machine tool A machine tool is a machine for handling or machining metal or other rigid materials, usually by cutting, boring, grinding, shearing, or other forms of deformations. Machine tools employ some sort of tool that does the cutting or shaping. All m ...

s, a spindle is a rotating axis of the machine, which often has a shaft at its heart. The shaft itself is called a spindle, but also, in shop-floor practice, the word often is used

metonymically Metonymy () is a figure of speech in which a concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with that thing or concept. Etymology The words ''metonymy'' and ''metonym'' come from grc, μετωνυμία, 'a change of name ...

to refer to the entire rotary unit, including not only the shaft itself, but its bearings and anything attached to it (

chuck Chuck is a masculine given name or a nickname for Charles or Charlie. It may refer to: People Arts and entertainment * Chuck Alaimo, American saxophonist, leader of the Chuck Alaimo Quartet * Chuck Barris (1929–2017), American TV producer * C ...

, etc.). A machine tool may have several spindles, such as the headstock and tailstock spindles on a bench lathe. The main spindle is usually the biggest one. References to "the spindle" without further qualification imply the main spindle. Some machine tools that specialize in high-volume mass production have a group of 4, 6, or even more main spindles. These are called multispindle machines. For example, gang drills and many screw machines are multispindle machines. Although a bench lathe has more than one spindle (counting the tailstock), it is not called a multispindle machine; it has one main spindle. Examples of spindles include * On a

lathe A lathe () is a machine tool that rotates a workpiece about an axis of rotation to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, deformation, facing, and turning, with tools that are applied to the workpiece to c ...

(whether wood lathe or metal lathe), the spindle is the heart of the headstock. * In rotating-cutter

woodworking Woodworking is the skill of making items from wood, and includes cabinet making (cabinetry and furniture), wood carving, woodworking joints, joinery, carpentry, and woodturning. History Along with Rock (geology), stone, clay and animal parts, ...

machinery, the spindle is the part on which shaped

milling cutter Milling cutters are cutting tools typically used in milling machines or machining centres to perform milling operations (and occasionally in other machine tools). They remove material by their movement within the machine (e.g., a ball nose mill ...

s are mounted for cutting features (such as rebates, beads, and curves) into mouldings and similar

millwork Millwork is historically any wood mill produced decorative materials used in building construction. Stock profiled and patterned millwork building components fabricated by milling at a planing mill can usually be installed with minimal alter ...

. * Similarly, in rotating-cutter metalworking machine tools (such as

milling machine Milling is the process of machining using rotary cutters to remove material by advancing a cutter into a workpiece. This may be done by varying direction on one or several axes, cutter head speed, and pressure. Milling covers a wide variety of d ...

s and

drill presses A drill is a tool used for making round holes or driving fasteners. It is fitted with a bit, either a drill or driverchuck. Hand-operated types are dramatically decreasing in popularity and cordless battery-powered ones proliferating due to ...

), the spindle is the shaft to which the tool (such as a

drill bit Drill bits are cutting tools used in a drill to remove material to create holes, almost always of circular cross-section. Drill bits come in many sizes and shapes and can create different kinds of holes in many different materials. In order ...

) is attached (for example, via a

). * Varieties of spindles include grinding spindles, electric spindles, machine tool spindles, low-speed spindles, high speed spindles, and more. File:HwacheonCentreLathe-headstock-mask legend.jpg, Lathe headstock: H4 - Spindle File:HwacheonCentreLathe-tailstock-mask legend.jpg, Lathe tailstock: T5 - Spindle File:Multi spindle lathe 2.JPG, Multi spindle lathe File:Milling machine (Vertical, Manual) NT.PNG, Vertical milling machine (single spindle): #2 - Spindle

High speed spindle

High speed spindles are used strictly in machines, like CNC mills, designed for metal work. There are two types of high speed spindles, each with different designs:

Belt-driven spindle

Consisting of spindle and bearing shafts held within the spindle housing, the belt-driven spindle is powered by an external motor connected via a belt-pulley system. * External Motor: can be changed to create higher power and torque * Max speeds: 12,000-15,000 RPM * Advantage: cost effective * Disadvantage: limited max speed limits applications

Integral motor spindle

A main component of this spindle is the motor, stored internally. * Internal Motor: limited power and torque due to restricted space within the spindle housing * Speed Range: 20,000-60,000 RPM (top speed according to design) * Advantage: high top speed expands application use * Disadvantage: sensitive life range according to use Both types, the belt-driven and the integral motor spindles, have advantages and disadvantages according to their design. Which one is more desirable depends on the purpose of the machine and product(s) being produced.

References

External links

* Machine tools {{woodworking-stub de:Spindel io:Spindelo