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CNC SPINDLE POWER RATING:

How do we measure power?

The power of a motor is measured in watts (or Electric Motor Horsepower=746 watts) and is equal to the voltage of a motor multiplied by the current per phase. It is important to realize that the power of a motor, like torque, is directly related to the speed at which your spindle is running, thus a basic router motor might be rated at 3Hp @ 18,000 rpm but would only have 2 Hp at 12,000.

Speed Control:

Manufacturers use small resistors on hand held routers to reduce the current, that then subsequently reduces the rpm, but at the cost of lost horsepower (you know those little rotary dials on the top of your router). True CNC spindle motors use a totally different technology that IS more expensive but offers a wider range of rpm’s without the sacrifice in power. One reason why some will buy a CNC spindle rather than just a basic router.

Again it is critical to recognize that the amount of power that a machine has determines the maximum material removal rate possible. The type of material determines the amount of power required per unit volume of material.

So for the same amount of time and amount of material removed during machining, aluminum will require more power then say mdf. Or as another example; given a fixed 2 hp machine it will take twice as long to remove a given amount of material in aluminum as it would in mdf. You'll have to move slower to hog out the material.

How much Hp do you need?

Thus, when it comes to deciding what size motor you will need you must decide what you will most often be cutting with the machine. If you are doing almost all engraving and carving with small diameter cutters then very little hp is required (<5 hp, even 2 hp)  If you are looking to build cabinets and will be using large panel cutter and larger endmills (>3/4”) then a high hp machine (>5 hp) will be required, in order to remain productive anyway's and not have to move at the speed of a turtle. If you wish to cut metal you need all the horsepower you can afford.

Greater torque + greater power = greater speed in hard materials with heavier passes!

The last discussion you might want to have in terms of spindle motor metrics is not all about capacity but rather accuracy. CNC spindle runout is how we measure the ability of a CNC spindle motor to exactly replicate what the CAD drawing is dictating,  as a function of the spindle’s mechanical accuracy.

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