Yeah, those tiny outrunner motors look real cute, and probably go great for 5 minutes on an RC plane with a LOT of air flow. Don't think I would try using one on a CNC though.
a CAT30 size machine when the power requirement is 2KW+ per axis
Dunno about the 2kW. My machine runs a BT30 spindle, and the motors are rated at only 300 W (XYZ) and 500 W (spindle). Ah, but the motors are Baldor industrial DC motors or equivalent, and they are rated for 24/7 at full power. And yeah, they are a lot heavier than a tiny outrunner. BIG lumps of machined cast iron I think.
The power rating is a bit deceptive too: I miscalculated when peck drilling some titanium and suddenly noticed I was putting about 2 kW into the 500 W motor for short periods (a few seconds each). Oh well - oops. No damage. Bottom line for me: show me the 6 hour rating. That is meaningful on a CNC.
as a hobbyist you can't afford to go through $100.00 in fets on a weekly basis
Been there, done that, but not as a hobbyist.
Ended up with a large jam jar of blown TO220 FETS. That was before they put the intrinsic reverse diodes into the packages. The switching transients were murder.
Let us wait and see. Nothing like the enthusiasm of a start-up.
Cheers
Roger