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#1
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Spindle Bearings replacement
Hi. Eventually my oldest Fimec spindle needs new bearings. Not entirely sure how old the spindle is, guessing 2-3years.
Is there a specific company in CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA that services these spindles or supplies the correct bearings? If i manage to get the right bearings, is it easy enough for me to change them out? Has anyone been able to successfully change their own bearings? And do guys have contact email addresses for “English” agents in the states that stock these spindles and bearings? Any information with regards to my question will be much appreciated since i need to fix this problem as soon as possible. |
#2
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As Sean discovered today, there is a company in Cape Town that has changed bearings in similar spindles before. Viviers Armature Winders in Woodstock.
Once Sean has swopped out the spindles, I will carefully open the old one and see what there is to see inside....... |
#3
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Starting to gather info for when the surgery has to happen . . . . .
HSD gave these numbers for the 18000rpm spindles: Front bearings: HSD code Y290400019 – VEX 35/S SQCE1 DD0 Rear Bearings: HSD code Y290100012 – radial 6002 2RSL C3 Font bearing appears to be according this table: http://www.snfa.com/index.php?id=66&...nu_prod_fa.htm Rear bearing is fairly common. Alternative for the SNFA front bearing is the 7007 series from SKF. (about $200 from local stockist) ![]() |
#4
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Gerald,
Is this a typical rate at when you would need to change bearings in a spindle (2 or 3 years of industrial use)? |
#5
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Gerald,
How about some pictures when you open up the spindle? I have decided to wait on purchasing my spindle, which will be a HSD, and go with a router to start with but I plan on buying one in the future and I would like to see what you find. Thanks |
#6
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I wouldn't know if 2.5 years is typical or not, have no experience in this field. Of course some pics will be taken.
HSD are not keen to supply bearings, and we only got the numbers because they have no agents out here. They say that most people replace the whole spindle when the bearings go. |
#7
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Our multicam had a columbo 2.2kw and replaced it after 5 years of really hard use.
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#8
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Bed time reading: Assembly Manual
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#9
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Then guys remember i never have put in ramps when starting a profile. Just straight down plunges. Hitting clamps every few months won't extend its life either!
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#10
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Quote:
![]() Sean, any words on why you would want to continue using a spindle, even if it might cost you $200 to $400 every 2 to 3 years? There are a number of curious people wondering if a spindle is a good investment. |
#11
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well i was spending $45 on new bearings every 2months, for my makita 3612C.
and after 4 yrs the housing is all worn. Its extremely noisy as well. I'm tired of having issues on regular basis while running a very busy shop |
#12
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Sean I have invested on a 3612 C too. but was looking out for a cheaper water cooled chinese spindles. they are around 480USD a piece for 2.2KW. I dont know yet what to go for. Just speculating.
Yup the router makes a hell lot of noise! completely agree with that. RGDS Irfan |
#13
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Quote:
![]() Photos will take a while . . . . |
#14
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Are these FAG bearings cheaper than what HSD suggested?
Thanks, send me a confirmed price/invoice |
#15
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That model Fimec was 24000 rpm with the ceramic FAG bearings.
HSD is 18000 rpm and they were giving specs on steel bearings. Neither of the above bearings stocked locally, prices uncertain. Found some locally stocked NACHI (rhymes with nasty) bearings we can try out and see how long they last. |
#16
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For anything over 6000 rpm you must have P4 bearings. What makes these chaps special is that they are matched to the configuration you need. When bearings are assembled side by side they need to be matched to each other that is why P4 bearings will have lines etched on them to show how they must be assembled, this is to ensure that the balls are running correctly in the race. When a standard bearing is mounted in the same way the balls may not be exactly in the correct position and as a result cannot take the load. Also the cages holding the balls need to be machined to get the higher RPM, which the P4 gives almost always brass. What happens with the standard bearings with steel cages is that on start up the balls will move out of position since the balls are much losser than in the brass cage and as a result damage the raceway hence heat, noise failure.
YOU MUST USE A P4 BEARING IN A SPINDLE. |
#17
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What is a P4 bearing?
