Working Principle: CNC Spindle Water Cooled VS Air Cooled
Let’s have a look on the internal structure of them. 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; air-cooled spindle is not very the same, you can use frequency conversion and non-frequency conversion control as well.
The Difference Between Water Cooled and Air-Cooled CNC Spindle
• Water cooling spindle is using of water circulation to cool the heat generated by the spindle rotating with 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 cooled 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 is more suitable to do the long-time engraving work than 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 this way, then Okay. For example, the embossment jobs need 6 hours to complete; machine 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 spindle. It will do harm to air cooled spindle to make it work for more than 4 hours continuously. For same job if using water cooled spindle, it is always at works until job complete just need remember to fresh the water if it become very hot. So if you want to buy a 3d cnc router mostly for sculpture carving, it’s better for you to get water cooling 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 water cooling cnc spindle like change water frequently or use industrial chiller for it, the service life of it will be longer than air cooling spindle definitely.
• Precision. The axial and radial runout of the water-cooled 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 water pipe, and it needs to change 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 time, better to get air cooled spindle.
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.
Good maintenance is the best way to extend cnc spindle service life.
Here are some useful tips on how to maintain the cnc spindle motors properly, hope you enjoy it.
Top Useful Tips on Water Cooled CNC Spindle Maintenance
• Please frequently clean the water outlet and inlet with hooks, to prevent debris clogging water hose.
• After spindle is removed from the cnc router machine, please use air gun to blow off the residual water in the cooling chamber of the electric spindle.
• Spindle should be oil sealed if it is long time no use; when starting, except remove the rust on 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 megohmmeter to detect insulation, usually should be more than 10 megohm.
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.
Useful Tips on Air Cooled CNC Spindle
• 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 long time no use; when starting, except remove the rust on 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 megohmmeter to detect insulation, usually should be more than 10 megohm.
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.
