Spindle Repair vs. Spindle Replacement

If your spindle is damaged, you may wonder whether you should repair or replace it. There are several factors to consider when making this decision, including the extent of the damage, the cost of the repairs, and the expected lifetime of the repaired spindle. In many cases, repairing a spindle is preferable to replacing it, particularly in light of the present supply chain problems. Let us explore the comparison between spindle repair and replacement to help you make the best decision for your needs.

Spindle Repair

Spindles are essential to CNC machines and must be in good working order, as damaged spindles can lead to poor machine tool health and decreased product quality. Although spindle replacement can sometimes be unavoidable, repair services can help return the spindle to service in a quick, reliable, and cost-effective manner.

Key benefits of spindle repair include:

• Faster lead time. Waiting for the delivery of a new spindle can take months, bringing your production to a standstill. Repairing your machine tool spindle can often be completed in a matter of days to ensure minimal downtime.
• Lower costs. New spindles can cost up to three times the cost of a repaired spindle. With spindle repair, you only need to pay for the components that need replacing, allowing you to avoid higher costs associated with spindle replacement. In many cases, spindle repair is between 30%-45% of the cost of a new spindle.
• Remanufacture capabilities. The repair option is often preferred because it allows you to remanufacture your spindle several times without adverse consequences.
• Reliability. Working with an experienced spindle repair partner ensures your spindle is rebuilt in the most reliable manner possible. Spindle repair technicians are highly trained to inspect, repair, balance, assemble, and test spindles to restore them to their full operation.

Spindle Replacement

Spindle replacement involves removing the damaged spindle and replacing it with an entirely new one. While spindle replacement typically comes with higher prices and lead times, it is sometimes unavoidable if the spindle is damaged beyond repair.

Completely replacing your spindle is an expensive endeavor that typically costs anywhere between $14,000 and $24,000 with lead times of up to 32 weeks. To avoid the extra expense and operational downtime, it’s important to regularly monitor the health of your spindle and have it repaired when necessary. By holding off on repairing your spindle, you can cause more damage to it and its components, further increasing the cost of replacement.

Reliable Spindle Repair Services From Rubin Engineering & Sales

Choosing between spindle repair and replacement can be challenging. Ultimately, factors such as production schedules, budget, and delivery times will help you determine the correct course of action.

If you’re having trouble determining what is right for your needs, the experts at Rubin Engineering & Sales are here to help. For over 30 years, we’ve been offering reputable spindle repair services as an alternative to replacement. We understand the current supply chain issues and their impact on obtaining new machine parts. Rather than waiting months for a new spindle, Rubin has the necessary knowledge and resources to repair your spindle with much faster lead times and lower costs.

For more information about our CNC spindle repair capabilities, contact us or request a quote today.

Choosing the Right Chip Conveyor Repair Service – All You Need to Know

In industrial environments, manufacturing and machining operations often produce waste in the form of scraps, shavings, and chips. A chip conveyor moves this dry or wet material away from production, keeping the workspace clean, workers safe, and drains or piping from clogging.

When your production line is down due to a chip conveyor issue, it can cost your company dearly in terms of lost production time and revenue. Choosing the right repair service is vital for getting your conveyor running again as quickly as possible.

Types of Chip Conveyors

There are many chip conveyor varieties, and the ideal service provider will have extensive experience working with multiple types. Common conveyors include:

Hinge Belt Chip Conveyor

Prized for their versatility and dependability, these affordable chip conveyors are the most common variety. They’re ideal for turning machines and aluminum, ferrous, or mixed stringy and coarse materials, as well as plastic production if there aren’t any fine chips.

Magnetic Chip Conveyor

Magnetic conveyors work well in industries like cast iron machining that regularly handle broken pieces of iron. The magnets hold ferrous material on the conveyor track, enabling a flow of cutting fluids from the baffle pool underneath.

Filtering Chip Conveyor

These conveyors filter coolant and recycle it into the machine tool. Available in multiple subcategories, their designs may only handle fine chips or coarse and stringy waste as well.

Scraper Conveyor

The scraper conveyor is aptly named, with a belt that scrapes and draws swarf and fine chips up the inclined conveyor and carries them to the discharge end.

Mobile

This portable conveyor facilitates chip lifting into barrels and hopper-high vessels in an ergonomic manner, reducing cleaning operations and worker back strain either for multiple machines or one producing large chip amounts.

Auger System

Installable on a machine tool or its foundation, this system is appropriate for applications with space restrictions.

Push-Pull Bar System

This system mounts either below or overtop the floor and is useful in moving enormous amounts of swarf.

Criteria to Consider in Chip Conveyors

To get the most out of your equipment, some of the key considerations when selecting a chip conveyor include:

• What are your customization needs for the conveyor and its installation?
• Will the conveyor be transporting mixed materials or one type only?
• Will the chips be coarse, fine, stringy, or a mix?
• What will the actual material dimensions and configurations be?
• Are there any special requirements for the machine tool associated with the conveyor?

Benefits of a Reliable Chip Conveyor

A dependable chip conveyor can be a key part of your operation because of its versatility. There are conveyor types designed to work in diverse industries, with the capability to handle materials of different sizes, weights, and types. You can set them up in virtually any setting given their small size. Also, these conveyors are well suited to automation, and their capacity for customization ensures they’ll fulfill the specific needs of your operation.

What to Consider When Choosing a Chip Conveyor Repair Service

Even the most dependable chip conveyors will experience varied wear and tear based on their application and the type and size of material they transport. A reputable repair service provider will offer you:

• Range of conveyor expertise. Given the varying kinds of chip conveyors, find a service provider that’s experienced in working on a wide array of conveying systems.
• Customization capabilities. It’s helpful to partner with a company that has customization know-how in case you decide to make any alterations to your chip conveyor equipment or interface.
• Support services. Make sure that the company’s service offerings fit your needs. In addition to customization, you might consider if they offer emergency services, a full inventory including obsolete parts for older equipment, reverse engineering capabilities, etc.

Chip Conveyor Repair Services by Rubin Engineering

When a chip conveyor breaks down, production stops until you can schedule a repair company to fix the issue. You can limit downtime, saving on both emergency repair costs and lost revenue, by proactively refurbishing chip conveyors with Rubin Engineering & Sales LLC. Our preventative maintenance and repair solutions are a fraction of the price of a new conveyor. We offer:

• Expert repairs and refurbishments with onsite service and no-charge evaluations
• Reverse engineering
• An extensive inventory of replacement chip conveyor parts, including obsolete and out-of-production components
• Emergency repairs and part shipping
• Short lead times

With Rubin Engineering & Sales, you can circumvent supply chain issues as we make quick turnaround times a priority, work under the most stringent deadlines, and use all OEM components.

Keep Your Conveyors Running With Rubin Engineering & Sales

Over the past 30 years, Rubin Engineering & Sales has built a reputation for rapid turn times on even the most difficult machine tool repairs. We have the experience to fix and service virtually any machine tool, regardless of the chip conveyor manufacturer, age, or design. Contact us today for more information about our comprehensive maintenance and repair services, or request a quote to get started.