CNC precision spindle design needed

[uma rostikovitch]

Good morning my Cad Brothers and Sisters.

Would anyone here know of a good design for a precision engraving spindle to be used on a CNC engraving machine?

We design machines here using Solidworks and Autocad however no-one at this facility has ever designed or engineered a precision spindle.

The design that we need would have to be capable of producing fine detail, and the machine tool that we now have has a clunky spindle that is really been used and it is time to retrofit the machine with a new high speed spindle.

I hope that I am not off topic here, if I am I truly apologize and any information afforded to me would be appreciated.

Uma Rostikovitch

[shift1313]

Welcome to the forum Uma!

 

I am a little confused as to what you want here. What machine do you have? When you say spindle are you wanting to design an electric motor? Or is this the holder/custom tooling that you are looking for? There are plenty of off the shelf Spindles for this type of thing for under $500. It is hardly worth the time investment to design anything these days that you can get off the shelf(physical parts).

 

https://buildyourcnc.com/SpindlesAndAccessories.aspx

 

Maybe if you can give more specifics we can give you some better information.

[uma rostikovitch]

Thank you ever so much for your reply shift1313,

I suppose I should have been more specific as to what type of machines we use here. They are actually called machining centers. Mazak, Kitamura and Haas are the type we use. We now are in the process of

shifting product lines that require more finely detailed type milling than what we have done in the past and to get a high speed precision spindle retrofitted to our existing machines require enormous lead time from

the machine manufacturers, 20 - 30 weeks is not uncommon, and 7-10 thousand dollars is not as well. The spindles that are ordinarily used on the CNC machines that are common today are simply not up to the task of 24-7 machine running time, cutting tool steels.

Many thanks again,

Uma Rostikovitch

[shift1313]

Uma, another user was having trouble uploading some images for you but has graciously provided some info on a proven design. See below.

 

Ms Rostikovitch,

I have enclosed a 30 year old engraving spindle design. The accuracy of this design is used in the engraving industry mostly on engraving-reducing machines used by the United States Mint, to produce the dies used to make our metal currency. It is of course also used in the jewelry industry and has been since the turn of the century.

The design employs two angular contact bearings, installed back to front, in the front, and one axial bearing in the rear. As you probably know bearings are ranked by class number, 1 class being the least and 8 or so class being the most accurate. The higher the number, the more accurate the bearing, and of course the more expensive as well. Also enclosed in an image of a master hob, engraved in RDS Oil-Hard tool steel, to demonstrate the fineness of detail that can be accomplished using this design. I believe 3-class bearings were used in this spindle. An important point to be recognized here is that for the ultimate in accuracy, the cutter should be sharpened while in the spindle. The cutter grinding fixture has to accomodate spindle and all. The cutters used on this type of engraving is a two flute conical ball cutter, and they are sharpened to .004" in diameter, or course under microscopic observation.

I hope this is of some help to you.

Chubarka

[Dadgad]

This response certainly seems to indicate somewhat more than a passing familiarity with the subtleties of the subject at hand.

Nicely done Chubarca.

[uma rostikovitch]

Mr shift1313, and Chubarka,

There simply isn’t a way that I can thank you enough for sharing your expertise with us. I have turned over your remarks and your images to our Engineering Dept., and was witness to a lot of gratitude, and awe at your words and images. One of our draftsmen was quick to point out that as an example of accuracy that the design is capable of, you chose to use the official Insignia of our country, no less.

Needless to say that I was most fortunate to choose this particular Forum for my query.

Many thanks again, you definitely are the men.

Uma Rostikovitch

[shift1313]

Mr shift1313, and Chubarka,

There simply isn’t a way that I can thank you enough for sharing your expertise with us. I have turned over your remarks and your images to our Engineering Dept., and was witness to a lot of gratitude, and awe at your words and images. One of our draftsmen was quick to point out that as an example of accuracy that the design is capable of, you chose to use the official Insignia of our country, no less.

Needless to say that I was most fortunate to choose this particular Forum for my query.

Many thanks again, you definitely are the men.

Uma Rostikovitch

 

Uma, you are very welcome but i really had nothing to do with the answer, that was all Chubarka