Frage No more air inlet for the HF 500 spindle

Hello all!

I just received my HF spindle 500W.
I noticed that it is not supplied anymore with an air pump and there is no air inlet.

The 6mm fitting is not here anymore but the thread to fit it is still here covered by a small plastic plug.

Is there any specific reason for dropping the air inlet and the pump?

I suppose that the spindle will operate finely without the air inlet that was supposed initially to cool it down and prevent dirt to get in it....

Is there any added value in putting back the air inlet and blowing some air while operating the spindle anyway?

Gael

Hey Gael,
Stepcraft has modified the HF 500 and installed sealed ball bearings, so that the air intake is no longer necessary. So you do not need the pump anymore. Stepcraft apparently forgot to remove them from the set.
Best regards Stefan

Hi Stephan,

OK! Sounds clear!

Thanks and best regards,
Gaël

Pity they didn't do that for the HF350 - mine developed square balls after about 30 hours of running WITH the air pump.

Hi Peter,

Sorry to hear that!
I'll let you know how mine will be after 30h of milling...

++
Gaël

Hi Gaël,

That wasn't the only problem with mine - it sometimes wouldn't start when commanded by software, I got to be pretty damn quick on the "Jesus Christ" button!!! I eventually bought an industrial grade spindle - that really is a first class piece of kit - I can thoroughly recommend it if budgets allow.

Hope you HF350 outlives mine by an order of magnitude!!

Peter

Hi Peter,

By curiosity (Just in case... ) What spindle have you bought?

Gaël

Hi Gaël ,

I bought the Industrial Grade spindle that StoneyCNC have developed to be Stepcraft compatible. Cannot praise it enough - mine has performed impeccably from day 1. Go for it !!!

Peter