Who makes the Shapeoko HDM spindle(s)?
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Going to throw out a guess that it’s Huanyang or whoever actually makes 90% of the identical looking spindles on the market. I have my doubts that C3D will tell you, and given it’s a trade secret I don’t blame them if that’s how it turns out. That said, I have no doubt that the spindles they sell will be top quality because when you source stuff from Shenzhen (or wherever) for resale you often have that option.
My Huanyang spindle was grounded on top as it should be, but the bearings were un-greased from the factory. Just the cost of buying cheap stuff.
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At least we know 3 things are certain.
It uses proper angular contact bearings
it comes pre wired grounded from the factory
the VFD is preprogramed and the spindle goes through a break in cycle as part of the QC process.
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From what I have seen of supply chains in China there is some reasonable chance that HuanYang do the assembly of their VFDs but most likely outsource the board manufacturing and component installation.
As for the spindles, I also have a “branded” spindle which I’ve had to open and re-grease, I very much doubt that any of it was manufactured or assembled by the brand on the spindle, there is most likely a rotating cast of second and third tier suppliers doing this and supplying the product to the “Brand”
The major differences in this sort of supply chain, as you say, are in QA and what level, if any, of QA the party you purchase from does. It is also not uncommon for parts to be performance binned as per Intel processors with the best, lowest runout spindles going to the German brand and the worst, balls falling out at the factory stuff going to “Shiny Super Mega Spindle MFG Co Ceramic Bearing Quality” to be sold on eBay.
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I read somewhere that there is a Chinese company named “German” who produces bearings, which allows Chinese spindle manufacturers to claim they use “German bearings” 
Or maybe that’s an urban legend, but a very niche one if it is.
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Indeed, I also had a UK reseller of spindles tell me that whilst explaining what multiple of the spindle cost a real German ceramic bearing set would be.
Of course the French, Japanese, Taiwanese and apparently some Americans also know how to make good bearings but “German” has been seized upon as the synomym for quality 
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I will note that I have been very pleased w/ my Mafell FM 1000 WS, but will concede that the price was quite high, and that the only reason I was able to justify the expense was that I do a lot of test cutting as part of tech support and some days it felt as if I was spending more time wrenching than cutting.
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Ah, I have been told by several people now that Mafell not only has an assembly facility in Germany (where blue tools are made for Julien too) but that a significant fraction of their parts come from the new EU states supply chain as per Bosch Automotive, BMW etc. and come from Bulgaria, Romania etc. not China.
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Yeah, I have been very impressed w/ it, and it has me wanting to replace the few power tools I use w/ a P1CC (jigsaw) and an A 18 M (drill/driver) and maybe some sort of track saw — wish that they did a stationary bandsaw, since at some point I’d like to get a nice one for resawing (but then again, given the price of their portable one, probably just as well)
One thing Ide like to add is the noise level of the HDM spindle, its very quiet when compared to other spindles Ive run.
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I was looking for the Mafell spindle you have in the US and they didn’t seem to be available. Everyone is jealous of your quick change though!
Has anyone said anything yet about which VFD is shipping with the HDM? I’m wondering if the spindle is quieter because something like PD041 is set higher on the stock HDM? Setting to 10 or 11 makes a spindle sing so much nicer.
It was available from Timberwolf Tools, and you should be able to import one pretty easily — I noted which 220V–110V step-down transformer I used and the adapters.
Apparently it will be replaced at Timberwolf Tools w/ the PV model which will allow automatic speed setting and on/off w/o needing a BitRunner.
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Mafell makes a nice tool, as Will mentioned, you can order from Timberwolf. You can also get AMB ect in the US. If you have compressed air in your shop, another option would be one of the cheaper 120v motors, then add a ATC adapter. Various companies manufacture them. $400ish? Tool holders aren’t cheap, but you’ll get push button tool changes. Predetermined tools lengths, and room to grow with more advanced controllers ect.
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The 1500W version, the 2200W version, or both? What collet size(s) and what is the maximum usable speed of it (them)?
I think Vince has the 1.5kw version. However both noise profiles are the same.
They both use ER20 collet systems.
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Awesome! 
I’m guessing that they’re both constant torque spindles with a 24,000 RPM rated speed, right? Do you plan to start selling them as separate upgrades (with or without VFD’s, cabling, chiller (is it a chiller or a cooler?), and tubing). If so, when? Will the 1500W unit be compatible with the Z-Plus? Nice job on the HDM too!
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I noticed in the HDM video and photos the motion control and VFD are not shown. Are they separate units like the chiller and can we get a few pictures with dimensions please. People will need to account for wire routing and dimensions when designing enclosures.
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I believe it’s a forced air radiator liquid cooling loop / heat exchanger with a reservoir. No refrigeration
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We don’t have dimensions yet. The final electronics enclosure is being finished by @wmoy - but each HDM has aprox 1m worth of cabling from the machine to the electronics then another M from the sockets to the electronics.
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The electronics enclosure will be approximately 14x14x6 inches, you will need to reserve a few inches around it for airflow, the wires will come out on one side.
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