Warning: Coolant flood from a clogged line cost me a spindle rebuild

I was running a job in a Haas VF-2 at my shop in Toledo last Tuesday, and a chip clogged the coolant line on the way to the spindle. By the time I caught it, the motor overheated and seized up, and my boss told me the rebuild is going to run around $3,500. Has anyone else rigged up better chip guards for the coolant lines?

3 comments

3 Comments

ryanprice27d ago

Did you verify it was a chip and not just a kinked line from the factory?

ryanburns26d ago

Pull the line out and hold it up to the light, that's usually the fastest way to spot a chip versus a kink. A kinked line from the factory will have that sharp crease or bend that you can actually feel between your fingers, feels different from a clean cut or chip. If it's chipped, you'll see it best with a bright light behind it, the crack will glow right through the glaze. I've found that running your thumbnail along the edge catches chips too, they snag your nail while a kink won't.

ivanlewis26d ago

Man, is it really that big of a deal? I mean sure, you might have a tiny chip or kink but are we seriously inspecting every line like it's a forensic investigation? Unless you're building a space shuttle or something, a little imperfection in the glaze probably won't ruin the whole cast. Most of the time you just tie your knot and fish it. I'd rather spend that time on the water than staring at a line under a light bulb.