Matsuura RA-3GII Spindle Repair

Matsuura RA-3GII Spindle Repair

The Matsuura RA-3GII is a CNC vertical machining center.  It comes equipped with a grease lubricated and gear coupling driven spindle capable of running up to 12,000 rpm.

Matsuura RA-3GII Spindle Repair



CHALLENGE

When this Matsuura RA-3GII spindle  was hard to rotate by hand incoming. After breakdown and evaluation we noted that the #1 front bearing failed, the outer race was brinelled.  We then measured the critical dimensions (bearing journals, housing, taper, etc.) and found a few issues.  First the tooling taper looked beat, it was pitted with windows in the chrome.  It also had poor tool contact and 6-8µ runout at the taper.  Second, the front bearing shaft journal had light rub out bands, but the bearing spacer had no visible damage.  Third, the rear roller bearing journal and shaft tail had high runout.  Lastly, the gripper fingers were exhibiting more wear than would be typical after 6 months in operation and one front coolant nozzle was damaged.

 

SOLUTION

The following actions were performed on this Matsuura RA-3GII spindle:

  • Clean, inspect overall dimensions
  • Grind, chrome plate, and finish grind tooling taper and front bearing journal
  • Kiss grind the rear roller journal
  • Replace bearings, grippers, O-rings, coolant nozzle, and assembly screws

 

RESULT

After reassembly of all components, adjusting bearing preload, and undergoing break-in and testing procedures, this spindle passed our final quality inspection before being returned to our customer with a 1-year warranty.

DETAILED CAUSE OF FAILURE

  • Matsuura RA-3GII Spindle Repair

    Damaged coolant nozzel

  • Matsuura RA-3GII Spindle Repair

    Oil contamination in front cover labyrinth

  • Matsuura RA-3GII Spindle Repair

    Fretted front bearing housing

  • Matsuura RA-3GII Spindle Repair

    Failed front bearing

  • Matsuura RA-3GII Spindle Repair

    Damaged gripper fingers

  • Matsuura RA-3GII Spindle Repair

    Damaged tooling taper

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More Case Studies

Repair History - Here are examples of similar spindle repairs that may contain additional information that will help you. If you have additional questions, please contact us.

Your staff is amazing. I dropped off my spindle at the repair facility and I was met by four guys in the shipping and receiving department and they absolutely understood what I needed for my little woodworking spindle it was fixed properly. Everyone was professional machine is back up and running, it works properly no play, not overheating. The machine now cuts better with less noise. I saw other spindles there from Hubble telescope and an aircraft facility. I knew I was in good hands.
— Scott Masi, Chairman Of Maine
I really didn’t expect this; You guys really pulled it off! My many thanks to your outstanding crew for helping us get back into production.
— Dan Eaton, Taylor Metalworks
Its great not to be sending spindles out on a regular basis since you addressed my problems, but I know they will still be coming sooner or later. Never a problem when we get them back , run better than new. Hope everything is ok there. Please tell everyone there that we here appreciate everything that you do to keep us up and running and the quick turnarounds. Have delt with the rest now deal with the best. Have a great week end and up and coming holiday.
— Northland Customer
Thank you NTE just received spindle today and WOW ! what a nice job. Can’t wait to use it. Thank the Northland team for us for a job well done 
— Northland Customer
Both of the spindles that you repaired are on the machines and running great. We don’t have any spares for those grinders. We probably will not be purchasing a spare, as you have been able to turn around the repairs quickly and the price of a spare is cost prohibitive.
— Northland Customer
I am writing to thank Northland Tool for going the extra mile and saving my company from expensive machine downtime and expensive repairs. We have always sent our Chiron spindles for repair as a shaft with bearings. None of our previous rebuilders pointed out the bearing fretting or the fact that the housing in the machine was out of tolerance and causing premature failure to the spindles. After Northland fixed the housings the spindles have never sounded as good or run as well! Great job guys!
— Northland Customer
The detailed cause of failure reports and the expert technical advice that Northland Tool provides is bar none the best I have ever seen. We struggled to keep two of our large our milling spindles running for longer than 6 to 12 months. Northland Tools evaluation showed that the hydraulic nuts were not holding the assembly together causing premature spindle failure. We discussed this in detail and mutually decided to modify the spindle shaft to prevent this from occurring again. The first spindle we performed this on is still in the machine running like new after 3 years. That’s over three times the life of previous repairs and it’s still going strong. Easily over $40,000.00 of savings so far on that one machine and counting.
— Northland Customer
Your people go above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to spindle repair. When we had difficulty with the spindle installation and we were able to talk directly to a spindle technician that helped us troubleshoot the issue it helped us out of a bind. We have sent several spindles to you and have nothing but great things to say.
— Northland Customer
Thank you for your attention with my quick turn spindle repair. Your status updates allowed me to plan around machine downtime and I now know that you deliver on your promises. In the past other spindle repair vendors talked a big game and consistently failed to deliver. You not only delivered my spindle before the due date but you kept me informed throughout the entire repair process.
— Northland Customer
You performed a miracle with my BIG PLUS spindle. After crashing the spindle severely damaging the taper we found that a replacement spindle was not only cost prohibitive but had a long delivery. Your repair was a fraction of the cost of new and you never would know that the spindle was damaged to the extent it was.
— Northland Customer
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