Giant 20' x 3' x 2' router build

[Neale]

I use a cheap caravan water pump picked up off eBay for about 12 quid. It says it shouldn't be used for more than 15-20mins continuously, but I've wired mine to run off a switch giving either 5V or 12V; I use 12V to start for purging any air bubbles, and then switch to 5V for continuous running. It's done quite a few 6-7hour runs with no problem. The pump is in a bucket of water that I change from time to time. I know other people have much more elaborate solutions but simple works for me! No need for fans, radiators, etc, although that might depend on just how hard you are running the spindle.

[charlieuk]

The spindle will be rarely doing any real hard work mainly cutting polystyrene it would be nice not to have to do anything to it though. Many thanks

[EddyCurrent]

. . . it would be nice not to have to do anything to it though. Many thanks

I don't have a water cooled spindle but if I did this is something I would try.

Cold water header tank fed from mains water via ball cock, feeding small central heating pump (you can regulate the flow on these), return back to header tank.
Also an electric cutoff valve could be included, operated from the cnc control panel.
If the temperature got high I would include in the circuit a small central heating radiator, handy in winter.

[GEOFFREY]

I don't have a water cooled spindle but if I did this is something I would try.

Cold water header tank fed from mains water via ball cock, feeding small central heating pump (you can regulate the flow on these), return back to header tank.
Also an electric cutoff valve could be included, operated from the cnc control panel.
If the temperature got high I would include in the circuit a small central heating radiator, handy in winter.

Eddy, i,m sure you could make that a bit more complicated if you really tried!!! G.

[EddyCurrent]

Eddy, i,m sure you could make that a bit more complicated if you really tried!!! G.

Haha very good !, the thing is I had all those parts lying surplus (i.e. free) before Mrs. decided garage needed clearing out.

[charlieuk]

Yea I'm know expert but I think that may be a bit over the top. The amount of surface area that 15m of tube has for the small amount of water inside and the temperatures we get over here and the load it will be under I don't think I will be fine just need to find a suitable pump that can run for a good few hours. I have been given a 240v pump that's destined for corrosive materials but can't help thinking its ott and going to be a waste of power?

[EddyCurrent]

Yea I'm know expert but I think that may be a bit over the top.

No way, those were just my first thoughts
If you get the extremes sorted out, the answer lies somewhere between.

[JAZZCNC]

Charlie I've recently experimented with a 120mm PC radiator and fan with small PC pump with reservoir and it worked a treat thou I didn't cut with it for long and but did leave running at full speed for 6 hours and it hardly got warm.
I'm going to fit to my own machine and do some real world testing cutting aluminium when I get chance but don't hold your breath waiting.
If you want to try it then I'm 99% confident you won't have any troubles for what your doing and it will be very neat and travel with the spindle.

[charlieuk]

Charlie I've recently experimented with a 120mm PC radiator and fan with small PC pump with reservoir and it worked a treat thou I didn't cut with it for long and but did leave running at full speed for 6 hours and it hardly got warm.
I'm going to fit to my own machine and do some real world testing cutting aluminium when I get chance but don't hold your breath waiting.
If you want to try it then I'm 99% confident you won't have any troubles for what your doing and it will be very neat and travel with the spindle.

i have never heard of a pc water pump so put it in good old ebay and got this,thinking about it once the water is moving gravity will help it keep flowing especially if its a closed loop of water or with a small reservoir

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SC-300T-DC...item3f3c57e7e4