Spindle cooling
In tool-guiding spindles, spindle cooling ensures that the spindle itself does not overheat. In fact, it is important to know exactly how a spindle's cooling system works and what you should definitely look out for when buying a spindle.
These substances are used to cool the spindle
As is the case in some areas when selecting different spindles, there are also different options for spindle cooling. Which one is chosen in each case depends on the type of use of the spindle, but also on the design of the tool.
The following three variants are generally available to choose from:
- With water
- With the use of air
- With oil
Which of these substances is used for cooling also depends on the type of work you are carrying out with the spindle. Spindles that are also driven by an electric motor and therefore achieve a higher torque and speed are generally cooled with water.
This is how spindle cooling is structured in most cases
In most cases, the spindle is cooled by water in a cooling element located close to the strator. This is also known as a cooling coil. Such a cooling coil is a type of milled internal thread that wraps around the motor spindle inside the housing.
How exactly does spindle cooling actually work?
The water in the cooling coil cools the entire housing on the one hand, but above all also the spindle. The higher the speed, the more important this is. This is because an increasing speed is also associated with higher heat production. This must be cooled down again to prevent damage to the tool spindle. This is done by the coolant in the cooling coil.
The heat emitted by the spindle subsequently heats up the coolant, which would cause problems with further cooling. To avoid this, a suitable cooling unit is added to the cooling circuit. Here, the coolant, which has been heated by the considerable heat dissipation, is cooled back down to a usable temperature. The cooled coolant then flows back into the cooling coil and the cycle starts again from the beginning.
Why is spindle cooling so important?
The compact housing of a spindle generally ensures faster heat development, as there is very little space and therefore very little cooling air inside the housing. This can lead to individual components of the spindle overheating and possibly causing considerable damage.
At least as important is the fact that temperature-dependent materials can become worse or even inferior as a result. This can happen, for example, if the material can no longer retain its classic properties. In this case, it can even come to the point where individual materials become unusable due to the high heat effects.
What should you pay attention to when it comes to spindle cooling?
We have already seen this and why spindle cooling is very important. However, it is also important to pay attention to the type of cooling. Namely the specific composition of the coolant. Especially if you are cooling with water, you should definitely pay attention to the addition of coolants. Pure water is unlikely to help you here.
If a coolant does not have the perfect composition, this can quickly lead to corrosion effects in the cooling coil. The big problem here is that the corrosion effects can block or even completely destroy the cooling coil. If you have already experienced such a blockage - ideally beforehand, of course - you should definitely consult an expert. They can inspect the technical equipment and tell you exactly how the damage can be rectified.
Selecting a better coolant with the optimum composition from the outset is certainly much easier than having to repair the damage to the spindle cooling system or the spindle itself caused by the use of an inferior coolant.