Northland Tool Blog

IMTS 2016

The one, the only, Givin Owen working at the IMTS 2016 show.

Why You Should Use a Third Party Repair Specialist — Don’t Let the OEM Hold a Gun to Your Head

A consumer has essentially two options when searching for a spindle repair specialist — keep the job in-house with the original equipment manufacture (OEM) or entrust it with a third party company that specializes in custom spindle repair work.

Machine Tool Spindle Bearing Lubrication: What To Know

Spindle bearings must be properly lubricated to maintain a film of lubricant between the rolling elements and the bearing raceways. Without lubrication, the rolling elements will have direct contact with the raceways, and this will result in heat, race deterioration, rolling element deterioration, cage disintegration, and ultimately bearing/spindle failure. There are several methods of lubrication used for spindles.

What Is the Spindle Repair Process?

The anatomy and functionality of a spindle is complex. And as such, it takes true expertise to understand, troubleshoot, and repair spindles correctly. From the moment a spindle repair job hits the loading dock and repair line, a spindle repair company is entrusted with making the necessary adjustments and recommendations to ensure the spindle is returned in working order—and in some cases, in even better condition than before it ever showed sign of original malfunction. However, though a spindle repair company may see thousands of repairs in any given year, each spindle repair job is different and must be treated carefully.

Top 4 Ways Your Spindle Rebuild Project WILL Benefit From an In-House Grinding Department

Simply put, a spindle repair company should have the experience and expertise to repair your spindle the right way. But short of sending your spindle to one company or another and hoping the repair goes well, how can you more accurately identify which shops are really the most skilled? One method is to vet the shop’s services and look for a spindle repair company with an in-house grinding department.

5 Key Reasons Why Your Spindle Repair Shop Should Offer a Spindle Support Program

After a spindle repair is complete, one of the best tools a repair shop can provide its customers with is a ‘spindle support program.’ This program should offer premium content with reports and recommended corrective actions for incoming spindles, as well as tips, tricks, and how-tos to keep a rebuilt spindle in proper working condition when it is returned to the customer. Unfortunately, while support programs like these are commonplace in most industries, they are rare in the spindle repair business.

What Does It Mean to Be a Factory Authorized Big Plus Spindle Rebuilder?

The ability to rebuild a BIG PLUS spindle is a specialty few spindle repair companies possess. In fact, BIG PLUS spindle rebuilds are such a rare attribute that only nine operations in North America are licensed and authorized as “BIG PLUS spindle rebuilders.

Hardinge HMTS Show

Northland Tool & Electronics was recently invited to the Hardinge Machine Technology Show 2014 in Elmira, NY where we exhibited as a Technology Partner. Our display was located next to that of BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling, with whom we have partnered for many years to support the BIG-PLUS Spindle System. Big Kaiser is the North American distribution partner of BIG Daishowa Seiki, the originators of the BIG-PLUS dual contact spindle tooling interface. Pictured here are Fred Messmer, Eastern Region Sales Manager for BIG Kaiser, and Northland Tool’s own spindle repair peddler, Givin Owen.

Walter DB112005 Spindle Repair

Our customer, a large tooling manufacturer, was experiencing a loud, roaring noise and poor part finish with this double-ended grinding spindle. Our evaluation of the spindle showed that one of the two pairs of ceramic bearings had failed due to contamination with grinding swarf. The grease in those bearings was degraded to a dry powder, providing little or no lubrication. We also determined that the wheel hub tapers on both sides had excessive runout.

Niigata SPN 40 Spindle Rebuild

Possible cause of failure: Catastrophic failure of #1 and #2 front bearings. Shaft 40 taper is below gauge line. OD of shaft nose has a large dent, drive dogs have light cosmetic wear. Repair action: Clean, inspect overall dimensions. Grind, plate & regrind shaft 40 taper. True bearing spacer shoulders. Replace bearings & o-rings. Adjust preload, balance, assemble and break in. Final quality control inspection.

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