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#18
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check the bearing no. in post 13 "P4S" tells you that it is a "precision" bearing,
these chaps are the hand selected perfect chaps. One of the most critical areas is the width of the outer race and the inner race, if thay are not exactly the same the balls are pushed out of allignment when assembled causing greater heat and failure. |
#19
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- Remove the fan cover at the top of the spindle:
- Remove the retaining clip (circlip) that holds the fan to the shaft (important!) -Remove the 4 capscrews that hold the lower bearing housing to the alu body of the spindle. The only thing that holds the rotor inside the body is the little plastic fan! - Press the shaft through the fan, causing the fan to pop off, and the rotor to move completely out of the spindle body. - Hold rotor gently in a padded vice and unscrew the inner retaining nut (normal right-hand thread.....the last one...hereafter all left-hand) - Slide the shaft out of the back of the bearings. It is a smooth sliding fit...no force needed. Just a curiousity, those circular marks are the ends of the bars of the squirrel cage. (8 bars visible) (The round hole is one of the balancing drillings) 8020043a.jpg -Hold the bearing housing gently and unscrew the outer bearing retainer (left-hand thread) - Slide the two main (expensive!) bearings out . . . . . no force needed. - The lower end of the spindle is now completely disassembled. These are all the parts involved: - Unscrew the top, small bearing retainer, again left-hand thread |
#20
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...love the handmade spanners
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#21
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Spanners? I thought that name was only used this side of the Atlantic and you called them "wrenches"?
![]() Have added some commentary above. Is there anything else I should be taking pictures of that anyone might be interested in? |
#22
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That wasn't Loctite, it was packed MDF dust! Scraped it out and bearings came off. The small bearings have no markings.
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#23
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#24
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Small things to watch during re-assembly:
The marks on the main bearings must be lined up, facing towards each other: The gaps in the seal rings must be shifted far apart (not as per this pic!). Similar on small nut at fan end: |
#25
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Great information Gerald! Thanks for taking the time to depict the details with pictures. It look almost too easy; getting the replacement parts being the most complicate part.
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#26
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I have more or less decided to make the first bearing a simple 6007 2Z, and the second a cheap unsealed 7007 bearing, and then to see the life it gives. Maybe I am crazy, but if I don't experiment, I won't know what I am paying for. It is easy enough to change the bearings.
There is a danger though.... If the bearings get so bad that they seize up, they will turn in the housing, or on the shaft and cause irrepairable damage. That same risk also applies to the very expensive bearings. Important point is, the bearings must be replaced when they give their first warnings! Another observation is that the marked pairs of bearings cannot be guaranteed to stay in line while the assembly is screwed together. There is no way of checking that the markings have not perhaps moved to the worst position, 180 degrees apart. |
#27
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Tonight I opened the bearings and checked them carefully. . . . .
Nothing obvious worn with the big expensive front bearings, but the small back ones are shot. As per the pics above, full of sawdust and outer race turning blue from overheating. Fimec used open bearings there, while HSD say they use the sealed bearing 6002 2RSL C3. Moral of the story, don't rush to replace the big bearings if the little ones are causing the grief. ![]() Now I wonder if I can get the big ones together again . . . . . |
#28
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Meaning are ya opening up two spindles? did I miss anything in the thread?
did you already assemble and chk and the small bearings failed? |
#29
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Photos are a mix of 2 spindles: first 2 pics are HSD with alu-colour body and the rest of the pics are Fimec with black colour body. Only 1 spindle was actually opened.....the Fimec with the black body. The two spindles are mostly identical. HSD has given us the bearing specs used in their spindles, but I have not seen the bearings inside a HSD for myself. The Fimec has run over 2 years and developed bearing noise, which now appears to have been caused by the small bearings.
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#30
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Gerald rather use ZZ bearings at the top the 2RS will heat up. The markings on the P4 bearings are only there to show which faces must go together, as I said before this ensures that the balls are running in the center of the groove. Think what would happen if the outer race was say 0.5mm narrower than the inner race, once assembled in the spindle (the 2 sets of bearings next to each other) the balls would be forced out of allignment, causing failure. that is what P4 prevents.
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