I have only just unboxed, assembled, and done an initial zero on a Pro 5. Really liking the machine but realized that my project needs to run custom 0.5" shank cutters and the VFD from SO will not. Doh!
As a temporary fix, I will use the SO to rough my profile and then finish with a bearing version of the cutter in my router table. This is fine and maybe even a viable permanent solution but I have my eye on upgrading to a 2.2kw VFD.
I have read a ton of the forums and it seems like previous SO models didn’t have the robustness to support such a heavy spindle. The Pro 5 seems like it does.
Not expecting a sanctioned response from SO but hoping to get some yays but will accept nays wholeheartedly.
I don’t love the amount of tinkering required to the bigger spindle up and running but it is the only way to automate my next product.
Also! Is there any chance that the VFD unit would also run a 2.2KW spindle? In other words, just upgrade the spindle and not a new VFD. There aren’t specs listed on the SO VFD page.
It’s my understanding that we have a 2.2KW spindle for the SO5 Pro in development — that would presumably have an ER-20 collet which would allow 1/2" shank tooling
The configuration of the VFD is locked down, so even if it could support a 2.2KW spindle that’s not something which we would enable or support.
That said, 8mm tooling is a sea change in terms of rigidity from 1/4" — have you checked to see if that would suit your needs?
Alternately, folks have mounted ER-16 collets on 8mm shafts in the Carbide Compact Router — would that be something which would help in your situation?
As a side note, why does the project “NEED” to run a 1/2" shank? There may be existing tooling that allows you to run the project with a 1/4" shank tool. Even on my HDM (ER20 collet allows 1/2" shank tools) I have found 1/2" tooling only useful in very limited circumstances and actually run 1/4" and 3/8" 90% of the time. The rigidity of 1/2" tooling is nice, but it takes a lot of power to run that big of an endmill thru material.
Custom profile cutters that are big. The shops that make these refuse to put them on a 0.25" shank. This is one of those “very limited” circumstances (which I seem to specialize in in all things making).
Are you saying that you are running a spindle that accommodates an ER20? If so, what, please?
It is on my HDM, and that comes with an 80mm, water cooled, ER20 collet. My SO5 Pro has the 65mm, air-cooled, ER11 Carbide 3D spindle. I am too am hopeful the 80mm spindle for the SO5 Pro comes out soon. Mostly for the extra power as the SO5 Pro can pretty easily stall the 1.2kw.
Oh, HS! The 2.2KW exists! Wonder if what is in dev right now is making this same spindle talk to the board for the Pro 5. I may have a barely used 1.5KW spindle to unload if it comes out soon.
