Manufacturing Tips, News, & More

If you run a mill shop, you rely on your angle heads. Unfortunately, improper maintenance can wreak havoc on them. When that happens, you may find that your angle heads are unable to perform properly, which can destroy your entire project. To help you care for your angle heads, here are some instructions for you to follow.

Keep Angle Heads Clean 

If you use your angle heads on a daily basis, it's important that you keep them clean. Dirt and shavings can contaminate your angle heads, reducing their life expectancy and their reliability. To prevent problems with reliability and to extend the life of your angle heads, it's important that you clean them after each use. Wipe down the heads to remove oil and debris, and conduct a visual inspection for damage. Any signs of damage should be taken care of immediately. It's also important that you clean your angle heads at the end of each shift. That way, they're clean and ready to go the next day. 

Prevent Coolant Coagulation

If your angle heads aren't used on a daily basis, you'll need to take steps to prevent coolant coagulation. Coolant that is allowed to remain in the head can coagulate. Once that happens, the coolant will dry and harden in the head, leading to irreversible damage and failure. To prevent that, it's important that you flush your angle head whenever it will be sitting dormant for more than a day or two. To flush the angle head, you'll need to follow a list of procedures. First, you'll want to use high-pressure air to blow the residual coolant out of the retention knob. Second, you'll want to coat the inside of the retention knob with a lubricant. Be sure that the lubricant is evenly distributed throughout the inside of the knob. Finally, apply a small amount of oil to the outer surface of the angle head. 

Protect the Reaction Ring

Your angle head tool has a reaction ring that helps ensure precision action. Over time, the reaction ring can wear out on one side, which is why it needs to be rotated. The best way to protect the reaction ring is to flip it over at least once a day. You can do that by removing the reaction ring, flipping it to the opposite side, and placing it back into the angle head. This will help ensure even wear and tear on the ring.