Noisy Spindle on Hurco BMC25

[Geordie Kieth]

I have had my Hurco BMC25 for a couple of years. I have had very few problems with it so far. I was machining something today and the spindle started to sound noisy. It sounds like a dry bearing. It has done this about a year ago and it just went away with time. I have an oil cooler and Ive checked the outlet from the oil cooler and there is no oil in the pipe. There is oil in the oil cooling tank but I have not topped it up since I got the machine so it could be low. Can any one tell me if the oil in the oil cooler lubricates the spindle because if it does it is clearly not circulation from the cooler to the spindle. Could it be that the oil in the cooler is only used to cool the spindle? Alternatively do I just have a worn out spindle bearing? Does anyone know what grade of oil I should put in the oil cooler?

[jhenjimi]

All fluids should be checked on a daily basis. Most high speed spindles have a cooler and yes this oil does cool the spindle. It might be too late and the spindle bearing(s) might need replacing. You should have manuals for your machine with all this information with it.

[bloke]

It's probably the little rectangular drive between the motor and pump in the chiller. If that's noshed, it will stop circulating round the outside of the cartridge.
If your bearings are knackered, you'll need a 3MM9114 (or 2MM depending on what contact angle you need for your type of work) quad set for the bottom set and a 2MM9112 pair for the top.

2MM is a 15 degree angle
3MM is a 25 degree angle