• Spring 2024 meetup in Calgary - tentative date Saturday, April 20/2024. Other regions are also discussing meet ups. If you want one in your area get going on organizing it! discussion
  • We are having email/registration problems again. Diagnosis is underway. New users sorry if you are having trouble getting registered. We are exploring different options to get registered. Contact the forum via another member or on facebook if you're stuck. Update -> we think it is fixed. Let us know if not.
  • Spring meet up in Ontario, April 6/2024. NEW LOCATION See Post #31 Discussion NEW LOCATION

CX601 Motor

EMK0973

Member
Has anyone changed out their cx601 spindle motor for manual machining upgrade? Not CNC conversion. My motor packed it in this weekend. I need to get a replacement and was hoping someone could share some advise on a model, vendor, etc. I am not looking to convert the mill to cnc.
 

Attachments

  • D757453F-1B76-4787-A6C0-AF19310CE29E.jpeg
    D757453F-1B76-4787-A6C0-AF19310CE29E.jpeg
    396.2 KB · Views: 19
  • 8F19CF0E-8068-4D9C-B995-27B63EA34289.jpeg
    8F19CF0E-8068-4D9C-B995-27B63EA34289.jpeg
    304.6 KB · Views: 18
  • 3611B577-FEA7-4739-8DCD-20ECE23B8723.jpeg
    3611B577-FEA7-4739-8DCD-20ECE23B8723.jpeg
    384 KB · Views: 21
  • D4B232FA-E4B2-4469-8E15-F808CC0C5AA1.jpeg
    D4B232FA-E4B2-4469-8E15-F808CC0C5AA1.jpeg
    298.1 KB · Views: 20

ShawnR

Ultra Member
Premium Member
Yikes! Any idea why? Is the rest of the mill drivetrain ok? No bad bearings? Looks like that motor really overheated! I am not familiar with the 601 but maybe someone here has some input. Have you talked to BusyBee yet?
Did you have any issues leading up to the motor burning out? ie slow to start, strange noise, roughness...

This thread has info on it. You might have better luck talking to Grizzly or Precision Matthews since it sounds like their motors are the same, but have someone compare actual shaft dimensions and specs before ordering, or compare the manuals, of which most are available on line. Can you post a pic of the shaft with dimensions? A treadmill motor might meet the specs.

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/craftex-cx601-milling-machine-busy-bee.17339/
 

EMK0973

Member
Yikes! Any idea why? Is the rest of the mill drivetrain ok? No bad bearings? Looks like that motor really overheated! I am not familiar with the 601 but maybe someone here has some input. Have you talked to BusyBee yet?
Did you have any issues leading up to the motor burning out? ie slow to start, strange noise, roughness...

This thread has info on it. You might have better luck talking to Grizzly or Precision Matthews since it sounds like their motors are the same, but have someone compare actual shaft dimensions and specs before ordering, or compare the manuals, of which most are available on line. Can you post a pic of the shaft with dimensions? A treadmill motor might meet the specs.

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/craftex-cx601-milling-machine-busy-bee.17339/
Thanks Shawn. Spindle bearings appear to be good. I was facing some stock and only taking 0.5mm cuts, for about 2-3 hours. motor bearings are OK as well. Over heated, melted the insulation inside and the rotor is seized. shaft is 14mm. The motor does not have a fan so cooling i think played a part. I was considering the following;

1624380571899.png

Shaft size, vertical flange and rated rpm do not match up but are close. would have to adapt the mounting plate. If I was going to do that I would convert it to a belt drive as I would have to get or make a new motor drive gear or pulley.

Thanks for your message.
 

kevin.decelles

Jack of all trades -- Master of none
Premium Member
I’d probably do the belt drive —. Treat this as an opportunity

[mention]Bofobo [/mention] did a similar conversion on his mill (not a 601 though). . You cam search for that on the forum . I know he had no regrets


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

ShawnR

Ultra Member
Premium Member
Mmmm...the motor you are taking out is a 5600 RPM if I interpret the plate correctly. The one you are considering is only 1750, as you point out, a different speed, but that is substantial. To increase the effective drive to your range, you will be losing 3/4 of your torque. I think it will be disappointing for you.

Disclaimer, I am not a motor guy per se so maybe some here who have more experience will jump in.

But to me, it does not sound like a good replacement. I do like that it has an integral fan for cooling, but a lot of other differences to compensate for. I would speak to Busy Bee and the other suppliers that supply that mill in different colours first before stepping out too far, unless you are prepared for the upgrade and all of the necessities to be addressed in the process. Yes, 2-3 hours of continuous use seems a lot for a small mill like that. If this is typical for you, then an upgrade may well be worth the extra work. If nothing else, an external cooling fan. Disappointing that that motor did not have some thermal protection built in to it.
 

Tom Kitta

Ultra Member
Talk to BB but expect no help. I looked at grizzly and you may get a spare but may not be easy nor cheap. similar motors would be 300 cad plus shipping - https://www.grizzly.com/parts/grizzly-motor-600w-110vdc/p0758121

I found you some more choices. https://www.emotorsdirect.ca/search...y=Motor&nominal-voltage=90V&phase=DC&rpm=2500

As you can see not cheap.

Here is full selection of all 90v:
https://www.emotorsdirect.ca/search...t-category=Motor&nominal-voltage=90V&phase=DC

I would look at converting to more normal power source.
 

EMK0973

Member
Well it looks like my spindle bearings are not as smooth as I one thought they were. Anyone upgrade these on the CX601 and could assist with a bearing list? Thanks .
 

ShawnR

Ultra Member
Premium Member
I searched for "CX601 upgrades" and found a few threads. One was from here so maybe the OP can give you some info. The thread is from 2018 so he has had it for a while. Here are some examples but searching around might help find the info. Might be a larger pool to draw from worldwide or at least North America versus just this Canadian forum. When it comes to upgrading or CNCing these little machines, there is much interest out there. Someone who goes to CNC will likely be doing other upgrades to, such as the bearings, etc

https://canadianhobbymetalworkers.com/threads/craftex-cx601-milling-machine-spindle-lock.1075/

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/craftex-cx601-milling-machine-busy-bee.17339/

The whole search

https://nortonsafe.search.ask.com/web?q=cx601 mill upgrade&ssdcat=321&installsource=direct&source=direct&year=2015&version=22.16.2.22&cipherid=0&templatecat=sbu_w_31200_5537_ns_oem&schemacat=sbu_w&schemaver=1.0.0.0&olpchannel=limited_oem&osvers=10.0&oslocale=iso:can&oslang=iso:eng&os=windows&showuninstallsurvey=1&installstatus=updated&vendorsrc=firefox&vendortesteligible=yes&machinelocation=39&cmpgn=zeus&vendorConfigured=ask&o=APN12178&prt=ngc&ver=22.16.2.22&tpr=111&chn=31200&guid=a5652465-476f-454e-835d-da6fb1e19478&doi=2019-03-04&doa=2019-03-04

You might want to look at hopping right into a stepper motor now, should you decide to CNC later. But also, it might be cheaper in the long run....or at least, more bang for your buck....maybe...:confused:
 

thriller007

Well-Known Member
I run a fan on mine thanks to very nice members' recommendations from here. He also provided the fan and a 3d printed mounting housing.
 
Top