Orrin
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2004
- Location
- Colton, WA USA
The collet drive pin is missing from the R8 spindle of my "new" Sharp mill. It does not appear to be sheared off; it is just plain gone.
Are these pins pressed in? If so, I would appreciate your opinions about the way I'm thinking of replacing it--if it needs replacing.
First off, I don't want to go through the major surgery of removing the spindle. Instead, I'm thinking of making an insertion tool. I'd do this by drilling a blind hole crosswise and partially through and near the end of a long rod or piece of key stock. It would be sized to be a snug, but loose fit for the replacement pin.
With the aid of a mirror I'd use the rod to position and start the drive pin in its hole. Once started, I'd drive a soft wedge into the spindle, along the insertion tool, pressing the pin into place. I'm considering using Loctite to give it a firm grip.
I don't know whether the previous owner purposely removed the pin or spun it out. The 3/4" collet has been ruined by something spinning and galling in it. Maybe the two discrepancies are connected to a common event.
Are any of you operating your mill without a collet drive pin? I'm wondering if the one in this machine was perhaps purposely removed. It has a Kurt power drawbar and it would seem as if some serious buggering could happen if the drawbar sucked the collet in without the pin being aligned with the collet's keyway. If this ever happened, the drive pin would seem to be a nuisance, not an asset.
Regards,
Orrin
Are these pins pressed in? If so, I would appreciate your opinions about the way I'm thinking of replacing it--if it needs replacing.
First off, I don't want to go through the major surgery of removing the spindle. Instead, I'm thinking of making an insertion tool. I'd do this by drilling a blind hole crosswise and partially through and near the end of a long rod or piece of key stock. It would be sized to be a snug, but loose fit for the replacement pin.
With the aid of a mirror I'd use the rod to position and start the drive pin in its hole. Once started, I'd drive a soft wedge into the spindle, along the insertion tool, pressing the pin into place. I'm considering using Loctite to give it a firm grip.
I don't know whether the previous owner purposely removed the pin or spun it out. The 3/4" collet has been ruined by something spinning and galling in it. Maybe the two discrepancies are connected to a common event.
Are any of you operating your mill without a collet drive pin? I'm wondering if the one in this machine was perhaps purposely removed. It has a Kurt power drawbar and it would seem as if some serious buggering could happen if the drawbar sucked the collet in without the pin being aligned with the collet's keyway. If this ever happened, the drive pin would seem to be a nuisance, not an asset.
Regards,
Orrin