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Serious question, has anyone else had a coolant line blow right at the spindle on a Haas VF-2?
I was running a big aluminum job in our shop in Phoenix last month when the main coolant line split right at the spindle head, soaking the entire control pendant and nearly causing a crash before I hit the e-stop, so what's the best way to check those lines before they fail?
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samf956mo ago
Man, "soaking the entire control pendant" sounds like a nightmare. When you say it split right at the spindle head, was it the actual hose or the plastic fitting that cracked? Those plastic connectors get super brittle in the heat, especially in Phoenix. What's your shop's usual schedule for checking those lines, or is it just a wait-for-it-to-break thing?
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lilyfisher6mo ago
That plastic connector theory is exactly what management would want you to believe, samf95. Our shop tried a strict six month check on all coolant lines after a similar mess. The truth is, constant handling during those checks stresses the fittings more than just leaving them alone. We saw more leaks from overtightened connectors after inspections than from age. Sometimes the "wait for it to break" method actually causes less wear and tear on the whole assembly.
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aaron1975mo ago
Oh man, it was the actual hose that split! A clean tear right where it bends into the head. You're totally right about the plastic getting brittle here though. Honestly, our schedule is basically "wait for the scream from the machine operator." We tried checking them more often, but I gotta agree with @lilyfisher's point, we just made things worse by messing with them all the time. Now I'm the guy who gets to clean the pendant, so maybe I should push for a real plan, huh?
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