- Joined
- Jul 28, 2017
- Messages
- 2,350
The X axis on my mini mill has had this problem, intermittently making loud screeching sounds when I turn the handwheel. The sound emanated from the bearing block (also called the retainer block) on the right hand side of the table. I usually could get it to stop -- temporarily -- by greasing every part of the bearing block -- but lately it's seemed that this "fix" only lasts a few days. The last straw was a few days ago when it made that noise immediately after grease was re-applied. Enough already!
Carefully disassembling the bearing block, I noticed that the portion of the feed screw which passes through the bore of the block was bare of grease, despite being well-greased the last time I went through the exercise. Getting suspicious, I measured the OD of the shaft and compared it to the ID of the bearing block, and they were darned near the same. That axis has groove-type thrust bearings so it's not at all necessary to have a close-fitting relationship between the shaft and bearing block. It ain't a bushng, just a hole for the shaft to go through. I opened the hole up by about .010" and the annoying screeching sound disappeared! Hopefully it stays away!
Carefully disassembling the bearing block, I noticed that the portion of the feed screw which passes through the bore of the block was bare of grease, despite being well-greased the last time I went through the exercise. Getting suspicious, I measured the OD of the shaft and compared it to the ID of the bearing block, and they were darned near the same. That axis has groove-type thrust bearings so it's not at all necessary to have a close-fitting relationship between the shaft and bearing block. It ain't a bushng, just a hole for the shaft to go through. I opened the hole up by about .010" and the annoying screeching sound disappeared! Hopefully it stays away!