Today, that decision requires a closer look.

How Market Changes Are Impacting Spindle Costs

In recent years, the cost of new spindles has increased due to higher material prices, supply chain challenges, and tariffs affecting manufactured components. While new spindles remain an excellent option in some situations, the price difference between new and rebuilt has widened—making repair a more attractive alternative than it once was. For shops focused on managing maintenance budgets and minimizing downtime, the decision between new and rebuilt is no longer a one-size-fits-all choice.

When a New Spindle Makes Sense

There are still situations where purchasing a new spindle is the right decision. In cases of catastrophic spindle damage, when an OEM replacement is required for a specific application, or when long-term production planning favors a brand-new unit, replacement can offer peace of mind and predictable performance. SPS Spindle supports these needs by supplying new and replacement spindles, ensuring customers have access to the proper solution for their equipment and production requirements.

Why Spindle Repair Is a Strong Alternative Today

At the same time, advancements in spindle repair and rebuilding—combined with rising replacement costs—have made repair a highly practical option for many Haas, Robodrill, Hurco, and many other spindle types. A professionally rebuilt spindle can restore performance, correct bearing preload and balance, and extend the life of the machine, often at a significantly lower cost than purchasing new. In many situations, rebuilds can also offer faster turnaround times than waiting for a new spindle to become available.

Making the Right Choice Starts with the Right Partner

Ultimately, the best solution depends on the condition of the spindle, the demands of the application, and the goals of your operation. Whether new or rebuilt, having accurate information and experienced guidance helps ensure the right decision is made the first time.

At SPS Spindle, we work closely with customers to evaluate both options and determine what makes the most sense for their machines and budgets. From comprehensive spindle repair and rebuild services to supplying new spindles, our focus is on getting your equipment back into production quickly and reliably.

If you’re dealing with a spindle issue, give us a call, send us an email, or visit spsspindle.com to learn more about our repair and replacement services.

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Using a large warehouse spaces, our team carefully disassembled the spindle head to access the internal components in need of attention. As it turned out, sending the complete head was the right call, as it allowed us to uncover several hidden issues that would have gone unnoticed otherwise. Upon inspection, we discovered a bent ball screw that drives the quill, a damaged carrier bearing housing, and a severely worn rear bearing set — ultimately identified as the root cause of failure.

To restore the assembly to peak condition, these components required grinding, chrome plating, and precision regrinding to size. With the repaired and replacement parts in hand, our technicians meticulously reassembled the spindle head, ensuring every tolerance and alignment was correct. Once reassembled, we performed a series of functional tests, including verifying actuation of all drives and confirming smooth, accurate movement of the gear mechanisms. We also powered up the motor and spun the spindle at low speed to check operation, though full RPMs were not possible, as this spindle type requires oil circulation that cannot occur while the machine is open.

The result was a fully restored, heavy-duty HNK spindle ready to get back to work with improved precision and reliability. No matter the size or complexity of the spindle, SPS Spindle has the equipment, expertise, and space to handle the job right. Whether your spindle weighs 80 pounds or 8,000, give us a call or visit spsspindle.com to get started.

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What Does a Balanced Spindle Mean?

A balanced spindle operates smoothly, without unnecessary vibrations or uneven rotations. Balancing ensures that the spindle’s weight is evenly distributed around its rotational axis, which prevents wobbling during operation. When spindles are imbalanced, the result can be misaligned cuts, inconsistent machining, and damage to both the spindle and the equipment it powers.

The Balmac Balancer is designed to measure and correct imbalance with unmatched precision. By addressing imbalance issues early, this tool not only helps maintain peak machine performance but also extends the life of your spindle and other critical components.

 The Benefits of a Balanced Spindle

• Improved Precision and Quality
• Reduced Vibration and Noise
• Increased Spindle Lifespan
• Enhanced Machine Efficiency
• Prevention of Costly Downtime

How Does a Balmac Balancer Work?

