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Mystery spindle
- Thread starter StarkFan
- Start date
- Replies 13
- Views 2,968
Milland
Diamond
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2006
- Location
- Hillsboro, New Hampshire
Doesn't seem to be anything CNC, just a high-speed spindle attachment, perhaps for internal grinding or small endmills. There's no servomechanism on the assembly, just a low power motor to drive the spindle. Does look well made though.
Is the knob or stem on the right, just to the left of the mildly rusted area a spindle lock? Do make sure the spindle is free moving and lubricated before trying to run it.
Is the knob or stem on the right, just to the left of the mildly rusted area a spindle lock? Do make sure the spindle is free moving and lubricated before trying to run it.
Vancbiker
Diamond
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2014
- Location
- Vancouver, WA. USA
Kind of reminds me of a pantograph spindle. It's been like 40 years since I saw that machine, but something is bringing that to mind.
Screwmachine
Titanium
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2001
- Location
- Switzerland
That's from a transfer machine. Sort of like the pic.
Milland
Diamond
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2006
- Location
- Hillsboro, New Hampshire
Perhaps, but it's awfully light duty for that. I'd tend to go with Vanbiker's pantograph or engraver spindle, seems a lot more likely.
Screwmachine
Titanium
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2001
- Location
- Switzerland
I've seen transfer spindles that weren't much more than an inch diameter.
Doesn't seem to be a spindle lock - more like a vacuum line. Here are some more pictures, the last one showing where the hole from the vacuum line could line up with the spindle assembly, shown in the other pictures. I can't move the spring loaded part, so there may be an interlock on that. Seems to be heavily spring loaded, with (large?) oil reservoir in the anodized cylindrical part visible in first picture at start of this thread.
Attachments
Milland
Diamond
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2006
- Location
- Hillsboro, New Hampshire
What a curious design. Perhaps that lower fitting is an air purge to keep chips out of the nose bearing, but I can't see what the two posts and spring are for above the driven sprocket. I'd think they present a balance issue, but going by the drive and driven sprockets the max spindle speed can't be that great. Any sign of it being a release for a nose collet? Maybe a pneumatic chamber inside the spindle for for tool clamping??
And that it's a timing belt is interesting too. So little torque available to the spindle I'd have thought a flat belt would be enough.
And that it's a timing belt is interesting too. So little torque available to the spindle I'd have thought a flat belt would be enough.
Yes, I'm having the same sort of thoughts/questions. Maybe the spindle is running on an air bearing in there (unlikely, but possible?). The two posts with the spring look to be driven by the large hydraulic looking gold anodized section. It's center post contacts the top of the pin that threads into the collet and there's a micrometer type wheel, presumably for depth adjustment. So it looks to me as if you fit the collet, insert tooling, tighten the collet and then leave the tooling in place (it does not appear that you can change tooling quickly or easily). Since I can't depress the two rods/spring, I'm guessing that the air coupler might be a release mechanism for the spindle and then the hydraulic actuator controls the tool depth (presumably something would be pushing on the upper steel rod extending from the end of gold anodized portion. Like you, I'm wondering about that toothed belt. More pictures in a little bit here ...
Ah ha, Dr. Holmes - a subtle but all-important clue! Brand name clear as day on the end of the anodized column 
Mystery solved - tooling from a transfer machine:
Imoberdorf
So the prize goes to Screwmachine; correct as always!
Many thanks.
Mystery solved - tooling from a transfer machine:
Imoberdorf
So the prize goes to Screwmachine; correct as always!
Many thanks.
Attachments
Milland
Diamond
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2006
- Location
- Hillsboro, New Hampshire
I should have heeded that old saying: "Never argue with the Swiss when machinery is the topic!"
Now I'd just like to understand what all the gubbins do...
Screwmachine
Titanium
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2001
- Location
- Switzerland
Ha- not Swiss, just been here a couple of decades. South Carolina isn't really a watchmaking hot spot.
I don't know a thing about transfer machines, just seen them around and had a few different spindles in my hands, always beatifully made.
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