Guide · Spindle kits
65 mm vs 80 mm spindles: collet, supply and what else changes
How 65 mm and 80 mm spindle kits differ in collet system, largest shank, stated supply and machine support, and what else an 80 mm kit needs.
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Short answer
The body size usually brings a collet system with it. Makers pair 65 mm spindles with ER11 or ER16 collets that stop at 1/4 or 3/8 in, and 80 mm spindles with ER20 collets up to 1/2 in. An 80 mm kit can also bring a 220 V supply, a chiller, a larger boot and a larger hose, depending on the kit.
Collets: the main difference
| Kit | Body | Collet system | Collets supplied |
|---|---|---|---|
| PwnCNC kits | 65 mm / 80 mm | ER11 / ER20[1] | ER11: 1/16, 1/8, 1/4 in; ER20: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 in[1] |
| Carbide 3D 65 mm (since May 2025) | 65 mm | ER16[2] | 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 in[3] |
| Carbide 3D 80 mm kit | 80 mm | ER20 | 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 in[4] |
| Onefinity 65 mm 1.5 kW | 65 mm | ER11 | 1/4, 1/8 in[5] |
| Onefinity 80 mm 1.5 kW and 2.2 kW | 80 mm | ER20 | 1/2, 3/8, 1/4, 1/8 in[6][7] |
Carbide 3D lists the maximum cutter diameter for its current 65 mm kit as 3/8 in (10 mm).[8]
Can a 65 mm spindle run 1/2 in bits? Not with the kits above. A 1/2 in (12.7 mm) shank is outside the ER16 ranges Galaxy, Command Tool and Somma publish,[9] and the ER11 kits above ship nothing larger than 1/4 in. For 1/2 in shanks, look at an ER20 spindle. The collet number is not the shank size; see ER11 vs ER16 vs ER20 collets.
Supply: not always 220 V
An 80 mm body does not decide the voltage. Each kit states its own:
- Carbide 3D's 80 mm kit uses a 220 V VFD with an L6-20 plug, while its CW3000 chiller runs on a standard 110 V NEMA 5-15 outlet.[4]
- PwnCNC lists its 1.5 kW motors (65 mm ER11 and 80 mm ER20) at 110 V and 12 A, and its 2.2 kW 80 mm ER20 motor at 220 V and 10 A.[10]
- Onefinity's 80 mm 1.5 kW kit is 110 V and air-cooled;[6] its 80 mm 2.2 kW kit is 220 V single-phase with a NEMA 6-15P plug.[7]
- Carbide 3D's 65 mm kit is 110 V, 12 A, 1,200 W rated.[2]
Whether your shop can supply a kit is a question for the kit maker's manual and a qualified electrician.
Machine support
Carbide 3D's 80 mm kit guide lists the Shapeoko 5 Pro as the only supported machine.[4] Check the 80 mm mount guide for other machines.
Chips and hoses
Carbide 3D does not recommend 35 mm vacuum hoses with its 80 mm VFD spindle, saying the spindle can produce a lot of chips and 35 mm hoses can clog.[11] That is Carbide 3D's statement for its spindle; it names no recommended hose size.
What else to buy with an 80 mm spindle
- A mount your machine's maker names for 80 mm
- An 80 mm dust boot
- A hose the boot and collector accept
- ER20 collets for every shank you run (check what the kit includes)
- Whatever the kit's supply rule needs, confirmed by an electrician
Collet sets by system
No spindle kit is approved in our catalog yet. These collet sets are, and each fits only its own system:
Picks that fit2 products
Match the set to the collet system your spindle uses: the ER11 set (15-piece adds 1/8 and 1/4 in) for ER11 spindles, the ER20 14-piece set (1/16 to 1/2 in) for ER20 spindles.
More on choosing
Neither fits an ER16 spindle such as Carbide 3D's current 65 mm kit.
ER11 set with metric and inch sizes
Genmitsu ER11 precision spring collet set, 7 or 15 pieces (1‑7 mm; 15‑piece adds 1/8 in and 1/4 in)
ER20 set up to 1/2 in
Genmitsu ER20 router collet set, 14 pieces (1/16 in to 1/2 in)
Next
Questions
Can a 65 mm spindle run 1/2 in bits?
Not the 65 mm kits we found. Carbide 3D's current 65 mm kit lists a 3/8 in maximum cutter, and a 1/2 in shank is outside the ER16 ranges Galaxy, Command Tool and Somma publish. For 1/2 in, look at ER20 spindles.[8][9]
Do 80 mm spindles need 220 V?
Not always. Onefinity sells an 80 mm 1.5 kW kit at 110 V and an 80 mm 2.2 kW kit at 220 V; Carbide 3D's 80 mm kit uses a 220 V VFD. Quote the kit you are looking at, and let an electrician confirm your circuit.[6][7][4]
What else do I need to buy with an 80 mm spindle?
A mount your machine's maker names for 80 mm, an 80 mm dust boot, a hose that will not clog, and ER20 collets for every shank you run. Carbide 3D warns that 35 mm hoses can clog with its 80 mm spindle.[11]