New Desktop - Spindle or Router?

[Walt_S]

I already know the answer I'm "going" to get from everything I've read so far, but I'm stretching my budget, and myself, if I go with the spindle for starters. I'm not going to be makng anything intricate, signs mainly for starters, and working in my garage. My little Dewalt 611 isn't loud at all and I'm very happy with it. I can't find what PC router comes with the DT, there's no model number listed anywhere that I can find. So if I can make some money and then upgrade to a spindle and sell the router it'd make more sense to me, and my pocketbook.

Stupid question - Can I use my Dewalt 611 or will it not fit?

[bleeth]

The PC router is the 2 1/4 HP.
If you used your Dewalt you would need to either customize the router mount, if it would even work at all, or make a new one.
On any cnc you get smoother cuts (less sanding) with a spindle.

[tlempicke]

Save a few bucks, start out with a spindle, you will not regret it.

Look at the bearings on each. The router bearing will be about 1/2 to 1/3 the diameter of the spindle bearing. That spindle is made to take the sideways loads that your CNC is going to be putting on it. It will last many times longer than the router without failing. I also has much tighter internal clearances. That is one of the reasons you have to do a warm up routine before cutting.

The motor in the spindle is a 3 phase motor that responds to frequency. Like any three phase motor it develops about 3 times the horsepower for it's size and weight. All of the motors on a big airplane are three phase for just that reason.

The controller will accept single or three phase power (depending on make) and feed three phase power to the motor at whatever frequency you select to get the RPM that you want. When the motor starts to load down and do some work the controller will keep the same frequency but adjust the voltage and thus current flow to keep it running at the same RPM. So when your router, which has to scream along at about 16,000 RPM in order to generate the rated horsepower gets to an area where it has to work a bit it will slow down. The spindle will change sound, bear down, and keep the same RPM.

Smoother cutting, better cutting because you can select an RPM, much longer life. What's not to like?

[Walt_S]

Thanks for the input, guys. Kind of what I was expecting to hear, but none the less it is helpful. I just need to come up with another $1200, so this purchase might be put off for awhile. But I want to do it right, otherwise I would have bought a SharK for $4000 and already been on my way, or unhappy, as the case may have been.

[Burkhardt]

Not to forget a spindle is usually much safer. The router rips away from standstill with maximum current/torque. If it should accidentally go off while working the collet it can do pretty bad damage to hands and equipment.
A spindle ramps up softly with very little torque. It would probably stall (and the vfd error out) when a wrench is still on the collet. Not that I would suggest to try that...

[scottp55]

Just a note;
Desktops with spindle come with a safety interlock key that shuts power down to the the VFD, and is connected by a cable attached to the collet nut wrench.
So power is totally off when changing bits(unless you cheat by changing bit at 24,0)...not sure if interlock is installed if router is bought or comes with a spindle upgrade package?
Nice to have the complete package come together...a matter of an hour and you can be cutting which certainly helped this idiot:)
Also nice not have to worry about brushes failing like on my last 19+hr cut.
Oh, ask Sales what the going price is to install 2 extra limit switches (X,24 and Y,18) at the factory....it was $56 3 years ago, and saved me installing and wiring them, and really comes in handy when working around the cutting limits or when using offsets and forget....instead of hitting a hard stop and losing position, it just comes to a soft halt.