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Post by heather on Dec 5, 2018 10:57:27 GMT -5
So the spindle motor bearings wore out on my AR8 Pro. The manual says it's a "GDZ.23-1C@80/2.2" motor, but there is nowhere to buy replacement parts on Axiom's website. Google pretty much just leads to semi-questionable Chinese sites with expensive and long shipping times, which may be all there is. Just wondering if anyone has had to replace their spindle motor and where they got it.
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Post by aluomala on Dec 5, 2018 14:36:43 GMT -5
This is the first time that I have seen a case of where somebodies spindle has packed it in. Can you tell us how long you had it (and roughly how many hours it ran). As well, could you let us know what preceded it giving up the ghost (smoke, screeching, seizing up, etc).
To be honest, I kind of expected these things to last forever (yes, I'm a little naive....), but I should know better.
I'm curious if anyone has put another (longer lasting/more reliable) spindle in it's place (before or after it crapped out).
Thanks for any insight you can provide,
Allan
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309cnc
Junior Member
Posts: 124 
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Post by 309cnc on Dec 5, 2018 14:51:44 GMT -5
any reason not to contact Axiom (Columbus, OH) and ask them?
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grg
Junior Member
Posts: 140
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Post by grg on Dec 5, 2018 15:31:16 GMT -5
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Post by heather on Dec 5, 2018 15:37:42 GMT -5
The router has in use for around 3 years, but not very heavily. We use it at my company for prototyping, so maybe a thousand hours? If I'm honest, there has been some abuse due to the people using it not having a great amount of knowledge. When it died, I was just routinely cutting some plywood and it started grinding and then seized. After I stopped the machine, the spindle motor wouldn't start and when turned by hand, you could feel the grinding of messed up bearings.
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Post by heather on Dec 5, 2018 15:38:34 GMT -5
Axiom sales got back to me with a quote... and lets just say it is MUCH more expensive than the Chinese options
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Post by stevem on Dec 5, 2018 15:47:34 GMT -5
Every 2.2kw spindle I have looked at is a 80mm dia body. If it's a 2.2 kw spindle they are all 3 h.p. I have seen some that are 110v, but I didn't bother with them. Your current spindle is 220v. When I converted my AR4 basic from router to spindle, I got the HY spindle and VFD thru Amazon. The spindle has the same model number as the Axiom spindle only without the Axiom logo etched on the side according to the Axiom manual. All your current VFD settings will probably not have to be changed. This is the address. It's only $214 shipped www.amazon.com/dp/B077BTW4NQ?m=A3A1CXRHIIBHYY&ref_=v_sp_widget_detail_pageI am surprised that you actually burned out the spindle! These thing are supposed to last for years. There may be a slight difference in the coolant connection, but a trip to a big box store and $10 in fittings would resolve that problem. |
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Post by heather on Dec 5, 2018 16:08:05 GMT -5
Thanks stevem. I haven't taken the motor off yet to see what the part number engraved on it is, but I have noticed that the motors for sale are either 80x213 or 80x235 (diameter x height I guess) but with the same specs otherwise. I haven't taken my motor off yet to look at the part number, but the height seems closer to 235mm. Not sure if it would make any difference, though.
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Post by aluomala on Dec 5, 2018 16:25:22 GMT -5
I'm actually tempted to buy one of those spindles "just in case" (like I bought the axis couplers "just in case" and they saved my bacon, when the Z-axis coupler snapped after a few weeks/months). If I'm down for any length of time (waiting on warranty support, ordering one from Axiom after warranty period (which, TBH, I haven't got a clue how long it is), etc) I would easily be losing that amount of money in lost revenue. And if it is never needed, I will sleep easier knowing that I have it in my back pocket (not literally, because that would aggravate my sciatica!)
Allan
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Post by stevem on Dec 5, 2018 16:39:45 GMT -5
heather: The height of the spindle doesn't matter! If the HY spindle is taller, you can just slide it higher up into the mount.
