Hints & Tips For Longer Spindle Life

Delaying Spindle Service Causes More Damage, Costly Repairs

Delaying Spindle Service Causes More Damage, Costly Repairs

Running this spindle too long caused deformed ball bearings and damage to the outer race Damage to the outer race is consistent with prolonged operation after spindle exhibited initial signs of needing to be rebuilt   Every spindle rebuilt by Northland Tool is backed by a 1-year warranty on parts and workmanship Over 2 years in the making A customer reached out to us over 2 years ago with a complaint that their spindle was starting to get noisy. We provided an estimated cost of $5,000 to rebuild.

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Spindle Actuator Repair

Spindle Actuator Repair

This is a drawbar actuator that the walls of the ID had been scored and allowed hydraulic fluid to seep around the seals and contaminate the spindle bearings causing premature bearing failure. We were able to rework the ID in our grinding department saving our customer several thousands of dollars.

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Manufacturing Spindle Parts

Manufacturing Spindle Parts

Since you can’t go to the local parts store and buy a front spindle housing and the lead times from the OEM can be measured in months not days, if they will even sell you the part. We manufacture replacement parts here to keep you up and running. Northland Tool manufactured this part, with micron tolerances, in 4 days and had our customer up and running in less than 7 days.

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Need Your Spindle’s Drawbar Re-Qualified?

Need Your Spindle’s Drawbar Re-Qualified?

Give us a call 800-774-6353. Performing a Grind Plate Grind to your drawbar shaft in most cases is a lower cost alternative than replacing it with new. Over time the belleville washers or coil springs can wear grooves in the drawbar shaft itself. This can cause poor tool retention force and difficulty getting full travel of the drawbar during tool changes.

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

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.

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Machine Tool Spindle Bearing Lubrication: What To Know

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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Summer Recommendations to Extend the Life of Your Spindle

Summer Recommendations to Extend the Life of Your Spindle

Summer Can Mean Stress for Your Spindle Summer is almost here and Northland Tool & Electronics would like to bring a few things to your attention that can help extend the life of your spindles during this season. Check your air dryers: The increased humidity puts higher demands on your air systems, leading to the potential of water getting to your spindle bearings (in oil/air applications). It is much easier and cheaper to address it now with an air dryer than later with a spindle repair. Vacations: This is a common time for employees to leave for weeks at a time.

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Okuma Howa 438 spindle repair solutions

Okuma Howa 438 spindle repair solutions

Our customer acquired several Okuma Howa machines from a sister plant that closed. The installation of the machines was anything but smooth. The first problem they ran into was a spindle that was making noise and leaving chatter marks on the parts. We concluded the bearings were worn and pulled the spindle for repair. Our breakdown evaluation found the failure of the rear bearing to be the main cause of failure. Contamination had worked its way through the rear cover into the rear bearing causing the grease in the rear roller bearing to fail. Here is a view of the back cover and the contamination that was present.

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