When the Profiler was launched, the primary consideration
was to supply a sound machine. To ensure that its owner
could use also use it right away, the kit was completed with
a simple spindle motor and an MDF base plate. This is a
good solution for experimental use or simple milling work.
Depending on the objective, you can continue using the
machine with this configuration or acquire more professional
tools
The spindle motor included with the kit is suitable for milling
materials such as balsa wood and relatively soft plastics.
If you want to machine harder materials or do more
precise work, it is certainly worthwhile to invest in a better
motor. The fact that quite a few people were nevertheless
satisfied with the performance of the machine was a matter
of pure luck, since some of the motors had 0.01 mm
of play, while others had 0.5 mm. But as many people remarked
on the Elektor forum, the price performance ratio
was reasonable.
If you want something better, you must first ask yourself
what sort of work you want to use it for. Do you want to do
very nice, fine engraving, do you want a powerful motor
for milling hard metals, or do you want both? A truly professional
spindle motor is expensive – as much as several
times the price of the Profiler. It is thus questionable whether
such an investment is sensible.
Practical experience shows that an AC spindle rated at
around 500 watts is the most suitable. More powerful motors
are generally to large and too heavy for the Profiler.
Unlike most DC motors, AC motors of this sort are also affordable.
When looking for a motor, remember that it must
be designed for machine mounting. You can see this from
the steel mounting ring, which is used to attach the motor to
the machine, and which also usually houses the bearings.
The bearings must be suitable for machining use. Kress has
a suitable motor, which is actually a bit too heavy for the
Profiler, but the price is attractive. Colinbus can supply the
IAC-500, which is ideal in terms of weight and precision,
but it is it considerably more expensive. A variety of similar
products are available under various brand names, and we
recommend comparing them and carefully weighing their
pros and cons. For Profile users with deep pockets, there
is also the Jäger brand. These motors are very powerful
and highly precise, and they are very lightweight. The only
problem here is the price.
The base plate
A relatively thin MDF board is supplied with the Profiler for
use as the base plate. If you want something more robust,
pick up a piece of board at a builder’s merchant with a
thickness of 20 mm (it hardly costs anything), which will
provide the basis for an inexpensive but stable support surface.
If you want to invest a bit more, you can of course
buy a plate with slots for T-nuts or a vacuum table. Each of
these options has its own specific advantages, depending
on what kind of work you want to do.
A vacuum table is ideal for machining flat material and
films or for securing material without subjecting it to excessively
strong forces. A vacuum table is particularly suitable
for jobs with repeat parts. You can simply place the workpiece
against a stop on the table, switch on the vacuum,
and start machining. With a few accessories, you can also
have the vacuum table or dust extraction system switch on
automatically.
A T-slot table (see the lead photo) is ideal for clamping
relative bulky workpieces. Nuts with a built-in spring can
be slid into the slots and used with screws to secure clamps
and blocks. The spring nuts can be shifted in the slots,
which makes it very easy to clamp workpieces with different
dimensions.
Naturally, you can also use the Profiler to make your own
T-slot or vacuum table. However, you should bear in mind
that making a decent T-slot table is relatively expensive and
takes a lot of work. By contrast, making a vacuum table is
relatively easy.
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