Luthier CNC

[bluesking]

I don't see many people using 3kw water-cooled spindles, nor that many places to buy - I wonder why?

Just to attempt to answer my own question - it seems not many people are using 3kw spindles full stop.

From what I can tell, a 2.2kw ran off the common huanyang VFD is often rated around the 8A level for current draw - this means you can plug it into a normal mains socket without worries (assuming you use and appropriate fuse).

The 3kw spindles I'm looking at, when run from an appropriate VFD will likely draw in the region of 18A. You're not going to find a mains socket fuse for this type of current. Still, the ring circuit from your consumer unit will probably allow currents up to 30A, so providing you can get beyond the mains plug you might be fine. One thing worth noting is that 13A fuses may not actually be designed to blow until 20A (go figure....) so it may be possible to get away with it (that's what I read here https://www.pat-testing-training.net...cteristics.php).