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Project Logs / Re: Making the best of Global Warming
« Last post by rleete on July 03, 2025, 12:16:14 PM »Doesn't it block access to the door for the shed?
Recent Posts
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Resources / Re: Metalworkingfun.net is Back!
« Last post by rleete on July 03, 2025, 12:12:07 PM »Yeah, I got some neat project ideas from the old posts.
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CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by awemawson on July 03, 2025, 12:10:42 PM »Steve, I made up a high speed spindle to use in my CNC milling machine many years back using simple bearing but it was driven by an integral air turbine (jet impinging on a small gear wheel), and I arranged it so that the air passed through the bearings downwords and kept the swarf off the workpiece. As the air was lubricated being supplied from a regulator / lubricator it not only cooled but gave the bearings a chance of survival at the very high rpms that it ran at. It's probably kicking about in a cupboard in the workshop.
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Project Logs / Re: Making the best of Global Warming
« Last post by vtsteam on July 03, 2025, 12:03:09 PM »Wow, very nice Joules! 
Now you just need a thermoelectric panel behind the air conditioner.
Now you just need a thermoelectric panel behind the air conditioner.
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Project Logs / Re: Making the best of Global Warming
« Last post by AdeV on July 03, 2025, 11:47:44 AM »Oooh, that's swish!
Might I ask where you got it from?
I should really learn to read posts properly & then I wouldn't look quite so stupid answering the question you already answered!
I'd quite fancy one of those in my garden... Also, given a sensible sunny day & not baking hot, what sort of power are you getting from it (instantaneous & over a good day)? I'm guessing you don't have any winter readings yet, given you don't live in Birkenhead, but I think that's when the tracker will really come into its own.
BTW - that's a pretty damn competitive price sans panels... very tempting!
I should really learn to read posts properly & then I wouldn't look quite so stupid answering the question you already answered!
I'd quite fancy one of those in my garden... Also, given a sensible sunny day & not baking hot, what sort of power are you getting from it (instantaneous & over a good day)? I'm guessing you don't have any winter readings yet, given you don't live in Birkenhead
, but I think that's when the tracker will really come into its own.BTW - that's a pretty damn competitive price sans panels... very tempting!
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CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by vtsteam on July 03, 2025, 10:42:19 AM »I've got plenty of high quality skate bearings (608 2RS) up to ABEC9 IRC. It wouldn't be hard to make up a spindle with some water pipe as a housing. I think I have some high quality 8mm shaft as well.
I was curious about what the RPM limit was for the skate bearings, and came across this explanation which I found quite humorous:
https://www.ahrinternational.com/Skateboard_bearings.htm
I was curious about what the RPM limit was for the skate bearings, and came across this explanation which I found quite humorous:
https://www.ahrinternational.com/Skateboard_bearings.htm
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Resources / Re: Metalworkingfun.net is Back!
« Last post by vtsteam on July 03, 2025, 10:00:40 AM »Too bad the old content was lost. There was some pretty amazing stuff there.
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CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by vtsteam on July 03, 2025, 09:13:44 AM »Thanks Russell. 
Thanks John I ordered a set of bearings from the site you listed. Much obliged!
I think today I'll try fitting that 500 watt spindle to the mill, just to see what it can do. I did spend some time looking at various spindles in the $100 to $300 range on Amazon, and reading reviews and it wasn't very informative. Some were DC some were VFD 3 phase, some air cooled some water cooled. Seemed like the most expensive (water cooled 2.2 kw 4 bearing w/vfd) had comments like "not much torque compared to my ________" router, or even as much torque as the reviewer's old 300 watt spindle.
So I'm curious about this 500 watt DC spindle I already have. What can it do?
When I think about this stuff, I'm thinking it's likely I will probably settle on a 1/8" 2 flute mill bit for whatever I use this machine for in future. Aluminum, not wood. Small parts. That means to me, considering the overall stiffness of the machine, a speed probably where I am now - 8000 rpm 16 IPM, and depth of cut yet to be determined.
So if that's true, an ideal spindle would be running at 8000 RPM at its peak power output, not a 24000 or higher spindle throttled down to 8000. Bearings are obviously a major consideration. Ideally I would make up a non-motorized spindle driven by a belt of some sort, and a separate motor. Is that right?
Thanks John I ordered a set of bearings from the site you listed. Much obliged!I think today I'll try fitting that 500 watt spindle to the mill, just to see what it can do. I did spend some time looking at various spindles in the $100 to $300 range on Amazon, and reading reviews and it wasn't very informative. Some were DC some were VFD 3 phase, some air cooled some water cooled. Seemed like the most expensive (water cooled 2.2 kw 4 bearing w/vfd) had comments like "not much torque compared to my ________" router, or even as much torque as the reviewer's old 300 watt spindle.
So I'm curious about this 500 watt DC spindle I already have. What can it do?
When I think about this stuff, I'm thinking it's likely I will probably settle on a 1/8" 2 flute mill bit for whatever I use this machine for in future. Aluminum, not wood. Small parts. That means to me, considering the overall stiffness of the machine, a speed probably where I am now - 8000 rpm 16 IPM, and depth of cut yet to be determined.
So if that's true, an ideal spindle would be running at 8000 RPM at its peak power output, not a 24000 or higher spindle throttled down to 8000. Bearings are obviously a major consideration. Ideally I would make up a non-motorized spindle driven by a belt of some sort, and a separate motor. Is that right?
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Resources / Metalworkingfun.net is Back!
« Last post by rleete on July 03, 2025, 07:01:47 AM »Metalworkingfun.net is back online, thanks to the efforts of Ed K. As most of you know, the original forum was lost when the guy running things passed away. R.I.P. Vinny.
Anyway, be sure to use the .net extension, as the .com one was hijacked by someone. It's still pretty baren over there, as all the original content was lost.
Not trying to steal anyone away, just another place to discuss all sorts of machining, electronics, 3D printing and related hobby stuff.
Anyway, be sure to use the .net extension, as the .com one was hijacked by someone. It's still pretty baren over there, as all the original content was lost.
Not trying to steal anyone away, just another place to discuss all sorts of machining, electronics, 3D printing and related hobby stuff.