Prevent Costly Repairs with Thru-Spindle Coolant Pin Maintenance

If you have a Thru-Spindle Coolant (TSC) delivery system on your CNC machine, you’ll need to replace the thru-spindle coolant pin at recommended intervals as part of your preventive maintenance program. If pin maintenance is neglected, it may become worn or damaged, resulting in coolant leakage, reduced pressure, and costly repairs.

HOW TSC WORKS

The process starts with the 1000 psi coolant flowing through the rotary union and the drawbar. This forces the thru-spindle coolant pin to contact a specific pull stud, allowing coolant or air to exit the tool. It’s a streamlined process when regular pin maintenance is performed.

EFFECTS OF TSC PIN NEGLECT

If the thru-spindle coolant pin becomes worn, high-pressure coolant will leak between the thru-pin seal and the pull-stud. When this occurs, the cavity between the tool and the drawbar becomes pressurized with coolant. If damage is severe, the pressurized coolant will eventually begin to bypass the check valves or seals on the drawbar and contaminate the internal clamping system, causing premature failure.

Additionally, if pressurized coolant overcomes the spindle air curtain for an extended period of time, it can contaminate the bearing stack. This leads to abnormal temperatures and increases the possibility of bearing deterioration.

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE KIT

Thru-spindle coolant pin maintenance is crucial to maintaining optimal cutting speeds and throughput. You can find a recommended preventive maintenance outline in your machine’s operations and maintenance manual. Okuma’s CARE PM Kit contains all of the components required to properly maintain the TSC system. Please contact your local distributor for CARE PM Kit availability.