584,874 active members*
5,329 visitors online*
Register for free
Login
IndustryArena Forum > CNC Electronics > Spindles / VFD > 3.0 Kw Spindle + VFD experience, anyone?
Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2021
    Posts
    4

    3.0 Kw Spindle + VFD experience, anyone?

    Hi everyone, have anybody installed and run a 3.0 Kw spindle and VFD?, powerfull enough to mill aluminum?.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    4282

    Re: 3.0 Kw Spindle + VFD experience, anyone?

    Hi,
    it depends on the size of the tool and the chipload.

    If you spindle is a highspeed/low torque spindle as is common then then toolsize will be limited by the torque.

    For example:
    power= torque x speed
    speed =24000 (rpm) x 2 x PI /60
    =2513 rad/sec
    torque= 3000 (Watts)/ 2513
    =1.1Nm

    It will not take a great deal to stall a spindle with only 1.2Nm of torque. You'd probably be limited to tools 8mm diameter or less.

    Imagine however if you have a 3kW AC servo as a spindle motor with rated speed of 3000rpm:
    torque = 3000 /(3000 x 2 x PI /60)
    =9.5 Nm

    Now your talking, you could spin a 20mm or 25mm tool with that sort of torque.

    Craig

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    15362

    Re: 3.0 Kw Spindle + VFD experience, anyone?

    Quote Originally Posted by Al321 View Post
    Hi everyone, have anybody installed and run a 3.0 Kw spindle and VFD?, powerfull enough to mill aluminum?.
    Yes with 3Kw 4 Hp it will do quite well for milling aluminum there are a lot that use 2.2Kw spindles for milling aluminum

    Everything will depend on the quality of the spindle you get as well a 3Kw should have a amperage rating of around 10 amp to 12Amps so if the spec's don't give you this then keep looking

    The 2.2Kw spindle have a amp rating from 8 Amp to 10 Amp range

    You can also get a 4 Pole spindle
    Mactec54

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    15362

    Re: 3.0 Kw Spindle + VFD experience, anyone?

    This is one of the better low cost spindles 3.2Kw 15Amp and you can have ceramic Bearing for an extra cost

    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005...626517271EfteM
    Mactec54

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Posts
    926

    Re: 3.0 Kw Spindle + VFD experience, anyone?

    Just asking if a 3kw spindle is enough to mill aluminum is not enough info to get a useful answer.

    Almost any spindle can mill aluminum if the tool and cut is small and light enough. Or if it's just for hobby work where speed is not important.

    If you plan to use 1" end mills for slotting, it's the wrong spindle for the job.

    If you download GWizard you can use the free trial period to look at how much power, speed and torque is required for a specific width and depth of cut in each material. It's useful for getting a little context and perspective when deciding how much power you actually need.

    Also, "3kw" doesn't tell you how much torque a spindle has on it's own. You'd need to know the speed where it reaches peak power.

    This 2.2kw spindle peaks at 6000rpm

    https://www.damencnc.com/en/quicktoo...rpm/a3969?c=22

    and has more low speed torque than their 6kw model which peaks at 18,000rpm:

    https://www.damencnc.com/en/quicktoo...rpm/a2806?c=22

    In general though, if you have sensible expectations on end mill size and depth of cut you'll probably be able to make aluminum parts with a 3kw 12,000-24,000 rpm spindle.

    I've been using these 1/4" ZRN coated carbide end mills with good results at 20,000rpm+:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/15302213203...Cclp%3A2334524

    I recommend getting a water cooled model and mist coolant as cutting aluminum at high rpm generates a lot of heat.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    4282

    Re: 3.0 Kw Spindle + VFD experience, anyone?

    Hi,

    I recommend getting a water cooled model and mist coolant as cutting aluminum at high rpm generates a lot of heat.
    I use flood coolant, and it makes a huge difference.

    Built-Up-Edge (BUE) is a major problem when milling aluminum. The aluminum chips 'weld' themselves to the tool, the tool loads up and stalls (if low torque spindle)
    or just plain breaks. Excessive heat is the usual cause. You can slow the spindle, it will help. Cooling, either flood or mist will also help, and it's less to do with cooling but rather
    flushing or blowing the chips out of the cutzone. Re-cutting chips is a prime reason for BUE.

    Most carbide coatings are TiN, TiAlN etc,all trivalent chemical coatings. Aluminum is a trivalent metal and consequently aluminum shows an affinity with trivalent coatings.
    Iron based metals are quad-valent and have little affinity with trivalent coatings and therefore coatings offer lubricity to steel but not aluminum. Most aluminum tools are therefore
    left uncoated. One exception is Di-boride coatings which are as 'greasy as a butchers prick' in aluminum. If you have trouble, particularly with some 'sticky' aluminum grades,
    like some of the 5000 series and most of the 1000 and 3000 series then Di-boride may just save your bacon.

    Craig

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Posts
    926

    Re: 3.0 Kw Spindle + VFD experience, anyone?

    Aluminum doesn't bond to ZRN coated carbide and the extra speed they allow makes a huge difference to cutting performance - especially on high speed constant torque spindles that hit peak power at 18,000-24,000rpm+.

    The extra heat from cutting aluminum at 20,000rpm+ is easily managed with the coolant. That is, as long as I feed it fast and deep enough to avoid the tool rubbing.

    If I was buy my spindle again, I'd probably go for one with more speed and less power. It would be more useful to me as most of what I do requires small tools.

    Large tools never seem to fit in all the crevices on the molds I make. According to GWizard I'm only ever using a tiny fraction of my spindle's available power and torque. I could do the same with less wasted power and noise.

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 18
    Last Post: 02-09-2019, 07:31 PM
  2. Replies: 9
    Last Post: 01-19-2018, 04:26 AM
  3. Replies: 15
    Last Post: 05-07-2016, 12:48 AM
  4. Anybody have experience with Bosch Rexroth EFC 3610 VFD?
    By A_Camera in forum Phase Converters
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-14-2016, 12:01 PM
  5. Anyone have experience with a Hitachi SJ200 VFD smoking
    By sierra4sport in forum Uncategorised MetalWorking Machines
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 01-13-2014, 02:54 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •