Early Detection of Spindle Problems

The Spindle Assessment Kit from SKF USA Inc. (Lansdale, PA) provides an easy way to measure and interpret key spindle operating data to help users detect developing problems before they can escalate. Designed for use after a spindle is assembled and installed in a machine tool, the kit can help OEMs or quality control staff to validate performance indicators, including vibration, thermal behavior, running accuracy, and natural frequency, among others.

The kit also can detect spindle unbalance conditions and assist in understanding resonance frequency, which is essential to cutting quality.  The kit ultimately delivers cost-effective condition monitoring technology to help avoid spindle downtime and increase machine tool uptime.

The Spindle Assessment Kit includes three programs: spindle test module, balancing module (for fine tuning), and RUCD (Run Up Coast Down) module (to test resonance frequency).  The spindle test module provides nine condition tests: imbalance and balancing (vibration), bearing condition (vibration), mechanical condition (vibration), resonance frequency, speed accuracy, belt tension, tool nose run out, EM distance, and clamp force.

The complete kit consists of a portable Microlog Analyzer, acceleration sensor, laser tachometer, dial gauge with gauge stand, belt tension gauge, and a spindle-specific software package preconfigured to convert measured data into intuitive green-amber-red (“traffic light”) color-coded results.

The user-friendly kit provides step-by-step instructions and features lightweight ergonomic design, extended battery life, easy operation function keys, and rugged and water-resistant design. Automatic analysis of spindle condition will indicate possible faults, imbalance, and bearing defects, among other operating problems. The kit expands an extensive portfolio of spindle services (from repairs and remanufacturing to upgrades) for optimized machine tool maintenance strategies from SKF.

In related equipment applications, SKF offers Vibracon self-leveling and height adjustable chocks that enable easy and accurate mounting of industrial rotating machinery to base frames, steel foundations, or plates while eliminating Soft Foot (improper contact between a machine casing and the baseplate used to support it).

These mechanical chocks effectively compensate for angular misalignment of up to four degrees between the mounting foundation and bottom of the machine foot to ultimately eliminate Soft Foot and allow for optimal and economical mounting without requiring expensive machining of skid bases and milled blocks, trial and error guesswork of regular shims, or the extra labor and curing time associated with epoxy resin chocks.

The unique design of the Vibracon integrates a spherical top plate and mating middle section that is threaded and screws into a threaded bottom ring. The swiveling action of the top plate self-levels the Vibracon, thereby accommodating for the angular differences inherent with mounting surfaces and maximizing the contact surface between the foundation, chock, and machine foot. The vertical adjustment feature offers a wide range of adjustability to compensate for the chocking height of the equipment. These features allow for quick and easy installation with minimal down-time. In combination, the self-leveling and height adjustment capabilities effectively eliminate Soft Foot.

Vibracon chocks can be supplied in a wide range of configurations, standard and extended chocking heights (ranging from 30 mm to 250 mm), footprint diameters (60 mm to 250 mm), and materials including carbon steel, treated carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, shock hardened, and K-Monel. Low-profile versions (with chocking heights from 20 mm to 45 mm and footprint diameters from 80 mm to 190 mm) can cost-effectively support repair projects or fixed design systems by serving as replacements for milled chocks, shims, or epoxy resins. Custom-made Vibracon chocks are also available for non-typical applications.

SKF USA Inc., 890 Forty Foot Road, PO Box 352, Lansdale, PA 19446, 800-440-4753, www.skfusa.com.