch-Flexible-Extension/dp/B0009XAFXU[/ame]

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    521
    Quote Originally Posted by puurtsi View Post
    Hi,

    I read yesterday one diy spindle project on mycncuk.com and it did use rc airplane motor and speed controller for the spindle. There were also hard to build housing and needs to be machined. So I got my idea using same motor and flexible drill cable with some kind of diy coupling.

    I don't have any glue if this works well for wood cutting or engraving but should work for pcb drilling. Positive thing is that motor speed can be adjusted. Though I don't know how it can done by EMC.

    Any comments/suggestions about my idea? There is links where I got my idea...

    http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...idProduct=6461
    http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s..._1400Kv_/_550w
    http://www.mycncuk.com/forums/showth...spindle-design

    http://www.amazon.com/Eazypower-3016.../dp/B0009XAFXU
    Wouldn't bother with that flexible drive - they aren't accurate even when used with their intended drive - a hand drill ! and I seriously doubt they could handle 30k rpm! For a down and dirty PCB milling tool the motor should be ok but no one has ever confirmed their suitability for long periods of use - the planes fly for 7-10 minutes then get a cooling period - will they stand up to continued duty and without the prop air cooling?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    165
    There has been a ton of discussion about building a spindle using a brushless rc motor. Check out this discussion it has a wealth of info.

    http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...p=94477&page=5

    I recently have built a spindle based off one of the design in this thread. I have chosen to use a belt reduction to get more torque but the bearing design is the same.

    My design is similar to the previous design and this one combined.
    http://www.metallmodellbau.de/Eigenb...salspindel.php

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
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    3447
    Quote Originally Posted by kawazuki View Post
    Wouldn't bother with that flexible drive - they aren't accurate even when used with their intended drive - a hand drill ! and I seriously doubt they could handle 30k rpm! For a down and dirty PCB milling tool the motor should be ok but no one has ever confirmed their suitability for long periods of use - the planes fly for 7-10 minutes then get a cooling period - will they stand up to continued duty and without the prop air cooling?
    Those motors are not made for extended use.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    218
    Quote Originally Posted by diyengineer View Post
    Those motors are not made for extended use.
    RC motor consist in 4..14 magnets, some wire on a iron core, 2 bearings and a shaft. If you don't overheat the motor until magnets or glue fail... what would fail?! Bearings can be changed. RC motor it's even simpler than DC motor (or universal motor) used in some hand-held drills. And in my opinion simpler means fewer components that can fail.
    A... there is the controller and the power source too; if you use them at the nominal parameters it should work indefinitely...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    165
    I agree....There is no reason why RC brushless motors wouldn't work very well as a spindle motor. Did anyone look at the high speed spindle thread? Other CNC zone members have very successful spindles designed around RC brushless motors and controllers. If the motor gets to hot cool the damn thing!! its pretty clear, look at all of the commercially available spindles out there. They are using brushless motors and are either air cooled or water cooled!

    E

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Posts
    8082
    Quote Originally Posted by tskguy View Post
    I agree....There is no reason why RC brushless motors wouldn't work very well as a spindle motor. Did anyone look at the high speed spindle thread? Other CNC zone members have very successful spindles designed around RC brushless motors and controllers. If the motor gets to hot cool the damn thing!! its pretty clear, look at all of the commercially available spindles out there. They are using brushless motors and are either air cooled or water cooled!

    E
    I agree too. If you look at the large R/C electric model aircraft (jets and other large scale models) and see how they are used you will gain a lot of respect for the brushless motors, controllers, and how many amps they routinely suck up with well designed air flow systems. A water jacket can be fitted around them or a fan can be installed on them for CNC use.