I do know that the Axiom spindle is 80mm in diameter as are all the other 2.2kw spindles.
I chose the HY spindle, because it has (4) bearings. Some of the cheaper ones only have (3) bearings.
I went to my local Menards and bought all the fittings and tubing. I ordered the coolant pump (which by the way) is the same pump used on the AR Pro thru Ebay. I also got the radiator with fan from Ebay as well. I mounted the whole thing on the back of the gantry just like the Pro is setup.
When you look at the back of my gantry, it looks just like the factory setup except I made a clear plastic enclosure instead of the metal one from Axiom and put a filter pad on the open end to keep dust out.
The only reason I did all of this is when I got my AR4 Basic it was all I could afford at that time and I didn't want to finance anything, so I started ordering the components one at a time, till I had everything to assemble.
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Post by traindriver on Dec 5, 2018 20:53:16 GMT -5
When you get back up and running, make sure that your coolant pump and the fan on your radiator are working! I've had my machine for about 3 1/4 years, and periodically (but not regularly), I'll put my hand on the spindle to see how hot it is while doing a lot of work. About a month ago, it felt a lot hotter than normal, so I looked at the coolant, and found that for some reason, there was none! I refilled the coolant tank, and noticed the fan made only a half-hearted (if that) attempt to turn. I took the coolant line loose to make sure I had flow, and discovered I had none. At the time, I had a paying job to run for a change, so I had to get up and running quickly. After a couple of trips to Lowes/Home Depot, I wound up using a fountain pump in a 5 gallon bucket half filled with coolant. Since it's winter, it works fine so I'll probably put off replacing it with the correct stuff until it warms up. Never did figure out what happened to the coolant - no evidence of a leak anywhere.
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Post by stevem on Dec 5, 2018 21:59:38 GMT -5
The coolant tank, lines and spindle only hold about 14oz total. That isn't much coolant. I was thinking about changing my system over to a different pump that will hold more coolant, or a larger radiator with 2 fans which would hold more coolant and with 2 fans would assist in keeping things cooler.
During this summer while I was running a 6 hour job the spindle was still only about 94 degrees, but if the system held more coolant, I am sure the temp would be even lower. I don't cool my shop since it's a garage, but I do heat it during winter months while i'm in the shop working.
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grg
Junior Member
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Post by grg on Dec 6, 2018 7:56:02 GMT -5
The coolant tank, lines and spindle only hold about 14oz total. That isn't much coolant. I was thinking about changing my system over to a different pump that will hold more coolant, or a larger radiator with 2 fans which would hold more coolant and with 2 fans would assist in keeping things cooler. During this summer while I was running a 6 hour job the spindle was still only about 94 degrees, but if the system held more coolant, I am sure the temp would be even lower. I don't cool my shop since it's a garage, but I do heat it during winter months while i'm in the shop working. BTW, I cleaned out and replaced the coolant in my system with GM DexCool diluted to 50% with distilled water...had some left over from doing some work on my truck. I figured if it was good for the aluminum, copper, and steel in my truck engine and cooling system (operating under much more extreme conditions), it should probably do just fine as a coolant in the Axiom. It's been about a year and the coolant still looks as fresh as the day I put it in. Also, strictly speaking, more coolant won't technically help lower the steady state operating temperature - more cooling power through an additional radiator and fan (or larger unit) certainly would. That said, 94 degrees isn't very hot for a motor and I've been pretty impressed with how cool everything stays with the stock Axiom setup. |
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Post by stevem on Dec 6, 2018 9:55:19 GMT -5
When the spindle is running for a long time I can feel the warm air being blown out thru the radiator. If I install a double radiator with 2 fans, it will add more coolant to the system because of the size. You're correct, 94 degrees isn't bad considering the shop temp is in the 80's while the machine is running. I am using the pink RV anti freeze and it's still pink after almost a year running.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2018 10:47:18 GMT -5
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