• Scam Alert. Members are reminded to NOT send money to buy anything. Don't buy things remote and have it shipped - go get it yourself, pay in person, and take your equipment with you. Scammers have burned people on this forum. Urgency, secrecy, excuses, selling for friend, newish members, FUD, are RED FLAGS. A video conference call is not adequate assurance. Face to face interactions are required. Please report suspicions to the forum admins. Stay Safe - anyone can get scammed.

Mill quill lock

DPittman

DPittman

Ultra Member
The quill lock on my milling machine is made of aluminum and operates in a similar way like most other quill locks I've seen. It's always been a grabby/binding thing and I believe the aluminum lock is the main reason why. I may replace it with homemade brass one. I am wondering about the groove/flat spots in the quill itself. How can aluminum wear down steel like this unless it had considerable grit embedded in it? I suspect the previous owner cranked down the quill while locked more than once and I believe I did it partially once myself.
20211208_101419.jpg
 
Can you detect actual wear (I'd think there would be vertical groves) with your fingernail or it more of mark left from the aluminum?
 
David_R8 said:
Can you detect actual wear (I'd think there would be vertical groves) with your fingernail or it more of mark left from the aluminum?
Click to expand...
Oh yes I can feel it on the quill, it's more of flat spots than grooves. I find that hard to imagine that this thing had been operated that much with the quil lock engaged unless it takes very little to do that sort of wear??? I also wonder if it's possible if there were actual purposely machined areas on the quill for the lock to engage but I think that is doubtful?
 
It is very surprising that the soft aluminum wore grooves in the quill.
Have you removed the lock mechanism to see if there are wear marks on the aluminum?
 
I just took mine apart and it has a steel sleeve with a brass end. The brass has a bevel in one spot and is what locks onto the quill.
Is yours original or has someone replaced the original sleeve with one of aluminium.
 

Attachments

  • P1010873.JPG
    P1010873.JPG
    18.9 KB · Views: 6
Just to add confusion to the mix the lock on my RF clone is made of steel and there are no marks on the quill.
 
Last edited:
I believe it is original as I am the second owner and the first owner hardly used the thing so I would be very surprised if he made any mods to it. I believe I put in a stronger spring as I remember thinking that's what it needed, possibly that was a bad decision. The aluminum does have a small bevel on the outside perimeter. There is also a sliding aluminum plug on the opposite side that has the same bevel. These two pieces clamp together on the quill and seem to hold well but as mentioned it's somewhat draggy/binding thing even when loose.
 
DPittman said:
There is also a sliding aluminum plug on the opposite side that has the same bevel.
Click to expand...
Is the sliding plug to far away from the quill? That could let the sleeve slide over the quill rather than press against it. My guess would be the sliding plug should be set to just barely touch the quill.
Edit - just had another look at mine and there is no inner plug so it's just the brass tip that pressures the quill.
 
Last edited:
I wonder what’s going on here? Looks like the thread is mashed.
5EC4D07A-39E4-4363-AC98-3C32AE2744CC.jpeg


Maybe the spring is getting pinched between the quill and the tightening bolt, thus interfering with the threads?

A spring rubbing on the quill could leave those marks you see. Spring steel is very hard. No dirt/grit required.
 
David_R8 said:
Good eye!
Click to expand...
Yes that is just what I was thinking. I had the thing in my hand and didn't even notice that. I was so focused on getting a picture of the beveled edge that I didn't even examine the threads.
I do believe it had to be the spring causing the problems. Dang I sure hope the wear I caused to the quill does not cause other issues.
 
DPittman said:
Yes that is just what I was thinking. I had the thing in my hand and didn't even notice that. I was so focused on getting a picture of the beveled edge that I didn't even examine the threads.
I do believe it had to be the spring causing the problems. Dang I sure hope the wear I caused to the quill does not cause other issues.
Click to expand...
I believe you'll be fine. There's so much bearing surface there that I can't see how the small area with scratches would adversely affect anything. Except your annoyance with yourself factor.
(That factor runs high in my shop...)
 
DPittman said:
Yes that is just what I was thinking. I had the thing in my hand and didn't even notice that. I was so focused on getting a picture of the beveled edge that I didn't even examine the threads.
I do believe it had to be the spring causing the problems. Dang I sure hope the wear I caused to the quill does not cause other issues.
Click to expand...

Could be that this also explains why the lock doesn't work so well. The question is why is the lock mechanism engaging so far away from where it should?

Great catch @RobinHood!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top