I did a search and couldn’t find an exact answer, but please point me to a prior post if this question has been asked before.
I have a Shapeoko Pro and considering an 80mm spindle. Per C3D, I would have to get their 80mm bracket and an HDZ, which unfortunately makes the mounting hardware cost more than then spindle and VFD I would get. Hoping for an more economical option and interested to hear if anyone has done this. If so, with which bracket? Though I’m not a machinist, I have access to a machine shop and Tormach, and am open to practicing with one or two brackets before I get the final. Thanks.
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While I’ve done a variety of adapter plates:
my understanding of the reason we don’t do an 80mm mount for the Z-Plus is that the leadscrew nut:
is a wear item, and the added weight will wear it out prematurely, which is why we only have the 80mm mount for our HDZ.
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Hello Will. Thank you for the prompt response. Just to confirm, is your suggestion that, instead of getting a “standard” 65mm or 80mm CNC spindle, that one could get that Mafell? Is it confirmed that it will easily mount to a Z plus (either natively or with an adapter plate)?
Without knowing much about the Mafell product it seems:
Pros: Not as heavy as 2.2kw spindle so less stress on Z Plus, Rapid tool changes
Cons: Cost, Still brushless motor (i.e. noise), internal fan (i.e. more dust blown about), Max 8mm end mill size, No software speed control
I’m happy to add this to the list of options if I have all the factors.
For the replacement nuts, are they easy to replace on the Z Plus? I don’t run my machine that often, so an occasional $30 consumable would be ok.
My immediate question was on whether the C3D 80mm mount even has the holes to line up with the Z plus, or if I would need to tap new holes or use a different bracket.
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No, I am not recommending the Mafell — I bought it back before Carbide 3D did a spindle, and even then, it was rather an indulgence (I was doing a lot of test cuts, and was fascinated with the mechanism), and for a long while, I couldn’t get really workable dust collection (that is finally resolved, and if someone owns one and wants almost half of a mount and some ideas on that, contact me via PM). Note that there is a PV version which would allow speed control (might need a resistor or something to adjust for the voltage range).
The 65mm VFD spindle is the right choice for pretty much every Shapeoko, esp. now that it has an ER-16 collet and the option of 3/8" tooling.
There aren’t that many folks who push their machines hard enough, or need the 1/2" tooling which the 80mm VFD spindle brings to the table — plus there’s the added complexity of water cooling.
The 80mm mount has holes for the HDZ — the Z-Plus for the SO3 only has holes for the rectangular 69mm mount (which can be reduced to 65mm with a bushing).
In what way would a 3/8" tool in an ER-16 65mm VFD spindle not meet your needs?
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Thanks for the clarification on all points. For that Mafell, did you keep it mounted on another machine, or did you abandon it totally? How was the noise compared to a standard router?
“In what way would a 3/8” tool in an ER-16 65mm VFD spindle not meet your needs?"
Never said that was the case. Another CNC company sells a Shapeoko-ready spindle that is ER11 so I assumed the C3D spindle was the same. That is great that is ER16, and I agree that 3/8 tooling would be very useful.
It ultimately may be that a 65mm, ER16, air-cooled is the best option. 100% I don’t need the power of a 2.2kw spindle. It’s just that my CNC will be run in an apartment, so I was just thinking of ways to keep noise and dust to the minimum. From what I’ve read, water cooled spindles are slightly quieter and less dusty (i.e. no fan) compared to air cooled. More complex, for sure…
I also got an Solid State UC160-190 chiller recently and have been curious to use it (didn’t pay full price :-). So I’m thinking the water cooling part is less simple.
But, again, just learning that the C3D spindle is ER16 is huge. Thank you.
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Wood screams when you cut it no matter what spindle you use, from what I can tell
I use the 65mm C3D spindle, the spindle itself is very quiet, but that first pass especially, really is quite loud
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Still using the Mafell — it was a pricey thing, and as noted, I have finally gotten it working as I want.
If you have any other questions about Carbide 3D products which are not covered on our Shop pages, the folks at sales should be able to assist, or let us know here.
A post was merged into an existing topic: Aluminum work - Spindle vs Router vs AMB or Mafell milling motor
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