- Joined
- May 31, 2018
- Messages
- 184
So I was working away this evening turning some aluminium, around 40 mm diameter. Whacked the lathe up to full tilt and had at it. No problems here.
After the third part I went to part off when the lathe, without warning siezes solid! WTF?! I barely touched the parting tool to the work!
Anyway, long and short of it is my headstock is in pieces now luckily nothing seems to be broken but it is not a simple affair to disassemble.
The lathe is a Warco GH 1330 which I believe is the equivalent to some of the PM Taiwanese machines.
I believe I have traced the source of the failure but thought I’d ask for feedback here.
See the aluminium collar around the spindle? I’m pretty sure it’s this that has siezed. Now the assembly has cooled it now spins freely although does stick if you wiggle it.
I’m pretty sure that the oil drains through this channel in the top and into the bearing.
You can see this seems to be the prime spot for debris to accumulate. The actual gearbox is pretty clean inside as is the oil. Or was. Most of it is now covering the workshop floor.
Looking back at the front end, the oil drains down into the spindle bearing and the aluminium collar seals it in. What I believe has happened is that debris carried in by the oil has accumulated around this collar which, when span up to full speed caused it to expand and seize.
Looking at it and it appears to be a bit of a sump, a natural place for debris to settle. Has anyone come across this before? The lathe is a little over 18 months old and has had one oil change in the time I’ve had it. It is due another but not overdue.
Other than increasing the oil change schedule does anyone have any other suggestions? Maybe a magnet in there to trap any metallic particles? I’d be worried about it becoming dislodged though.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
After the third part I went to part off when the lathe, without warning siezes solid! WTF?! I barely touched the parting tool to the work!
Anyway, long and short of it is my headstock is in pieces now luckily nothing seems to be broken but it is not a simple affair to disassemble.
The lathe is a Warco GH 1330 which I believe is the equivalent to some of the PM Taiwanese machines.
I believe I have traced the source of the failure but thought I’d ask for feedback here.
See the aluminium collar around the spindle? I’m pretty sure it’s this that has siezed. Now the assembly has cooled it now spins freely although does stick if you wiggle it.
I’m pretty sure that the oil drains through this channel in the top and into the bearing.
You can see this seems to be the prime spot for debris to accumulate. The actual gearbox is pretty clean inside as is the oil. Or was. Most of it is now covering the workshop floor.
Looking back at the front end, the oil drains down into the spindle bearing and the aluminium collar seals it in. What I believe has happened is that debris carried in by the oil has accumulated around this collar which, when span up to full speed caused it to expand and seize.
Looking at it and it appears to be a bit of a sump, a natural place for debris to settle. Has anyone come across this before? The lathe is a little over 18 months old and has had one oil change in the time I’ve had it. It is due another but not overdue.
Other than increasing the oil change schedule does anyone have any other suggestions? Maybe a magnet in there to trap any metallic particles? I’d be worried about it becoming dislodged though.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.