Guide · Spindle kits
Keep the trim router or move to a spindle?
What changes when you swap a trim router for a spindle kit: collet system, stated speed, supply rules and Z weight, and what no source establishes.
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. How we make money
Picks that fit
- Makita RT0701CX3 1‑1/4 HP compact router kit (RT0701C with fixed, plunge, tilt and offset bases)Check price on Amazon
- Genmitsu ER11 precision spring collet set, 7 or 15 pieces (1‑7 mm; 15‑piece adds 1/8 in and 1/4 in)Check price on Amazon
- Genmitsu ER20 router collet set, 14 pieces (1/16 in to 1/2 in)Check price on Amazon
Short answer
Keep the trim router unless three things are true: your machine's maker names a spindle kit for your Z axis, your shop meets that kit's stated supply rules, and you need a collet the router cannot take. A spindle changes the collet system, the supply and the weight on the Z. A quieter cut is not established by any source we found.
Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose
- Makita RT0701CX3 1‑1/4 HP compact router kit (RT0701C with fixed, plunge, tilt and offset bases)Check price on Amazon
- Genmitsu ER11 precision spring collet set, 7 or 15 pieces (1‑7 mm; 15‑piece adds 1/8 in and 1/4 in)Check price on Amazon
- Genmitsu ER20 router collet set, 14 pieces (1/16 in to 1/2 in)Check price on Amazon
What changes: the collet
A trim router usually takes its own collet. Makita lists the RT0701C with a 1/4 in collet.[1] Some compact routers use ER collets instead: Carbide 3D's ER-11 Compact Router takes standard ER11 collets up to a 1/4 in shank,[2] and Sienci's AutoSpin uses ER11 collets for tooling up to 1/4 in.[3]
A spindle kit may move you to a larger ER system. Carbide 3D's 65 mm kit is ER16 today.[4] Onefinity's 65 mm 1.5 kW kit includes ER11 1/4 and 1/8 in collets,[5] while its 80 mm 2.2 kW kit includes an ER20 nut and collets up to 1/2 in.[6]
What changes: speed, as each maker states it
Makita lists the RT0701C's variable no-load speed as 10,000 to 30,000 RPM.[1] Carbide 3D lists its ER16 65 mm spindle at 8,000-24,000 RPM, plus or minus 5%.[4] These are each maker's own figures. Run every bit within its own maker's speed limit.
What changes: the supply
Spindle kits come with their makers' own supply rules:
- Carbide 3D's 65 mm VFD kit is 110 V only, does not work on 220 V power and does not work on a GFCI outlet.[7]
- Onefinity's Redline pages say the VFD requires a 15 A breaker and warn that a GFCI installation may cause frequent false tripping.[6]
- Onefinity's 80 mm 2.2 kW kit is 220 V single-phase with a NEMA 6-15P plug.[6]
These are the makers' requirements. Whether your circuit meets them is a question for a qualified electrician.
What changes: weight on the Z
Carbide 3D does not recommend its 65 mm VFD spindle on a Shapeoko 3 with the original belt-driven Z axis, because of the spindle's weight.[4]
Maker support
Sienci says the Makita RT0700/RT0701 is the router it has thoroughly tested on the LongMill,[8] and that it does not offer technical support for installing third-party spindles on the LongMill.[8]
What is not established
Is a spindle quieter? Sienci states that its AutoSpin has no noise advantage over the Makita RT0701C at the same RPM.[3] We found no other source that compares noise, so we make no noise claim.
Power labels are not comparable either. Makita labels the RT0701C at 1-1/4 HP maximum horsepower,[1] and DeWalt markets the DWP611 as "1-1/4 HP MAX".[9] Those labels keep their qualifiers and do not convert into a kW comparison.
Decide
| If... | Then |
|---|---|
| Your machine maker names no spindle kit for your Z | Stay with the router |
| You need 1/4 in and 1/8 in shanks only | An ER11 compact router, such as Carbide 3D's ER-11 model, ships with both collets |
| You need 1/2 in shanks | Look at kits that ship ER20 collets |
| The kit's supply rule does not match your shop | Ask a qualified electrician before buying |
No spindle kit is approved in our catalog yet. If you stay with a router, Makita's RT0701C is the one Sienci tested on the LongMill:
Picks that fit2 products
Choose the RT0701C with the fixed base and the 1/4 in collet cone (763637-1); it needs a 65 mm mount.
More on choosing
The RT0701CX3 kit is the same router with extra bases for handheld use. On Amazon, check that Ships from / Sold by is Amazon.com or Makita.
Makita RT0701C 1‑1/4 HP compact router, fixed base (65 mm class, 1/4 in collet)
Makita RT0701CX3 1‑1/4 HP compact router kit (RT0701C with fixed, plunge, tilt and offset bases)
If you move to a spindle or an ER11 compact router, the collets change with it. These approved sets each fit only their own system:
Picks that fit2 products
Match the set to the collet system your spindle or router maker names: the ER11 set for ER11 spindles and ER11 compact routers (1/4 in shanks and below), the ER20 14-piece set for ER20 spindles that take up to 1/2 in.
More on choosing
Neither fits an ER16 spindle or a Makita or DeWalt router collet.
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
Is a spindle quieter than a router?
Not established. The only source we found, Sienci, states its AutoSpin has no noise advantage over the Makita RT0701C at the same RPM.[3]
Do I need a 220 V circuit for a spindle?
It depends on the kit. Carbide 3D's 65 mm kit is 110 V only, while Onefinity's 80 mm 2.2 kW kit is 220 V with a NEMA 6-15P plug. A qualified electrician confirms whether your circuit meets the maker's rule.[7][6]
Will a spindle fit my Z axis?
Only if the kit maker names your machine and Z. Carbide 3D, for example, does not recommend its 65 mm spindle on a Shapeoko 3 with the original belt-driven Z because of the weight.[4]
Will my machine maker help me fit a third-party spindle?
Ask first. Sienci, for one, says it does not offer technical support for installing third-party spindles on the LongMill.[8]