    CarveOne
    CarveOne
    http://www.carveonecncwoodcraft.com

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    302
    Look at my Spindle works - speed turned down because removed front screen and was the only way to keep camera clean, http://helicam.ee/cnc/CNC1.mov , wow-wow-sound because esc heli mode keeps choiced rpm, currently reduced down to ca 15k with 4.5mm endmill. This actual spindle makes up to 50k rpm, but very seldom I use more than 30k. There is two pole slotless motor I made myself. I have built several the same type spindles for friends and then used Lehner 2250 or chinese KB45-10XL 1200kv Brushless Inrunner http://www.hobbyking.com - also cood enough but first thing is changing bearings to the best(!!!) ones. You do not - you will have big problem later and this time comes surelly when you are very busy ;-) Water cooled ! In my mill the same cooling mix comes first into spindle and then to mill coolant nozzle. Look at Ampermeter - very low current when modest 15k rpm and 4.5mm endmill. Motor itself is able to several kw, in reality you never need this power but like that it is. The same story with ESC - Future 32/80 able for 80 amps. Much weaker one you cant use, when heavy cut then ampermeter shows (only)20A but you cant see peak amps - weaker ecs just will overheated and switshed off - the result - broken endmill and damaged part.
    Motor and ESC are one story - second thing is collet chuck and BEARINGS, I use only super precision angular contact bearings. And sealing! And balancing!

    cheers,
    herbert
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails IMG_1256.jpg  

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    165
    Thanks for chiming in Herb!! All of my spindle is based of of you design.
    I noticed you wind your own motors. Can you direct me to any threads or info on the web regarding your slotless winding methods. I have made many small outrunners in the past but mothing like your motor. All have been slotted stators
    and standard magnet spaced on the inner side of the can.

    Let me know.

    Eric

  10. #10
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    Feb 2010
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    3447
    Quote Originally Posted by eSilviu View Post
    RC motor consist in 4..14 magnets, some wire on a iron core, 2 bearings and a shaft. If you don't overheat the motor until magnets or glue fail... what would fail?! Bearings can be changed. RC motor it's even simpler than DC motor (or universal motor) used in some hand-held drills. And in my opinion simpler means fewer components that can fail.
    A... there is the controller and the power source too; if you use them at the nominal parameters it should work indefinitely...
    I didn't mean to say they could not be modified to work, but you cant just slap a motor on and run it for very long is more what i was going for. You would either have to have a High velocity fan cooling it (in replacement for the air that would be introduced while flying through the cowl), or even better; which was already suggested a water-cooled jacket. It would be a very cool project indeed.

    I've seen lots of smaller electric motors, but how big do they get? I bet the price jumps up a lot.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
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    3447
    http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXXJW6&P=0

    HOLY CRAP. Check this one out!! ^^

    $269 bucks, but wow look @ the power.

    Max. Continuous Power: 7500W

    If my chinese spindle dies, im picking up one of those.. or larger?! haha

    8500watt burst!


    Thats like 10HP...

    How would you power these without batteries though? And what is everyone using for a controller? Do you obviosuly use a belt drive attached to a spindle, or direct drive?

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    1602
    Might be a good use for those massive surplus power supplies they were talking about last week on Hoss' thread.

    bob

  13. #13
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    Feb 2010
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    3447
    Quote Originally Posted by rowbare View Post
    Might be a good use for those massive surplus power supplies they were talking about last week on Hoss' thread.

    bob
    Those were only 3000 watts is the scary thing. You would have to have 3 of them to actually burst to its full potential!!

    :O

    Short of 3 of those... how would one actually run one of those.. lol?!

  14. #14
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    Feb 2010
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    3447

    Talking

    http://cgi.ebay.com/HP-274840-001-BL...ht_6395wt_1138

    That is what you would need to run that big electric motor!!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
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    302
    Quote Originally Posted by tskguy View Post
    Thanks for chiming in Herb!! All of my spindle is based of of you design.
    I noticed you wind your own motors. Can you direct me to any threads or info on the web regarding your slotless winding methods. I have made many small outrunners in the past but mothing like your motor. All have been slotted stators
    and standard magnet spaced on the inner side of the can.

    Let me know.

    Eric
    This actual motor has been toroid wound,
    I have made by "normal" way as well.
    Also sloted stators used ... what ever.
    cheers,
    herbert
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 1a.jpg   1.jpg   2.jpg   3.jpg  

    5.jpg   6.jpg  

  16. #16
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    Feb 2010
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    3447
    Quote Originally Posted by Herbertkabi View Post
    This actual motor has been toroid wound,
    I have made by "normal" way as well.
    Also sloted stators used ... what ever.
    cheers,
    herbert
    thats intense.. lol!

