X3 mill spindle tightness

[Richard CoxParticipant @richardcox82602]

Hi I noticed with my x3 tonight the spindle seemed tight at first I thought maybe the gearbox or spindle bearings so I disconnected the gearbox and spun the spindle by hand and in some spots it is tight, I immediately thought spindle bearings, then I took the r8 tool out the machine And the shaft freed up so I checked the spindle r8 taper which appeared clean and free of nicks and burrs, I tried different tools and a new drawbar, anyone else with an x3 had similar issues ? it appears the spindle must be deflecting when the drawbar is tightened I wouldn’t say I overtighten the drawbar not do I torque it to a spec

Rich

[Richard CoxParticipant @richardcox82602]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Not noticed anything on my MT X3. Any chance the shed was very hot due to this nice weather we have been having?

You don't say if it was tight or free when you tried the other tooling?

Edited By JasonB on 09/05/2018 07:07:13

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

The amount you tighten the draw bar shouldn't be enough to effect anything, about 1/4 a turn after finger tight, I just pull the spanner with a finger.

Ian S C

[Richard CoxParticipant @richardcox82602]

Hi Jason she’s wasn’t overly warm and id imagine the spindle and bearings get warmer when in use than the ambient temp, yes the other tooling had the same result,

Hi Ian I thought the same too must of been like it from new and I haven’t noticed

Rich

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

Might be worth checking the spindle for cracks! See this ***THREAD*** Mechman48 has a photo of the problem.

John

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Well I suppose running that 50mm facecutter over a hardened steel toolholder may not have done the spindle a lot of good.

Richard is this a new machine, one you have had for a while or a new to you second hand one?

[Richard CoxParticipant @richardcox82602]

I was only taking 0.5mm at a time on 20mm wide tool should be up to that,

I’ve had it from brand new probly 4-5 years old now been username a handful of times

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Really depends on how hard the tool holder was, I have cut some OK and on good quality ones taken the edge straight off a set of tips, thay are all hardened some more so than others.

Could also explain what you said about tram. An X3 can't easily go out of tram and cause the trailing edge of the cutter to make a shallow cut, but if the tool is being pushed up because it can't cut into a hardened steel workpiece then teh training edge will more likely come into contact as it passes over teh "cut" work.

[Richard CoxParticipant @richardcox82602]

I meant if the column of the z axis wasn’t square to the bed would the cutter take two cuts think exaggerated if the tool was at for arguements sake 45 degrees the l/h side of the face mill would cut then because the tool isn’t square to the workpiece the r/h side of the cutter when passing over the workpiece would cut again wouldn’t it ? It’s hard to explain over here

[norm nortonParticipant @normnorton75434]

Richard

There is a small pin that locates in the R8 tool groove. Just check it is not possible to push that pin through the spindle and into something and cause drag. I cannot recall exactly the geometry, but I had a problem with mine and stripped the spindle to fit a new pin that I made.

Some tooling has grooves that are too shallow and I have had to hand (diamond rotary) grind these to be a few thou deeper.

Norm

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

That small pin does little more than hold the R8 whilst you are pulling on the drawbar. It will all work without it.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

I reckon Norm could be on to something. Doesn’t need much, forcing something to the side, to upset lightly built machines.

[Richard CoxParticipant @richardcox82602]

Thanks norm good call il have to investigate

Rich

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I think some people remove the pin, although it does ensure that the tooling is always in the same way each time.

Ian S C

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