Ngl I was skeptical about using a dial indicator to tram my spindle but it saved my ass yesterday

Been fighting with weird tool marks on aluminum parts for weeks at the shop in Phoenix. Tried different feeds, speeds, even swapped out a $200 collet nut. Finally borrowed a $40 dial indicator from the old timer next to me and found my spindle was off by 0.003 inches. Has anyone else wasted time chasing chatter before checking tram?

2 comments

2 Comments

oliver81125d ago

Man that 0.003 inch is a HUGE difference in aluminum. I had a similar thing happen on my Bridgeport running 6061. Chased my tail for two days changing inserts and holders before I checked tram. Found mine was off 0.002 front to back and it was leaving these weird scalloped lines on finishes. The dial indicator trick saved me too. Now I check it every Monday morning like clockwork before cutting anything serious.

mark_miller23d ago

Four tenths here on my old Clausing and I damn near threw a brand new flycutter through the shop window. Scallops looked like someone took a chisel to it, not a finish pass. @oliver811, you're a better man than me for catching it before I did, I was already blaming the Chinese inserts and my dad's eyesight. Now I got a permanent indicator mount bolted to the ram, takes me thirty seconds to check every time I fire the thing up. Still think the worst part is how many perfectly good end mills I burned up chasing that ghost lol.