Warco WM 18 mill

[Stephen MiddletonParticipant @stephenmiddleton53822]

[Stephen MiddletonParticipant @stephenmiddleton53822]

Hello,

I need some help with WM18 mill.

I have recently been machining a 144 tooth clock wheel on my mill and light coloured smoke has been coming from around the quill area.To machine the brass gear using a thornton cutter I am running a speed of 1500rpm and although the machine is over 5 years old I have not experienced anything like this before.

Any ideas please?

Thanks,

Steve.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Could be overheating bearings.

Did the quill feel hot? Is it running rough or does it feel tight?

Neil

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

With all those teeth to do it may be having a smoke break in the meantime… , Hahahahahahaha … we're all mad I tell you, we're all mad…

George.

[Stephen MiddletonParticipant @stephenmiddleton53822]

The quill does not feel very hot, it feels the same as always,it does not feel tight and is not running rough.

Are there any lubrication points around the spindle as there is no information in the operating instructions

Steve.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Is it coming from the speed controller but finding an unusual route out ? Any smell? Is it electrical or hot oil smell? H swarf got somewhere unusual?

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Pretty sure the spindle has ball bearings, so no lube points.

Any sign of smoke inside the gearbox if you remove the plug allowing access to grease the gears?

If the quill isn't hot, and the motor's OK, could the job itself be oily or smeared in cutting fluid? That can smoke. If the gears have been oiled, could oil have leached out down the spindle?

Dave

[Stephen MiddletonParticipant @stephenmiddleton53822]

There is no smell and the speed controller is not hot.

Silly old duffer, when you say remove the plug to allow access to grease the gears do you mean the clear plastic sight glass on the right hand side near the control knob for the low gears as there is no info in the operating instructions as to what that is.

Steve.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Hi Steve,

Yes that's right. It unscrews and if you peer inside (a torch helps), you can see the High/Low gear wheels. The rear pair are easier to see than the front pair. You use the hole to blob grease on the wheels. A lolly stick does the job if you don't have a gun or a spray can of White Lithium Grease.

I don't think the smoke could be coming from the control box without you seeing it.

I doubt it's the motor either, but it's worth taking the plastic cover off the motor and having a look. It's held on by 4 small allen screws, two on each side towards the top of the mill.

Dave

[Stephen MiddletonParticipant @stephenmiddleton53822]

Hello,

Thanks for the input from everyone it's good to know that there is plenty of experience out there.

I think Dave that you may have hit the nail on the head about the grease on the gears,I will give it a try when I am in the workshop next week.

Thanks again everyone,

Steve.

[Stephen MiddletonParticipant @stephenmiddleton53822]

Hello, I am having problems accessing digital issue 289 on my iPad.The issue is not showing and only goes up to issue 288.Anyone else having similar problems? Thanks, Steve.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

See this thread, I'll poke Neil again with a bigger stick this time

[Stephen MiddletonParticipant @stephenmiddleton53822]

Thanks Jason.

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