The Balmac Balancer measures vibration levels and identifies the imbalance within a spindle. Once the imbalance is located, operators can add or adjust weights, align components, or make other necessary modifications to correct the issue. The process is fast, efficient, and can be applied to spindles across a wide range of machines and industries.

Why Spindle Balancing Matters

Balancing isn’t just about making machines run smoother—it’s about protecting your investment. Modern manufacturing relies on precision equipment that requires careful maintenance to perform at its best. Neglecting spindle balance can lead to costly repairs, lost production time, and subpar results. The Balmac Balancer helps you stay ahead of these problems, ensuring that your machines operate reliably and consistently.

Invest in Your Productivity

If your facility depends on high-performance machining or manufacturing equipment, spindle maintenance should be a regular part of your maintenance routine. In the event that your spindle does need repair or rebuilding, SPS has the trained spindle repair technicians and customer support staff to meet your needs and get you back up and running quickly.

Learn more about spindle repairs here.

Watch the SPS video on Balmac Balancing here.

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What Is Drawbar Force, and Why Does It Matter?

The drawbar is the mechanism that holds your tool securely in the spindle during operation. When the drawbar engages the tool holder, it applies force to keep the tool firmly seated in the spindle’s taper. This connection is critical for maintaining precision, stability, and overall machine performance.

However, over time, the springs in the drawbar can weaken, reducing the force it applies. When drawbar force drops below the recommended levels, the tool may not seat properly in the taper. This poor connection can result in:

• Excessive Vibration: A loose tool amplifies vibrations, compromising machining precision.
• Taper Damage: Improper seating causes uneven contact, leading to wear and deformation of the spindle taper.
• Shortened Spindle Life: Damage to the taper not only affects performance but can also lead to costly spindle repairs or replacements.

The Cost of Ignoring Drawbar Issues

A damaged spindle taper isn’t just inconvenient—it’s expensive. Repairs often require downtime, shipping the spindle to a specialized repair facility, and in some cases, complete replacement. In contrast, regular drawbar force testing can catch issues early, helping you avoid these costly scenarios.

For example, if the taper wears unevenly due to poor drawbar retention, it can affect tool alignment and lead to inaccuracies in your workpieces. Over time, this causes a ripple effect: reduced productivity, higher scrap rates, and frustration for your operators.

How to Test Drawbars

To ensure proper spindle performance, drawbars should be tested regularly using a dynamometer. This tool measures the actual force applied by the drawbar, allowing you to confirm that it meets manufacturer specifications.

Here’s how it works:

1. Attach the Dynamometer: Insert the device into the spindle, just like a tool holder.
2. Measure Force: The dynamometer records the drawbar’s force and displays the reading.
3. Compare to Specs: Compare the measurement to the manufacturer’s recommended drawbar force for your spindle.

If the force is below the acceptable range, it’s a clear sign that your drawbar needs maintenance or replacement.

Preventative Maintenance Pays Off

Regular drawbar force testing is a simple, proactive step that can save you significant time and money in the long run. By catching problems early, you can:

• Protect Your Spindle: Ensure the taper remains undamaged and tools are securely seated.
• Maintain Precision: Reduce vibration and keep your machining accurate.
• Extend Equipment Life: Avoid premature wear on your spindle and tooling.

Spindle failures are often the result of a faulty drawbar that is no longer keeping the toolholder in position. The drawbar issue can be due to the failure of another component or simply due to wear over time. SPS Spindle offers complete rebuilding services on spindle drawbars and tool holding systems. Potential problems resulting from low drawbar pressure or a faulty drawbar component can be extremely costly. Whether the problem is poor surface finish, low tool life, problems with repeatability, or spindle accuracy, the spindle tool holding system may be your culprit. SPS Spindle has the resources to perform drawbar and taper inspections and the expertise to deliver complete drawbar rebuilding quickly and efficiently to limit costly downtime.

Learn about SPS Spindles drawbar services.

Watch the SPS video on drawbars and preventing spindle failure here.

