I am just about to install the 80mm 2.2kw spindle on my standard sized SO3. It has been upgraded with the HDZ ballscrew Z axis. My question is that the Makita Router on the Z plus Z axis gave me around 4 inches of useable Z height.
With the PwnCNC 80 mm Spindle, I can obtain about 6.5 inches of Z height and I wondered if there was any information about how much spindle should protrude below the bottom edge of the 80mm spindle mount.
The lower the height of the spindle, the spindle will probably sit in the spindle mount more securely and be less prone to any oscillations which could possibly be induced into the casing, especially where the X rail could potentially be deflected when carrying the extra weight of the Z axis and the spindle combined. .
The height is adjustable. I frequently move my spindle up or down to suit the project & tool lengths.
There is a line on the spindle just below the logo / label. A good start would be to have that line even with the top of the mount. The spindle will be close to centered in the mount.
Image to show… no lines to see so went for lining bottom edge of black casing with top edge of HDZ… this provides 130mm height from baseboard to bottom of clamping nut. Spindle held in 80mm spindle mount by bolts tightened to 15 Nm.
The guideline I like to use is to install the shortest tool I intend to use, jog the machine down as low as it can go, then adjust the position in the mount so that it will just cut as deeply as the machine structure warrants (the top of a threaded table, just above the surface of the T-tracks…)
The further down the spindle is in the router mount the more your tram is exaggerated. As @Tod1d said the position is variable. No matter how high you get the spindle the material has to pass under the gantry. So if your project fits under the gantry you are golden. Just move the spindle to the position required.
