Coolant leaks

[HAILINHAAS]

Anyone have any issues with their machines leaking? What machine model and where?

[SeymourDumore]

'06 VF4

2 places I have found.
One is that the slide-up flexan sidecovers should be made 1 or 2 inches longer. As coolant splashes on and dispurses, it tends to go up and over the slide and thereby dripping all ove the outside.
The other is in the corners. Whenever I fill up or wash with the sprayer, there seem to be a nice puddle of coolant under both corners.
I have not found the exact source yet, but once I do it will receive the plumbers putty treatment.

The MiniLathe, MiniMill and the '01 SL10 seems to be airtight.

[automizer]

I have seen many leaks on different models. Not sure if you would call this a leak per say but my favourite way of coolant getting out of a machine is on the Mini Mills the top doesn’t come right to the top of the door so if you have a cutter that splashes a lot it comes right out the top in to your head. Gone home many nights with coolant filled hair because of this.

[swain]

1999 VF-3 ...I think I have found every way possible to leak coolant. I have made cardboard covers for the top to cure coolant hair. One of the best things I did was get a chiptrap...has stopped a lot of early morning mopping after a lights out run.

I also have a SL-20 with a conveyor....lots a leaks on it to...mostly door seals.

Swain

[bremenrules]

2006 SMMill. In the back under the toolchanger 'hump', a line of coolant will often start dripping out. Also, the area between the bottom casting and the cabinet will occasionally splash out and dribble onto the floor. A few restaurant trays keep things pretty clean. The machine came with a top cover which comes in handy when using a 1.97" facemill at 1939 rpm. The issue is now that the coolant drips on my head when doing a part change.

I have a story involving that cover...

Last year, a construction company was blasting foundation excavations across the street for a condo development. Even though the shop is in a sturdy 1950's-era building, those explosions still felt like a kick in the gut. Nevertheless, their contractor was very professional and always gave timely audible warnings. One time I was wearing ear protection with my head in the machine, and they set off a BIG blast right next to the road. I hit the back of my skull on the cover so hard it's amazing *something* wasn't broken.

[PBMW]

My SL10 leaks a little at the door. Not really anyhting to snivel about though. Just a dribble. But the chip trap by the auger is ealily clogged and will overflow the coolant pretty quickly. Then you're down to using the mop.
I have a 2000 Minimill that has never had a leak.
But the Mini's coolant drain design is such that if clogged with chips, you'll find yourself mopping. Other than that, it;s been leak proof.

[Vern Smith]

I have a TM-1P that has several leak issues. From the size of the coolant tank shipped with the machine (5 gallons), I don't think the enclosure was designed for flood coolant. However, I fabed up a 30 plus gallon tank and have lots of leaks for my efforts. The chip auger channel leaks at several places. It will fill a coffee cup in a day at two places. Coolant leaks out of the openings in the enclosure designed for the Y axis chip shields to protrude through. The hanger for the air hose which bolts through the front of the enclosure also leaks. The hole for the X axis servo cable to come through leaks badly. There is a plastic plug in the hole but it's about a quarter of an inch too short leaving a gap about 2" by 1/4". This is only a problem with the face cutter.

I was fore warned about this and sealed every seam I could find on the inside of the enclosure with silicon before I started using the machine.

Vern

[Five-10]

I have an 06 VF6SS that's leaked since the day I got it. Service guys came and caulked it but it still leaks and is out of warrenty now. Also Haas needs to give a chip conveyor option. I can't stand these augers.

[SeymourDumore]

Ok, who started this thread????
My VF4 musta heard you dammit. All of a sudden the waste way oil catch bottle started filling up with coolant. I have to empty it every 2 hours or so.
Hopefully I'll find some time next week to figure out how it gets in there.

[1ctoolfool]

I just had to fix this on my mini, took the waste oil trap thing apart and just cleaned it out, there are no moving parts, seems to work fine now, but was full of nasty stuff.
takes 5 minutes, there is a quick release tubing on the inlet side.

The minimill is a great machine but coolant and chips can be an issue, you must keep the bottom cleaned out to prevent overflow and it is very difficult to access the coolant tank to clean everything out. I sacrifice compactness for ease of cleaning but I still like the machine, it does dribble here and there, this is with the regular pump, the high pressure pump is probably worse.

joev

[Geof]

One location that leaks badly on the MiniMill is low on the side of the column where the sheet metal butts up. There is a gap here that is not visible from the front; we filled it with caulking. Also behind the tool changer there are gaps we packed with foam.

[Edster]

My SL10 leaks a little at the door. Not really anyhting to snivel about though. Just a dribble. But the chip trap by the auger is ealily clogged and will overflow the coolant pretty quickly. Then you're down to using the mop.

PB they have an updated drain for the SL-10. Do you have this installed?