I am just thinking a head.
I have a 1/2" router bit, I currently use it on a router table, hand fed. I am unable to find 1/4" shaft version.
Is there a router with a collet that can take a 1/2inch bit that I can use on a LR4?
There are 1/4" to 1/2" adapters, though you will lose some of your working height and risk increasing the runout. Here is one.
A spindle motor with ER20 collet perhaps? Do not know if it would not be to big for that machine.
They are not too heavy, but I don’t know if the LR4 will handle an 80mm spindle. I couldn’t find a 65mm spindle with an ER20 collet. And the spindle plus VFD is going to run $300+ USD.
65mm is the one i believe its recomended, 80mm spindles are more heavy (and will introduce sone issues as it center is further away from the core)
1/2" shank bits wont go inside er11/16 collets
Thanks, i thought there might be an option like that.
The bit I would like to use probably needs 15mm of Z movement on an item that is 40mm tall. The adapter you found seems to need 70mm of additional height so I don’t think that would be possible. There looks like there would be quite a lot of mass at the end of a thin shaft, spinning quickly with a lateral force… scary for me…
I think I have found a 1/4 inch shaft version on Aliexpress, I may give it a go.
I am curious, has anyone ever fitted a non 65mm diam router to a LR4?
Ryan suggests the upper limit of tool diameter is 69mm in the docs. Plenty of people have mounted spindles within that constraint. 80mm spindle is a no go.
But I’m not sure why you’re trying to buy the tool to fit the bit - surely just buy a different bit? The geometry you need for CNC is much different of that for typical hand fed routing. I tried using a “normal” router bit while I waited for my proper bits to arrive. It didn’t work well.
It also sounds likely that you’re intending on using a bit with a larger than recommended cutting diameter. 1/8" is generally recommended, although some people prefer 6mm.
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The weight and additional offset of the 80mm spindle will get you more troubles than benefits in the lr4.
Get a 800w-1.5kw 65mm aircooled spindle and use the existing 65mm mounts with a good rs485 capable vfd they run for les than 200 (800w)Verkauf Luftkühlung Spindelmotor Kit 0,8 kW 800 W Spindel 24000 U/min + VFD-Wechselrichter mit RS485 + 65 mm Claamp + ER11 für CNC-Fräsen - AliExpress 202216001
I paid 165 for each in november
Do people refer to spindle diameter as a maximum size because of an assumed relationship between size of spindle and weight, is weight really the limiting factor due the flex it might induce to the gantry, or is it because something like the centre of gravity of a larger spindle being further away from the gantry causes more flex?
Cesar, I think the spindle in your link weighs about 2.8kg, would that be a reasonable weight limit for a spindle, even if it was larger?