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| Router speeds and belt drive questions.. |
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| John Hill:
I am building a copy router, it is of the parallelogram type but I am not happy with it so far.. The main problem is the weight of the router motor, usually with these machines the solution to that is another arm and a counterweight but I would also like to up the horsepower and get variable RPM. SO, the idea is to mount a much bigger motor near the cross piece (where its weight wont be an issue) with a belt drive to a vertical spindle. But how fast can I run a belt drive? 30K maybe? (Sounds a bit scary!) Also, this machine will be used for wood 3D copying but I also want to cut shapes in sheet aluminium using a 3mm cutter, what RPM do I need for aluminium? Really fast or quite slow. If possible I want to avoid liquid lubricant. Any thoughts? [Yes, it will be painted one day, at the moment it has a nice even coating of 'Seaside Ochre'.] |
| SPiN Racing:
You really dont need to have a motor that spins very fast.. Nor the belt itself. Simple put a larger pulley on the engine.. and real small on the spindle. |
| Bernd:
John, I've tried using a variable speed Bosch router, 1HP, on aluminum. The aluminum is/was 6061 1/4" thick. No matter what speed I ran it at the cutter got gummed up. Of course I used a 4 lipped and 2 lipped HSS mill cutter. Neither worked very well. The idea of the motor being belt driven is fine in my opinion. I hope some of what I tried can help out on your quest as far as trying to cut aluminum is concerned. Bernd |
| John Hill:
Hi Bernd, did you try really slow? Did you try with lubricant on the bit? I had a bit of success using Vaselene on the bit and smeared on the work. Friends said I should be using kerosene or CRC-56 but I would really like to be able to do this without flooding the workshop and coating the walls and ceiling. |
| sbwhart:
Hi John Have you tried WD40 ? Stew |
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