Preventing Chatter When Using A Spindle: It Takes Some Doing, But It's Possible

Chatter is a phenomenon in machining that can have far-reaching effects. Chatter itself is the vibration you get when you run the equipment; the real problem with it, though, is that it can cause the carving or machining spindle to vibrate and carve little tracks into the item you're working on. When you try to use the machine again, the spindle gets caught in those tracks and, through continued vibrations, creates deeper tracks which can ruin the item you're working on. Stopping chatter is essential if you want your machining job to be accurate and clean.

Vibration Damping

Adding vibration-damping accessories to the equipment is one way to reduce chatter. While these accessories won't reduce the chatter parts right next to the spindle produce, they can reduce the effects of the chatter from nearby equipment. This is because the vibrations from the damped machine won't travel to the next machine. Many times all you need to do is add special padding to the floor where the equipment connects to the floor.

Secure Grips

To better reduce chatter at the spindle, tightening the grip that the machine has on the spindle is a start. Making the apparatus stiffer overall will reduce the parts' ability to vibrate and move around. You can also use shorter parts in place of longer parts, giving the vibrations less room to travel.

Inspected Bolts

Like any equipment, machining equipment can vibrate so much that the bolts on the machines start to come loose. The vibrations cause the bolts to vibrate, and since they're usually too tight to move freely, they start to creep along in the only direction available to them -- the direction that leads to the bolt loosening. Inspect the equipment frequently and tighten any bolts that have come loose. You can also install special washers and anti-vibration nuts to help keep the bolts tight.

One note of caution: Don't glue the bolts in place. You never know when you'll have to replace a part, and the last thing you need is to have to destroy a bolt in order to remove a part.

With the right restraints, machining equipment can work smoothly and accurately. Stopping chatter can take some effort, but it is possible. And if you're still having issues with grooves appearing on items due to chatter, you may want to contact another machining equipment repair company like Tri-State Fabricators Inc to see if they can stabilize the equipment further.