CNC Router Technology - Technical Section Catalog - spindles, dust collectors, vacuum pumps/blowers, 4th axis rotary, coolant systems, digitizers, laser scanners & accessory kits

12 Phone: 516-328-3970 www.technocnc.com Technical Section Collet Maintenance Tool geometry, cutting material, and machine feeds and speeds are all important to the machine’s performance. Basic tooling maintenance should be at the top of this list. Proper colleting and collet maintenance are essential, and directly affects the cut quality and longevity of the spindle. A clean collet, tool holder, router bit, and spindle taper allows for a firm grip of the tool, preventing tool runout. “Runout” occurs when the tool and spindle do not share the same center of rotation (they are not concentric). This runout puts enormous strain on the spindle bearings and can cause the spindle to fail prematurely. In addition, a tool that is not perfectly concentric will result in an uneven, wavy cut. It is recommended that the collet, tool holder, router bit, and spindle taper be cleaned each and every time you change a tool. When the machine is running, dust and debris collects in all crevices of the spindle, while resins can build up on the tooling. These resins will usually build up around the mouth of the collet. Because of this buildup, the tool may not be properly gripped, and a loss of concentricity (“runout”) of the tool results. Proper cleaning and maintenance easily solves this problem. Spindle Taper Proper maintenance for optimal performance does not stop at the tool or the tooling accessories. Care should be taken to extend cleaning to the spindle as well. For instance, regular cleaning of the inside of the spindle taper should be part of your maintenance regimen. In addition, always leave a tool holder in the spindle, even when the machine is not in operation. This will greatly reduce the amount of dust and debris that can enter the spindle’s interior, subsequently causing premature spindle failure. Vacuum Hold-Down The most common question asked when it comes to vacuum hold- down is how much vacuum does my application require? Vacuum systems should be evaluated based on the specific applications. The smaller the part or thinner the material to be held, the greater the volume of air flow required, thus increasing the size of the vacuum pump. Many people state that you can’t have enough vacuum. This is somewhat a true statement. However, it can be a very costly fact. It is always easy to overbuy. Purchasing a single 40HP or 50HP pump can cost in excess of $25,000, and the purchase is only the initial cost. Depending on where your shop is located, the utility rates can vary considerably. Keep in mind that operating costs (utility) rarely go down, so these costs will increase year to year. Purchasing a number of smaller pumps can help reduce the price of the pump as well as reduce the overhead to run these pumps. If you are processing sheets of materials that have large parts, then a single pump can be utilized. If the nest has numerous smaller parts, then it is best to run all the pumps for maximum air flow. There are other devices