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A key feature of this spindle is its variable quills, available in different sizes and easily swappable on the motor unit to suit various grinding applications. The conical centering mechanism ensures perfect alignment with the motor axis, facilitating quick changes and maintaining high rigidity for demanding quills. This reduces programming time and includes an automatic detection system that adapts to different quill sizes and performance needs.

The spindles are compact and designed for easy installation, with motor housing reference planes aligned with the rotation axis, eliminating the need for expensive gauges. The quills use carbon fiber shaft technology for superior stiffness and reduced bending, enhancing bore length capacity for applications from 6xD to 14xD, ensuring high precision and efficiency.

Detail-oriented integration of coolant pipes ensures accurate alignment with the wheel, which can be optimized on-site for effective cooling and prolonged spindle and wheel lifespan. The spindles come with various tools and accessories for perfect part coupling, pre-balancing dynamics, and easy assembly/disassembly, customizable to meet specific needs and compliance standards.

If our standard spindles don’t meet your needs, we offer custom deep hole grinding systems using the latest spindle technology, ensuring optimal performance for unique applications. The Capellini Deep Hole Grinding Spindle stands as a pinnacle of precision engineering, ideal for clients seeking unmatched accuracy and efficiency.

Contact SPS Spindle today to discover how our advanced solutions can transform your grinding processes.

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The large work head spindle used in these machines was designed and manufactured by CNC North’s head engineer and co-owner Bob Hawkins. SPS Spindle did the assembly of the rebuilt work head and dresser and also provided a Capellini-engineered 75K id grinding spindle. Watch the video for the whole story.

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SPS will manufacture and assemble the shaft, cast housing, spaces and all the other components, which when completed will weigh more than 2,500 pounds. After assembly, SPS will test run the assembly, do a vibration analysis and deliver it to the customer.

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Our deep hole spindles are produced in a wide range of sizes, from one meter in length to more than two and a half meters. On some of the longer barrel designs, Capellini utilizes carbon fiber driveshafts to minimize the vibration that can result from resonance frequencies within the assembly. We have not seen this type of technology in the deep-hole grinding market, which is likely the reason that every Capellini spindle we have delivered to our customers has resulted in glowing reviews. Collins Aerospace in Canada said that Capellini deep hole grinding spindles are the best performing long barrel spindles they run.

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Centerless grinding requires a specific setup that allows the center of spindle to run while the two ends are locked in and remain stationary. Newer roller bearing models can be run and rebuilt fairly quickly and efficiently compared to older oil-bearing spindles.

All spindles handled by SPS are run and tested at full speed to simulate how they need to perform in the real-world environment of the final application.

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Challenge
Our client uses several Cincinnati Bridgemill machines equipped with four spindles vertically mounted on B-axis assemblies. Their challenge was that the spindle cartridges were not designed for their specific application and the spindles did not have the performance or lifespan for their needs. Additionally, if a spindle crashed or was in need of service, the task of removing the spindle and B-axis was a large maintenance operation taking hours to complete.

Solution
Working closely with our Italian partner, Capellini Electrospindles, we designed a new spindle that handles their process more efficiently. The original spindle had a maximum speed range of 7000rpm; the new solution has a maximum speed of 2800rpm. The new spindles deliver more power at their working speed of 2000-2500rpm, as well as increased rigidity. In addition to the rigidity, we increased the drawbar force and hardened the taper making the spindle more durable.

If a spindle required service with the customer’s old design, the entire B-axis assembly and spindle system, weighing over 800 lbs., would have to be removed from the machine as one complete unit. The work would take 1-2 technicians over eight hours to complete. Our solution, which uses a cartridge style spindle that flange mounts into a block housing, eliminates the need to remove the entire B-axis and can be done in less than two hours. Quick connections inside the housing and on the back of the spindle allow the spindle to be slid into the housing for a seamless installation. Maintaining a critical pivot point tolerance on the spindle face is simplified by using ground spacers and jacking screws between the spindle flange and housing mounting surface.

SPS Spindle has retrofit two of our client’s machines with this new efficient spindle solution and will continue to work with them until all of their units have been upgraded.

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