Nigel Tudor
Plastic
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2018
Now that I finished mounting the DRO and linear scales, its time to service the spindles before I start using my mill. I looked but didn't find a thread on the horizontal spindle assembly. I disassembled the horizontal spindle to clean and re-grease it. I am glad I did as the grease on the lower bearing (next to the spindle taper) was pretty bad.
Here is the race for the lower bearing as disassembled:
But my question has to do with the proper way to reassemble the spindle. The order of components from the top (back of the machine) down (towards the taper) is:
1.) Washer with 2 screws which holds a thin lock washer that has a protrusion that fits into a pocket on the quill.
2.) Locknut with slots for a spanner wrench under which is a spring washer.
3.) Large locknut that is locked in position with the lock washer in #1 and had a threaded ID for the locknut in #2
4.) Ball thrust bearing with a bushing through its ID with a flange under the bearing that pushes on upper race of the lower thrust bearing #5.
5.) Lower ball thrust bearing.
6.) Top needle bearing (installed from the top of the spindle).
7.) Middle needle bearing which is the same size as #6.
8.) Bottom needle bearing (bigger than the other two).
Here is a picture of the top end parts (right to left).
What is the correct procedure when installing the two lock nuts (#2 & #3)? It appears that you use the screws to get a purchase to install the larger lock nut(#3) which is then secured in position with #1. The smaller locknut has a spring washer which pushes on the bushing that runs through the upper thrust bearing(#4) and acts upon the lower thrust bearing (#5).
Are the targets are the same as for the vertical spindle? Test the spindle assembled dry and have between .0004"-.0006" (10-15 Micron) radial play. And once the spindle is greased, adjust the locknuts to get .0002" (5 micron) axial play.
If my mag-base is on the spindle with the indicator tip inside the taper, what is the proper way to push/pull on the spindle to check radial play?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Nigel
Here is the race for the lower bearing as disassembled:
But my question has to do with the proper way to reassemble the spindle. The order of components from the top (back of the machine) down (towards the taper) is:
1.) Washer with 2 screws which holds a thin lock washer that has a protrusion that fits into a pocket on the quill.
2.) Locknut with slots for a spanner wrench under which is a spring washer.
3.) Large locknut that is locked in position with the lock washer in #1 and had a threaded ID for the locknut in #2
4.) Ball thrust bearing with a bushing through its ID with a flange under the bearing that pushes on upper race of the lower thrust bearing #5.
5.) Lower ball thrust bearing.
6.) Top needle bearing (installed from the top of the spindle).
7.) Middle needle bearing which is the same size as #6.
8.) Bottom needle bearing (bigger than the other two).
Here is a picture of the top end parts (right to left).
What is the correct procedure when installing the two lock nuts (#2 & #3)? It appears that you use the screws to get a purchase to install the larger lock nut(#3) which is then secured in position with #1. The smaller locknut has a spring washer which pushes on the bushing that runs through the upper thrust bearing(#4) and acts upon the lower thrust bearing (#5).
Are the targets are the same as for the vertical spindle? Test the spindle assembled dry and have between .0004"-.0006" (10-15 Micron) radial play. And once the spindle is greased, adjust the locknuts to get .0002" (5 micron) axial play.
If my mag-base is on the spindle with the indicator tip inside the taper, what is the proper way to push/pull on the spindle to check radial play?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Nigel