Sounds like bad bearings. That's about the only thing that I can think of that would cause a spindle to seize
Hello all,
So today I'm machining some parts, get to my 3rd op, press cycle start and I hear a squeal like the VFD or something, but the spindle is not turning, so I immediately hit the E-stop. Spindle is completely frozen. After removing power, I use the spindle wrench that cam with the mill to turn the spindle. With all my force I can barely nudge it. I remove all the PDB parts, sheet metal cover etc. I remove one of the side plates to get access to the belt drive. As I watch while yanking on the spindle wrench I can see movement, but can't tell if its the motor froze or spindle bearings. I remove the motor and it spins buttery smooth. I try the wrench again and I can turn the spindle, but there is still some "drag" like friction or something. No gravely noise like blown bearings though. Next I remove the top metal plate that covers the spindle assembly. Go back to the mill and WTH, the spindle spins freely.
I'm thinking of a couple possibilities, but this is the first mill I've owned.. so grasping here.
1. Something got wedged in between the drive components causing the drag, and when I took it apart the offending material worked it's way out as I was yanking on the spindle.
2. The bad bearings froze from heat expansion causing the spindle to freeze, and as I was taking things apart, it cooled down to the point of spinning freely again.
I'm thinking option 2 ?.
Although it now spins freely, it's not silent, but no nasty gravely sound either.
Anyone have experience with bad spindles ?.
FYI the mill is ~4-5 years old.
Thanks,
Matt
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Sounds like bad bearings. That's about the only thing that I can think of that would cause a spindle to seize
Jim Dawson
Sandy, Oregon, USA
Check your spindle runout and endplay. If those are still good and the spindle is quiet then who knows what it was but at least it’s gone now.