Hello all. I've been lurking here, well, for years actually. I'm a woodworker for the most part, but also do some metal working for various projects. I have a bridgeport clone and a south bend 9" that is in various stages of reconditioning. I also have an old 22" Voest that sorta scares me to death...
I used to work with a chair maker who built his own huge cnc router, and I found the idea of building your own machinery fascinating. That was years ago, and since then I've spent a great deal of time reading the posts here, collecting random parts, and have finally decided to plunge into a small build. I figure that materials and components are relatively inexpensive and abundant for a small machine, making this a good learning experience. Y'know, before I get to work on the 5-axis gantry router I'd love to have
I've decided to get to work on a small CNC mill, and would rather start from scratch rather than convert a chinese mill. My intent is to roughly follow the same build on 5 Bears website (www.5bears.com/cnc.htm) because I happen to have access to some heavy extruded aluminum columns and somewhere in one of these boxes I have an assortment of THK HSR25 & 30 linear bearings and rails. I also have a new set of Keling 382oz/in stepper motors that I acquired last year and I'm hoping the G540 drive will poke it's head into the market soon!
I need some spindle advice however. I've searched this forum over and over, and it seems like the search leaves me even more confused. I have the majority of the build figured out, roughly, but don't really know what I need in a spindle and motor. I'm not certain what size or speed I need, what type of controls are required, etc. My intent is to use the machine primarily for brass, and primarily small parts, hinges and whatnot. I build custom furniture and it's not unusual to have to make a custom set of knife hinges or tansu drawer pulls. Usually I make such hardware by hand, a timely process. In the past I've used bronze, aluminum, silver, and occasionally cast iron or mild steel, so I need this machine to be beefier than an engraver, but due to the small runs of parts I don't exactly need a 50,000rpm production oriented machine.
Also, and excuse my noob ignorance, but why does a spindle motor require a controller? Why not just a step pulley like a larger machine?
Any help y'all can send along will be much appreciated!