Friends who are considering buying cnc router machines always ask us a question “CNC spindle air cooled vs water cooled, which one is better for my jobs?” As we know, there are two types of cnc spindles total: water cooling and air cooling. And spindle motor is the most important part of cnc wood router，so we should choose a more durable spindle motor that is suitable for our works. As a professional CNC factory, EagleTec gives our suggestions here, hope it is helpful.
If you are looking for a new motor, please check out here: water cooled spindle
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Let's have a look at the internal structure. Both are the same in the internal structure actually. The stator is turning around the coil. From the way of motor control, water cooling is via frequency control only; the air cooled spindle is not very the same, you can use frequency conversion and non-frequency conversion control as well.
• Water cooling spindle is using water circulation to cool the heat generated by the spindle rotating at high speed (18,000 or 24,000 RPM). The cooling effect will be good because the temperature (usually tested) will not exceed 40 degrees after the water has been circulated; while, the air cooling spindle is cooled by a fan, and the cooling effect is definitely not as good as that of water cooling. Due to this point, water cooled spindle motor is more suitable to do the long-time engraving work than the air-cooled spindle. But this is not mean that air-cooled spindle cannot do carving jobs, it can do also, just it will do harm to its service life after working for more than 4 hours continuously. But if we do it this way, then Okay. For example, the embossment jobs need 6 hours to complete; machines with air-cooled spindle have to work 4 hours first, then take a rest like 30 minutes, next start again to finish the rest part. This way will have no harm on the spindle. It will do harm to air cooled spindle motor to make it work for more than 4 hours continuously. For the same job, if using a water-cooled spindle, it is always at works until the job complete just need to remember to fresh the water if it becomes very hot. So if you are going to buy a multi head cnc router or a 4 axis cnc router with multiple rotary axes mostly for carving applications, it’s better for you to get water cooled cnc spindle.
• Noisy. The water-cooled cnc spindle is essentially noiseless, but the air-cooled one is relatively noisy.
• Service life. If we did good maintenance on the water cooling cnc spindle, change water frequently, or use an industrial chiller for it, the service life of it will be longer than the air cooled cnc spindle definitely.
• Precision. The axial and radial runout of the water cooled router spindle is basically below 0.003 mm, while the air-cooled spindle (domestic) is a little worse.
• Easy to use aspect. Some friends feel water cooling spindle troublesome because it needs to connect water pump or chiller, it needs a bucket to fill water, it needs to connect with a water pipe, and it needs to change the water periodically, and it's easy to freeze in cold places. The air-cooled spindle will not have these troubles. If your location is very cold most of the time, better to get an air-cooled spindle. And for 4 axis cnc routers (spindle rotation type), it's better to have an air-cooled spindle also. Because the water cooling needs to be connected to the hoses, and the pipes will be easily knocked off when the machine swings its head.
Therefore, when choosing the spindle for your CNC, we should make comprehensive consideration of noise, life, accuracy, the use of convenience, as well as local climate and environment, and other factors.
Here are some useful tips on how to maintain the cnc spindle motors properly, hope you enjoy it.
• Please frequently clean the water outlet and inlet with hooks, to prevent debris from clogging the water hose.
• After the spindle is removed from the cnc router machine, please use an air gun to blow off the residual water in the cooling chamber of the electric spindle.
• Water cooling spindle motor should be oil-sealed if it is a long time no use; when starting, except removing the rust on the surface with gasoline, the following points should be done also.
1) Grease mist for 3-5 minutes, twist the shaft by hand, and feel smooth or not.
2) Use a megohmmeter to detect insulation, which usually should be more than 10 megohms.
3) Turn on the power, first run 1 hour at 1/3 rated RPM, if everything is ok, speed up 1/2 rated RPM and run for 1 hour, if ok, and then run 1 hour at the full rated RPM.
• The air entering the electric spindle shall be dry and clean. Please be sure of this point.
• Spindle should be oil-sealed if it is a long time no use; when starting, except removing the rust on the surface with gasoline, the following points should be done also.
1) Grease mist for 3-5 minutes, twist the shaft by hand, and feel smooth or not.
2) Use a megohmmeter to detect insulation, which usually should be more than 10 megohms.
3) Turn on the power, first run 1 hour at 1/3 rated RPM, if everything is ok, speed up 1/2 rated RPM and run for 1 hour, if ok, and then run 1 hour at the full rated RPM.
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