What router to choose? AMB (kress) 800/1050 or MM-1000

You can but a minor one, i think it is Kress 540 FM, much lighter and 500w, BUT only one speed...

Hi! At the end I asked to Stepcraft directly. All the routers listed above are fine. I went with the Kress 1050 fme-1 for the higher torque at lower rpm.

Lissoni,

If you mainly cut aluminium than speed control of the spindle is paramount.

I use a Kress 1050 fme/p just because of that. Yes it's a heavier motor than the HF500 but you have a small stiff machine.
Consider if you choose for kress that the machine mounting plate is suitable for Kress machines. (you need the 2nd generation).
I choose for the P series Kress because this serie uses the collet system ER-16. disadvantage the max milling height is smaller due to the larger bitholder.

make your choice wisely 🙂

good luck

I have the second generation Stepcraft machine. It is Stepcraft 2 / 300.
Do you also mill aluminium with it? IF yes which setting do you use? Because I see mostly high spindle rpm, like 12K rpm, but I was wondering whether with the fme-1 you could go lower.

Thanks!

The kress 1050 fme canas slow as 5000 rpm.

I need this low speed for acrillic and plastics.
for aluminium a shoose a speed between 8000 ans 12000 rpm depending on the type of aluminium.
the softer ones needs lower speed, feed rate and cutting depth. there are some threads on this forum over this subject.
but the main issue by cutting aluminium is cooling and clearance of the chips.

Thanks for the tip, I will have a look to it. I read about the chips removal. I am making a air cooling system for remove the chips and in case I have a free line to supply a liquid coolant. I will try air only to keep the mess low, otherwise I will include the liquid too. Do you have an advice about what cooling to use?

Thanks

For aluminium use methylated spirit its cheap and will do the job.
just apply some on the surface or spray using an airbrush like I do, only disadvantage you can't go away from the milling proces.

How can you see one have a 2. Generation, just got my 420 last week..

Tommy,

Than you have received the second generation. if it is type 2/420 your ok.
the machine mounting plate is 10mm thick the first has a 8mm thick plate and is aout 10mm smaller in lenght.

Thanks! With methylated spirit do you mean denatured alcohol right?
WHen you said "only disadvantage you can't go away from the milling process." do you mena that if you apply it like you do then you have to stand there? Because I can also included in the second line and let the nozzle deliver the alcohol.

denatured alcohol I don't know if it is the same.
I use burning alcohol in the Netherlands its name is "brandspiritus" Its methyl alcohol and is flamable but also very cooling.

Yes you have to keep applying it to the workpiece, to spray it with a little nozzle on the millbit is ideal.

Cool! I am in Belgium, not that far 🙂
BTW I made a cooling system with the nozzle linked below and a strong aquarium pump capable of 70 L/min that blows really strong but it's quite silent.
I checked

online and seems that indeed methylated spirit is the same as denatured alcohol "Denatured alcohol, also called methylated spirit (in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom) or denatured rectified spirit[1], is ethanol that has additives to make it poisonous, bad-tasting, foul-smelling, or nauseating to discourage recreational consumption" ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denatured_alcohol).

Hey,,, i got a Kress 1050 FMe1,,, i have a little worries about the weight(1,7Kg),,, can my V2-420D cope with it, or must i get a minor one?

Hi! I contacted Stepcraft by phone and they told me that all model Version 2 support the bigger Kress 1050 router. I have a V2/300 and I do not see problem with the bigger router.