Spindle Recommendation for Aluminum

[jimfowler]

Hi.  I'm about to pull the trigger on a Power Route and in order to keep my wife from kicking me out of the house I plan on picking up a spindle for the machine.  Being a total neophyte I need some input.

I plan on making faceplates (for music equipment so I supposed just punching holes in stuff and engraving text) out of 6061 (2mm and 3mm thicknesses).  What wattage spindle would be optimal and should I look for air- or water-cooled.  I don't need to crank parts out fast so if running an air-cooled spindle saves money/hassle that's preferable.  Also, no 220V so whatever I get will need to be 120V.

Thanks in advance.

- Jim

[Bruce]

Hi Jim, I recently set my Carve King up with a VFD and spindle motor. I used a Step-up transformer 115-230vac with a 230Vac VFD. I think having a transformer on the front end of the VFD has some advantages. It provides electrical isolation and it helps with the noise issues that can mess up the control signals.
Here's the thread I posted with a couple short videos: millrightcnc.proboards.com/thread/1543/new-control-electronics-enclosure

The air cooled spindle seems a bit noisy to me. If you're looking for a quiet motor maybe a water cooled unit would be better.