M4 Router Be Gone - be-penned instead

md8n · December 3, 2025, 5:58am

This has been on the back burner for some time, now I’ve finally done it.

Having a removable spindle always allowed for replacing the spindle with something else, such as a pen.

Here’s what I ended up with:
The full kit - main arm support (outer sleeve), inner sleeve with press fit nuts, pen adapter, m4 screws, and springs.
Then a py photo of the inner subassembly

For the first version the pen literally didn’t stick out enough, so I had to make a V2 of the inner sleeve.

Here’s a quicky video (x10) of it in action.

wouldchuck · December 3, 2025, 6:19am

So cool, was going to start working on an adaptation like this myself. Neat to see it working. Thank you for sharing! : ) I want to try sticking a drag knife in there for paper or vinyl. We are building a library of designs and examples in GIT, may I use your pictures and descriptions there? Would you be willing to share your files there at some point?

here is the link to the router library where this project would fit well:

github.com/MaslowCNC/Maslow_4

docs/RouterAndSpindleLibrary.md

Maslow-Main

# Router And Spindle Library

Maslow 4 was built aroud the DewaltDWP611 series router. Maslow uses it for the spinning blade but also as the structural spine of the machine.  This is nice in keeping things simple and reducing parts. Dewalt is a well established company that sells around the world and makes versions of the router for different voltage requirements. This is difficult because it locks us into using the Dewalt611. 


Many people in the Maslow community have swapped out the Dewalt for a different router. The key part is that the arms rotate around the motor cylinder of the router.  **The Dewalt611 cylinder has a diameter of 69mm.** Many other routers have different dimensions.  To change the router to one with a smaller cylinder one needs to make a cylindrical spacer to change between the size of the Dewalt and  the smaller router. Many people like the idea of coverting to a CNC spindle which is often quieter than a standard router and can be controlled by a computer. In either case community members have had some success 3D printing adaptors between their chosen router or spindle and the 69mm design size. 
Here is a link to the forum where people are discusing this.  
<https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/m4-router-mounter-be-gone-use-any-router-with-a-side-entry-cord/21202/48
>

This file is a place to share Routers and spindles and how they have been adapated to work with the Maslow. 

# ROUTER LIBRARY 
## To add a router or spindle start a new entry with a title started by three ### hash symbols then add pictures, materials and description and links.  Still working on what is a useful format here, use your judgment. If we use the heading system built into markdown it will automatically create a table of contents in the top right corner of the reading pane. 


### Example router entry heading text
PICTURE
- Overview:
- Links:

This file has been truncated. show original

md8n · December 3, 2025, 6:21am

Look up the original M4 router be gone post for details of what I did to set up for a spindle instead of the router - which is something I VERY STRONGLY recommend.

md8n · December 3, 2025, 6:24am

Step files - note that these are really only relevant to the current M4 router be gone designs.

PenMountOuterSleeve.AD_PRT (747.5 KB)

PenMountSleeve.stp (962.7 KB)

PenMountStaedtlerM.stp (691.4 KB)

The idea is to redesign the PenMountStaedtlerM.stp mdel to fit your own marker pen. A pen up to around 18mm in diameter should be supportable (that’s what I designed for)

dlang · December 3, 2025, 6:38am

Lee H wrote:

Step files - note that these are really only relevant to the current M4 router be gone designs.

PenMountOuterSleeve.AD_PRT (747.5 KB)

PenMountSleeve.stp (962.7 KB)

PenMountStaedtlerM.stp (691.4 KB)

The idea is to redesign the PenMountStaedtlerM.stp mdel to fit your own marker pen. A pen up to around 18mm in diameter should be supportable (that¢s what I designed for)

I have a parametric version of the sleeve and spindle holder in onshape at

it lets you tweak sizes and also select between the 500w brushed spindle and
600w brushless spindle.

I plan to add an option for the pen (copying what lee posted in this thread),
and could add a drag knife version as well if you want

David Lang

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M4 Router Be Gone - be-penned instead

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