Spindle Motor Is Oily

[partsman]

I'm looking over my new (to me) VF-2 and notice that the spindle drive is covered in oil (see pic). Any guess where this is coming from? Is this normal, serious, any suggestions? Also you can tell that something used to go over that fan. Any ideas what is missing... maybe a grille or filter?

Thanks in advance

[underthetire]

Every spindle motor i've seen is oily like that. Its from the fan sucking in coolant mist, so not really oil. Should be a cover screen on the motor, but probably not really required unless you have a shop of guys that like to throw things at each other.

[partsman]

but probably not really required unless you have a shop of guys that like to throw things at each other.

I'll get one on order right away.

[aarggh]

As it looks like you have the room over the air intake, I'd recommend a raised round, even homemade, frame that filters the air around and from top. This will allow the maximum airflow at all times as it will take much longer to clog up. You'll find the thicker aluminium flyscreen mesh perfect for this, with a filtering material then on the inside or outside.

cheers,
Ian

[gizmo_454]

As it looks like you have the room over the air intake, I'd recommend a raised round, even homemade, frame that filters the air around and from top. This will allow the maximum airflow at all times as it will take much longer to clog up. You'll find the thicker aluminium flyscreen mesh perfect for this, with a filtering material then on the inside or outside.

cheers,
Ian

Sounds like a great idea. My understanding, however, in this case, is that fan he pictured is the exhaust fan on the top of the head. In which case, there is nowhere to put an intake filter since it pulls air from all around the covers and blows it out there.


Mike

[aarggh]

Sounds like a great idea. My understanding, however, in this case, is that fan he pictured is the exhaust fan on the top of the head. In which case, there is nowhere to put an intake filter since it pulls air from all around the covers and blows it out there.


Mike

Hi Mike,

That's a shame, I assumed from the post it sounded like it was being sucked in from the top blowing down the spindle? Hence the oil on the top assembly? That sounds like it's not entirely suitable for the purpose it's being used for which most likely will affect the life of it. Last thing you'd want is coolant being sucked through the router from bottom to top right from the point it's being sprayed. Perhaps a "skirt" of thin aluminium sheet for around the bottom to deflect air flow, might be a better safeguard if the top is an exhaust outlet, as you wouldn't want to block the exhaust in any way? If you get coolant blowing into the top, a directed shroud might be the way to go to stop that while not affecting the air exhaust.

cheers,
Ian

[Machineit]

Actually it is oil. It is the concentrated non-diluted coolant, which is oil, just water soluble instead of non-water soluble.

It is also mixed with dust and does make a mess, but it not harmful. The filter on top should be cleaned regularly to make sure air flow does not stop, but otherwise it is not an issue.

Mike

[partsman]

Thank you all! Now I can sleep again tonight