Faq's on Spindles

Q.1 What is a spindle in machining?
Ans: In machining, a spindle is defined as a cylindrical device or a rotating shaft that is used to hold the work-holding mechanism or tool that is to be turned or to drive cutting tools or workpieces on milling machines, lathes, other machine tools

 

Q.2 What are the main functions of spindles?
Ans: The main functions of spindles are grinding, milling, drilling, turning, boring , engraving and routing.

 

Q.3 What are the different type of spindles on the basis of their drives?
Ans: Spindles are driven by various machanism and according there are different types of spindles like high frequency driven spindles, motorized spindles, belt driven spindles or gear driven spindles.

 

Q.4 How are spindles rated?
Ans: Spindles are rated for power and torque and maximum speed.

 

Q.5 What type of bearings are used in spindles?
Ans: A wide variety of bearing types are used in machine tool spindles such as air bearings, angular contact bearings, ceramic hybrid bearings, hydrostatic bearings, magnetic bearings, roller bearings and tapered roller bearings.

 

Q.6 What are the different types of spindle housing?
Ans: The different types of spindle housing are cartridge housing, flange cartridge housing, block type housing or foot mounted housing.

 

Q.7 What are belt-driven spindles?
Ans: A belt driven spindle, a popular category of spindle, consists of the spindle shaft, held with a bearing system and supported by the spindle housing and driven by a tangential belt system, usually poly V-belts.

 

Q.8 What are motorized spindles?
Ans: Motorized spindles, another popular category of spindles, are spindles driven by a motor which supplies power and rotation to the spindle either by an external motor or an integral motor.

 

Q.9 Why are ceramic ball bearings more preferred?
Ans: Ceramic ball bearings are more preferred than metal ball bearings because of the following reasons:
The ceramic balls have 60% less mass or weight than steel balls.
They do not react with the steel raceways.
They can operate at lower temperatures.

 

Q.10 What are the lubricants used in bearings of spindles?
Ans: Lubricants used in bearings are like oil, grease and dry lubricants of which grease is the most widely used one.