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    302
    Hereby my ER16 spindle with sloted iron core motor,
    I wonder about motor choice of some members, looks like trying to build
    direct drive Lathe, not high speed spindle.
    When to use RC motors then for ER11...ER16 spindle you dont need rotor OD larger than 25...30mm, 19...22mm is enough for needed torque, even less then small high speed spindle. Also lenght of rotor makes more torque. I have built one good spindle where I used older sloted stator sensored Ikarus (50xx) motor where inner rotor ID was ca 15mm and h-50mm - VERY GOOD for small endmills and silent.
    Motor constant rpm/V need to be considered. When direct drive spindle where planned RPM will not exceed 5...7k, and very high torque when lowest speed come in handy then of course large motor ... but with ER11...16 you never need it.
    Motor KV need to be choiced by right way - your planned max RPM/V of your power supply). For smaller spindle even cheap chinese 12...15A switch mode power supply is OK, 30A is better ... my AEG power supply does 24V/60A, but I use these Chineses as well.
    What ever motor you decided the first thing you must to do is to mount (fix) this motor rigidly on to your mill and run it with hoped speed - then you will know what kind background noise you will have in your workshop - means - not every motor is good because far not every motor is well balanced. When by all means necessarily choiced outer-rotor then Plettenberg Orbits are right size and quiet. Dont forget about outerrunners - you cant use water cooling and it is very hard to keep your motor clean from chips, dirt and coolants. You have to build special double air-flow-ventilation housing.
    Regards
    Herbert
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Sc3008.jpg   IMG_1205.jpg   IMG_1209.jpg   IMG_1211.jpg  

    IMG_1309.jpg  

  18. #18
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    Feb 2010
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    3447
    did you make this from scratch? This is amazing?! How long did it take?

    Quote Originally Posted by Herbertkabi View Post
    Hereby my ER16 spindle with sloted iron core motor,
    I wonder about motor choice of some members, looks like trying to build
    direct drive Lathe, not high speed spindle.
    When to use RC motors then for ER11...ER16 spindle you dont need rotor OD larger than 25...30mm, 19...22mm is enough for needed torque, even less then small high speed spindle. Also lenght of rotor makes more torque. I have built one good spindle where I used older sloted stator sensored Ikarus (50xx) motor where inner rotor ID was ca 15mm and h-50mm - VERY GOOD for small endmills and silent.
    Motor constant rpm/V need to be considered. When direct drive spindle where planned RPM will not exceed 5...7k, and very high torque when lowest speed come in handy then of course large motor ... but with ER11...16 you never need it.
    Motor KV need to be choiced by right way - your planned max RPM/V of your power supply). For smaller spindle even cheap chinese 12...15A switch mode power supply is OK, 30A is better ... my AEG power supply does 24V/60A, but I use these Chineses as well.
    What ever motor you decided the first thing you must to do is to mount (fix) this motor rigidly on to your mill and run it with hoped speed - then you will know what kind background noise you will have in your workshop - means - not every motor is good because far not every motor is well balanced. When by all means necessarily choiced outer-rotor then Plettenberg Orbits are right size and quiet. Dont forget about outerrunners - you cant use water cooling and it is very hard to keep your motor clean from chips, dirt and coolants. You have to build special double air-flow-ventilation housing.
    Regards
    Herbert

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    165
    Herbert you are truly a mad man!! And by the way I also fly RC heli's
    Not camera ships but for fun. I own 90 sized 3d ships. Miniature aircraft stratus to be exact.

    I actually spun down the rabbits hole reading a bunch of your threads on other forums regarding brushless motor winding.
    I will take your advice and buy rather than attempt a brushless motor build. So far I have only wound small cdrom outrunner type motors nothing like what you have acomplished!

    Anyway I agree with Herbert 7500 KW !!! may be overkill unless your bulding a large Mill or router. If you can beleive it or not I think there are actually bigger ones out there. NEU and AXI make some monsters.

    The motor I am currently going to use is 40 amp max and I hope will be fine for my 12"x12" desktop router.

    E

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
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    302
    Quote Originally Posted by diyengineer View Post
    did you make this from scratch? This is amazing?! How long did it take?
    What you mean? I have spent a lot of money for my machines and for different materials ...

    Quote Originally Posted by tskguy View Post
    Herbert you are truly a mad man!! And by the way I also fly RC heli's
    Not camera ships but for fun. I own 90 sized 3d ships. Miniature aircraft stratus to be exact.
    E
    My son does fly, muself I do not ... ... faster comes crash in first secundes but I like this stuff very much

    cheers,
    herbert

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