tool stuck in spindle

[CNC-ERIC]

Hi there,

 

can anyone please tell me how to release a tool stuck in spindle?

 

our machine is HAAS VF2, after 1 hour running with coolant on, the tool was just stuck in the spindle. in MDI mode, I could not release the tool while I pressd the tool release button, just heard air puffing. I checked the air pressure was 95 psi. it was good.

 

thanks very much

 

Eric

[landscnc]

Try tapping it with a hammer. But we have had the same problem on more than one HAAS. You will probably end up calling HAAS to come in.

[cobra95kev]

Lol,

Use a steel hammer and not too hard. Works better than a dead blow. Been there too.

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

Once you get the tool out clean the spindle and tool holders really good and lightly coat the tool holder tapers with some WD-40 or something similar and it will help prevent the tools from sticking again.

[Colin Gilchrist]

WD-40

[Scott Lundin Shopware Inc.]

We had a machine where the tool would get stuck in the spindle only after a heavy conventional type mill cut. Changed it to climb milling with same speeds/feeds/doc and it would never get stuck. Was just strange.

[Ocean Lacky™]

quote:

---

just heard air puffing

---

Is your air supply dry? Even the slightest bit of moisture will cause corrosion in the taper.

 

Try a light film of spindle oil on the tool holder when you put it in the spindle.

[CNC-ERIC]

Scott,

 

you are right, I climb cut with slitting saw for slot. the saw is 4.5" diameter with 3/32" face, slot depth is 1.47", one cut at 300 rpm feed 4.1 IPM on Al t6061. seldom use slitting saw, not sure the RPM or FEED was properly set. but sound scared.

 

can anyone please point me the right direction?

 

thanks very much

 

Eric

[jeff]

It could also be that your gripper needs to be adjusted.

Maybe it's not letting go of the retention knob all the way.

[Kevangel]

I would NOT personally hit with a Hammer...I put a block of wood under the stuck tool (apx.1 inch clearance), then while pressing the release button I pry between stuck tool and machine with a die-bar and tool will pop out....unless its REALLY stuck, then I use a bearing puller from harbor frieght ( the kind that uses a wedge action "behind" the bearing) and put it between the stuck holder and machine spindle. Just what I do. i suspect if I have tightened the snot out of bearing puller and it still has not released I would give a light tap with the hammer , just like I would with a bearing puller on a motorcyle flywheel, except I would try to hit both sides of the wedge puller at the same time with 2 hammers...block of wood under contraption.. Have someone else push tool release button while doing.

[toy4x4]

When we have a tool stuck in our Haas we get someone with a deadblow hammer and while one person presses the tool release button the other hits the toolholder on the side to get it to release. We place a box filled about half way with rags under the toolholder, so that when it pops out it has a soft place to land.

[bogusmill]

We had our Haas repairman in here Tuesday about this same issue.

 

1. He put clump of red grease on top of the pull stud then clamped and released the tool several times. Then put another clump of grease in same place and clamped and released several times again. He said there are rollers that need it on the ends of the draw bar.

 

2. He put a collet holder without cutter into the spindle then moved the bottom (collett nut) down over the flat of a vice about 1/8 above the vice then clamped and released tool without touching it by hand. This indicated that the draw bar was adjusted properly.

 

3. He checked to see that the pull stud was not torqued in really hard, but just tightened snuggly. The tool holder should make contact near the top and bottom of the taper. If it contacts in the middle, the stud is too tight and the tool holder will rock on the high spot.

 

4. He said the taper, both spindle and tool holder need to have fine scratches on them, like you get with fine ScotchBrite.

 

5. He said dont use any lube at all, run dry. He also said 2 of our 3 machines had a draw bar mechanism made for coolant through the stud and tool holder and said they have a stronger pull.

 

That's his story and he's sticking to it.

[Thee Rickster ™]

Same problem here with our Haas' and it only takes

lite tap with a zinc hammer to release it.

[ATG]

Same Problem here any cutting make the tool stick in the spindle, usually I can pull on the tool while pressing the release usually does the trick. Sometimes the hammer does the trick......

[Leigh @ Kodiak]

It's a pretty common problem with haas machines. If you read the book , part of the haas maintenance routine is to lightly grease the tool holder tapers once a week. This will help prevent the tool stickage.

[Nick Eaton]

We had a a Hass which ripped the tool carousel off the mountings because of this problem.

We started using a dry lube spray recommended by our techs,the name escapes me at the moment.

End of problem. And it helped protect the taper on stored holders.

Pull stud torque as mentioned above is also important. Its surprisingly easy to deform the taper on the holder, especially 40 taper

 

Cheers

Nick

[MattW]

Others may laugh, but I have found that a coating of PAM or similar cooking spray applied to the toolholders helps enormously...

[Newbeeee™]

I've always been told that even light oil such as WD40 helps a tool stick.

However, check your air/oiler (if the machine has one) and top that up.

Also check the compressor to see the airline is dry.

[Santa Fe]

I have used many Haas machines and it always happens on Haas brand machines. Just tap light to medium hard with a hammer.

[Bob W.]

I had it happen some time ago and I pried it out with a crow bar while holding the button. I had a helper ready to grab the holder once it came loose.

[CNC-ERIC]

thank you all for the inputs.

 

finally, I got it out. I tapped around the holder with a brass bar. then repeated pressing release button, it worked.

 

I did some experiment today. looked that WD-40 make it worse. more easily get stuck. rapid tap oil worked best.

 

thanks again

 

Eric

[35K chipper]

I use this product on all my 40 taper tool holders.

It's a dry ptfe (teflon) mold release in a spray can. miller-stephenson MS-122AD.

www.miller-stephenson.com

been using it about 8 years. we apply it once a month. no more sticking!

 

35k

[gcode]

I used to run a couple of Hass VMC's and tools sticking in the spindle was a near daily occurance.

The causes were heavy cuts, prolonged

toolpaths at high spindle RPM's and driving

large drills.

Getting them out was pretty simple.

We kept a 1" x 12" brass bar at each machine.

One guy would hold the tool in his left hand

while tapping it with the brass bar.

A second guy would cycle the tool release button. A light tap, metal on metal works great

while a heavy hit with a deadblow hammer did nothing.

There are things you can do to prevent it.

High quality tool holders help.

Keeping the spindle clean helps too.

Every morning I'd run the spindle at low rpm

and stroke the spindle with a shop rag soaked in WD-40.

You'd be amazed at how much crud builds up in a spindle.

I also cleaned each toolholder and gave it a shot

of spray-on lubricating oil.

I also cranked the toolchange pressure regulator to the high end of the specs.

All this helped, but never stopped it.

After all.. a Haas is a Haas.

[SydwazShawn]

We have tools stick all the time. Mainly because of heat from running to long or to heavy cut. From what I have herd the spindle oil needs to be flushed out because it make extra friction on the bearings and makes the spindle hot if the there is a bunch of excessive oil.

 

We have found that using a grey scotch bright pad, then cleaning with IPA, then adding a thin film of LANO lube, they will stay stick free for a good period of time. If your coolant doesn’t shut off and floods the taper, then the LANO lube won’t last as long.

 

Anyway this works for us.

[Kevangel]

All you guys beating on the spindles with hammers...you must be frustrated diemakers