Spindle Predictive Analysis
How it Works and Why You Need It We talk to a lot of people about spindle predictive analysis. In these conversations, we’ve learned that many companies are reluctant to invest in predictive analysis for their spindles. One comment we often hear is that people prefer to use their own “naked ear” to know when […]
Precision Matters: The Importance of Quality Spindle Rebuilding
One of the universal truths of business is that not every supplier provides the same commitment to quality and process as others. Some take shortcuts to get through jobs quicker, building their business on throughput. Others, like us at GTI, prefer to do jobs right, from bottom to top, building a business on results and […]
Using Machine Tool Monitoring to Detect, Analyze, and Correct Spindle Issues Early
Machine tool monitoring has become an indispensable asset to machine shops operating in today’s competitive manufacturing landscape. Reactive maintenance strategies are no longer sufficient in an environment where customers will not tolerate unexpected machine tool failures that impact production schedules, delivery dates, and part quality. Implementing monitoring-based predictive maintenance practices allows manufacturers to solve problems […]
Understanding The Three Approaches to Spindle Maintenance: Reactive, Preventive, and Predictive
In machining, there’s no denying that some form of spindle maintenance should be in place to mitigate failures and downtime. While the ultimate goal of any maintenance strategy is to reach net-zero downtime, the method employed will dictate how close manufacturers can come to achieving that goal. Approaches to spindle maintenance fall into three categories: […]
Understanding the Four Stages of Spindle Bearing Failure
Bearing failure is a leading cause of spindle breakdowns. The truth is, it’s easy to take bearings for granted. Out of sight, out of mind. But bearing systems are at the heart of every spindle and can’t be forgotten. They’re highly engineered and manufactured to hyper-precise tolerances. As such, they require strict maintenance protocols and […]
How Investing in Predictive Maintenance Can Boost the Bottom Line
Equipment maintenance is one of the biggest cost centers for many manufacturers. Machine tool operators are certainly no exception to this rule. Maintenance programs of the past sought to increase the uptime and lifespan of spindles by ensuring they were well cared for on a routine basis, thus minimizing the chance that they would break […]
Critical Spindle Installation Steps: Balance Correction & Vibration Baselining
Last month, we discussed the importance of proper spindle installation. In particular, we reviewed important basic steps — pre-installation inspection, mounting, lubrication hookup, post-installation inspection, and start up/run in. But there are two steps that we left out last month. Not because they’re important, but because they’re the most important. Those steps are balance correction and […]
Spindle Installation: Getting it Right the First Time
We understand the impulse to get a new spindle installed, and up and running, as quickly as possible. Time is money, after all — especially in fiercely competitive manufacturing spaces. The fact is, though, that in their desire to minimize costly downtime, many CNC operators rush the spindle installation process. This simply sets the stage […]
The Importance of Warming Up Your Machine Tool Spindle
Over the past three decades, we’ve had a lot of conversations with countless clients and prospects. As you can imagine, they tend to revolve around spindles and spindle care. One topic that comes up regularly is the idea of doing a warmup cycle on your spindles. Responses have always been mixed — some do, some […]
Shipping a Spindle Out for Repair: Do’s and Don’ts
Typically made of high-strength steel, machine tool spindles are perceived to be solid, sturdy pieces of machinery. This is somewhat true, but spindle bearings and other mechanical components are high precision with tight tolerances as well as electrical components, all of which do not fare well under shock loads. So extra care must be taken […]
