I am looking to possibly purchase a lightly used 4x2 5 Pro that comes with a PWN VFD spindle. I feel comfortable with Carbide products’ support as I learn the machine and the CNC process, software, etc. I am looking for advice as a newbie. Would getting a 5 pro with the third party PWN VFD spindle inject more difficulty into learning the CNC machine/process? Any experience with the support I might expect from PWC and use of the spindle on the 5 Pro (including using the spindle with Carbie software to operate the machine)?
Thanks for any advice/insight that you can provide!
PWC vfd? I tried a quick Google search and didn’t come up with anything.
That being said, adding a spindle/vfd setup to the learning curve won’t be too much. I actually find it makes it easier as spindle cuts/carves so much better than a trim router.
I think he may have meant to type Pwncnc . Pwncnc has great customer service and have been supplying spindles for a long time to different manufacturers.
Sorry yes, it was a PWN spindle. I realize the spindle is “better” than a trim router, but I want to get a comfort level of how much additional learning I will have with the non Carbide spindle such as getting it to work with the carbide software, etc… If there is an issue, will I get caught having both companies saying it was the other company’s product, etc. Thanks for your input.
Ah, yes. Pwncnc has almost as good customer service as C3D.
Using it with Carbide Create and Carbide Motion will be the exact same as with the C3D set up. So there won’t be any additional learning curve with that compared to the C3D set up.
Plus you have the advantage of getting help and information from both places. Pwncnc has a very good forum and customer service and there are quite a few of us here that have the pwncnc setup that can help too.
Is the spindle air-cooled or water-cooled? An air-cooled spindle and a router will be the same learning process, and arguably easier with a spindle since it would be more integrated with control software. If the spindle is not already configured in Carbide Motion, the C3D folks can point you in the right direction.
For a water-cooled spindle you will have to manage the cooling system. Not rocket science, but just a few things to consider.
The above is contingent on the fact that the VFD is already programmed and wired for the Shapeoko Pro. If not, you will have to follow certain wiring and button-programming steps. Well documented processes, but just some things to consider.
FYI, I have a Shapeoko Pro with a router and will be purchasing a water-cooled PWN CNC spindle in the next month.
Thanks for the information. The spindle I am considering purchasing is air-cooled and is already “installed”/ being used on the Pro 5. Hope your “ugrade” to the PWN CNC goes well.
I don’t believe the two companies have a history of working well together to be honest. Both have good customer service and a good product but there was that whole issue with PWNCNC vfds not working well with the Warthog controller in the s5pro, PWN said it was generating too dirty of a signal or something or other for their vfd to use and C3d calling that BS, it went back and forth. PWNCNC eventually released an adapter cord to bypass the vfd port and control it direct from the board which they said resolved the issue for people if I recall correctly, though C3D said it was the same signal and wouldn’t matter, etc. You can google it, I may have some details off as I am working off memory, it was a topic for a bit. It’s been gone over by a few people in the “Unsupported” forum here, a number of people in that forum with non-C3D spindles.
That’s probably the main thing I’d check if I was you, how the VFD is connected to the S5Pro controller. As for the other part of your question on a learning curve, trim routers are fine but are actually more of a PITA and require more process than a VFD spindle. With a spindle you just set the rpm in the software, it turns on the spinde, sets the RPM and off it goes. With a trim router you need to guess about where on the dial the needed rpm is and remember to turn it on and set it when the program starts, also to change the RPM if needed at any tool change, also to check and make sure it isn’t “self adjusting” due to vibration, tape is some peoples friend. The learning/process curve is easier with a spindle. Just know that C3D won’t help you troubleshoot the spindle itself, just their hardware, if you have issues and PWN already has a history of blaming issues on the C3D hardware, the forum you’re most likely to end up if you have issues is the “Unsupported” one, which is worth noting the name of.
All that being said, I’d buy it. I prefer spindles and wouldn’t use the C3D one even though it comes with support because it also comes locked down which is a non-starter with me. A PWNCNC VFD on a S5Pro for me sounds like a good setup as long as it’s setup properly and working well, don’t buy for the temporary learning process, buy looking for the long haul.
Thank you for the detailed comments. I will check to see if the unit has the 'pigtail" for connection to the controller board. Thanks again for your help.