Compressed Air Through the Spindle?

[pdoherty]

Does anyone have any experience running compressed air instead of coolant in a Haas VF with the 300 psi CTS option? It seems like it would be easy enough to rig up, but I wondered if the seals in the rotary coupling would suffer.

Thanks,

Paul

[Geof]

You should find out what type of seals they are. If they are face seals they will probably overheat and wear working with air. If they are labyrinth seals they are not likely to get hot but they may leak excessively.

[Wrknfrmhome]

It can be done. If it has a rotary union for the thru the spindle coolant, you'll have to get a different union - Dueblin is the manufacturer. Like Geof said the seals aren't the same. If it is the type that has just tubing plumbed to the top of the tool release piston then I think you can write up a a short macro to fire both the precharge solenoid & then the purge solenoid to get air thru thru the spindle (you will have to change the plumbing a bit as well). Just make sure your tool release precharge is adjusted correctly - it shouldn't actually contact the top of the drawbar. We did this for a few customers that cut graphite back when I worked for an HFO - it's not recommended but it can be done.