Spindle Repair, Precision Spindle Repair, High Speed Spindle Repair

In the industrial sector, we frequently hear about milling, turning and the spindles that make it all happen.  But where did they come from?  Perhaps one of the earliest modern equivalents to the milling machine was invented by Eli Whitney in 1818.  The spindle of Whitney's machine was moved from being horizontal to being vertical, indicating the many variations affecting machine spindles to come and their performance through the decades.

However, Whitney's machine wasn't the first to use spindles. Spindles have been used practically as far back as the biblical times for applications such as woodwork.  Today, the early spindles have evolved into machine spindles and are more often used in machine tools dealing with metal—but a little history goes to show their monumental importance.  Over time, as milling machines became more and more prominent – so did their innovation, leading to increasingly complex and effective machines with interchangeable parts.  This allowed increasingly efficient machining on multiple axes.

Today, machine spindles are used in a number of industries – from the automotive industry to a wide variety of OEM's and manufacturers producing the things we use every day.  The term "spindle" can refer to grinding spindles, machine tool spindles, electric spindles, low-speed spindles, high speed spindles, electric spindles, and more.

Given the huge importance of properly functioning machine tools, the importance of properly performing machine spindles is tantamount, which is precisely why machine tool spindle repair has emerged as an integral industry that continues to ensure businesses remain in turning, milling, and machining without a hitch.

The Machine Spindle Repair Process

1) Processing: In the first phase of precision spindle repair, spindles for just about every application are photographed, catalogued, and entirely disassembled.

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2) Evaluation and Inspection: Next during spindle evaluation, every aspect and feature of the given spindle is assessed and accounted for. Is the housing worn out anywhere? Are the end caps in good condition?  Other components inspected include the spindle pulleys, the main shaft, spacers, collar locks, seals, and the spindle taper. In this phase of precision and high speed spindle repair, every component is measured and recorded to identify dimensions and measurements that need tweaking to optimize spindle performance.

3) Repairs: The spindle repair process can include a number of steps. However, the principle steps in spindle repair include hard chroming, grinding, machining, and bearing replacement.

Hard Chroming: When spindle components such as the spindle pulley and main shaft are measured, it is done so to compare their current to their original dimensions.  To restore spindles to their original dimensions – the dimensions they are intended to optimally operate at – the spindle repair provider uses hard chroming.  Hard chroming builds the surface of the spindle up so that it can be ground back down to its original dimension. Parts that need hard chroming are usually spindle components that have something to do with the bearing, such as the main shaft and the housing.

Grinding: Grinding uses a machine tool to alter the surface dimensions of a metal piece.  In the spindle repair process, grinding takes place after hard chroming to fine tune the dimensions of the spindle to the original factory or OEM dimensions.  This not only returns the spindle to its like-new state, but it prevents the owner from having to purchase an entirely new spindle.

Rebuilding and Testing: After the spindle is disassembled, inspected, and repaired it is rebuilt and thoroughly tested to ensure like-new performance.

Additional Spindle Maintenance Processes: Additional spindle repair processes include operations such as acoustic control, balance control, and vibration analysis.

Acoustic Control: By monitoring sound waves, even the slightest variation in machine noise can be detected.  In this process, tiny abrasive materials in a grinding wheel coming in contact with a work piece would be unnoticeable to the human ear.  However, by recording and mapping out sound waves, acoustic control systems allow the repair technician to find even the faintest imperfection that could one day lead to a potentially costly problem.

Balance Control: Specifically suited for larger grinding systems, balance control  compensates for imbalance by injecting coolant tank fluid into a 3 or 4 chamber compensating tank. This eliminates grinding wheel contact and wear and minimizes the need for future maintenance.

Vibration Analysis: Vibration analysis effectively diagnoses a number of issues that can occur in machine tools such as wheel head spindles, work head spindles, drive motors, and hydraulics.

Given the history and continued use of machine tool spindles, spindle repair has emerged as an integral part of the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Especially given the extent to which spindles are utilized in so many industries, spindle repair helps manufacturers save money and ensure greater

efficiency.  The spindle repair process is at the very heart of the success and well being of many industries to this day.

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