More about Spindles

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In machining, spindles are cylindrical devices that hold the work-holding mechanism or tools to be turned, such as borers, grinders and drills. The term can refer simply to the shaft to which the tool is attached, or to the entire system that holds and drives the tool. A complete industrial spindle system typically involves a wide variety of parts, including numerous bearings, cooling components and motor elements, as well as the rotating shaft.

Spindles are rated for power and torque (rotational force), as well as maximum speed. They may also be categorized by tool fitting size, although custom fittings are offered by many manufacturers and many spindles feature multiple or adjustable mountings, depending on spindle design. Among the applications served by spindles are deep hole drilling, centerless grinding, milling, internal and external grinding and boring. Motorized, hydraulic, pneumatic and belt driven spindles are available, and they are used on a variety of lathes, CNC machines and similar machining equipment.

Lathing and drilling operations require an effective, properly calibrated spindle for any degree of precision. In a lathe, the spindle can be mounted with chucks, collets and other work-holding mechanisms; it typically receives power from a motor-driven belt or chain drive. The majority of bearings used in lathing and drilling spindles are either pre-loaded taper roller or ball bearings. Certain machines feature multiple spindles, often driven by a single powerhead, that are capable of a wide range of mass production operations. These devices are typically not recommended for small production runs, as setup times can be lengthy and less expensive methods may be available. Multiple-spindle drill heads fall into three main types: adjustable, geared and gearless.

Spindles can be equipped with various instruments to relay certain performance characteristics to a controller. High power drives often include a cooling system to reduce the heat generated by use, and increase output capability.