Here's the situation, I have a home built CNC VMC that I've built and have slowly been upgrading for years.
I've finally gotten to replacing the headstock. I started with (and currently am using) a sherline headstock assembly. This headstock is way too underpowered and not very rigid, but at the time was the best way to go.
So now I'm working on what to replace it with. I've read MANY threads here on spindles which were very helpful but also added many more options then I originally was thinking about. So I'd like to through this out to the wisdom of the zone and see if anybody has any suggestions/tips as which way to go (or not go).
I'd like a headstock that is only as powerful and rigid as needed for my mill. My mill is about 500lb, LM rails and ballscrews on all axis, and a table about the size of a bridgeport table. So that being said, I would also like to have an R8 spindle like a bridgeport.
So I start with two options:
1. Find a headstock from some other machine and fit it to mine.
(anybody know of any good mid-powered heastocks)
2. Design and build one.
I would like this option better, but from what I've read from the other people that made their own spindle, it was not very fun.
So anybody want to kick out any ideas to start with???
Thanks for the help,
-greg