Spindle motors and tooling - SC1 Spindle

Maintenance

An overview of maintenance procedures and how to replace parts in the YetiTool SC1 Spindle Motor.

Common procedures

Tools needed

  • T20 driver

  • Pliers (optional)

Remove cover

Remove plastic cover from speed control port with pliers (optional).


If present, remove captive nut from speed control port using 10mm nut driver.

Using Torx 20 driver, remove screw from casing. Keep the screw for refitting.

Slide rear cover away from main body.

  

As you slide the cover off, it is common for the screw to fall out as you tip the rear cover back. Catch the screw – you will need it later!

Note the position of the speed wheel, remove and keep.

Contains critical information.

Check data port

Make sure that two O-rings are mounted on the data port. If only one o-ring is visible, contact customer support to arrange fitting a second o-ring.

Replace the Speed wheel

Remount the wheel on the PCB accordingly (same setting as previously)

Replace the cover

Slide the cover back on, ensuring that both brush wires are not pinched or folded, and are free to move after the cover has been replaced. If the wires catch on any housing, they will prevent the brush from sliding, which will eventually cause a spindle power failure.

Using Torx 20 driver, remove screw from casing. Keep the screw for refitting.

If the 2 o-rings on the speed port are present (as identified in the first section of this article), then the M8 thin hex nut (if present) need not be refitted. The second o-ring was introduced to constrain the PCB in the casing (via light compression), thus omitting the need for the M8 thin hex nut, which in turn speeds up rear cover removal for maintenance operations.

Standard test

Load and connect the spindle into the SmartBench Z Head. Click here to learn how to do that correctly.

Go to the Pro App > Manual Control.

Press the “Spindle on” button (shown below in the red box). You should hear the spindle come on.

Advanced power testing (optional)

Notes for an optional electrical test. This procedure should only be carried out by a qualified electrician.

High voltage test:

  • a high voltage test for the complete machine as defined per standard EN 62841-1 / D

  • testing voltage: 3.75kV

  • the high voltage source must maintain the testing voltage up to a current of min. 25 mA

  • the response current for detecting a breakdown must not be greater than 20 mA

  • neither flashover nor breakdown may occur during the test

Field replacement operations

Remove rear cover

Look at the above section ‘How to remove the rear cover’ to learn how to remove the cover.

Fit location

Fit spring as shown, noting the spring orientation.

A: Switch slider

B: Internal housing

C: Spring

Check spring orientation

Ensure the spring is fitted so that the open parts of the spring hooks face out. This prevents the spring from vibrating out of the anchor holes.

Replace rear cover

Read above section ‘How to return the rear cover’ to learn how to replace the cover correctly. This article will contain essential information.

Remove rear cover

Read above section ‘How to remove the rear cover’ to learn how to remove the rear cover correctly.

Disconnect the original PCB

Open both terminal contacts of the power wires and pull out both wires. Note: Push orange levers all the way down to release.

Remove the 2 black wires with contact shoes from the main switch.

Remove the 2 brown wires with contact shoes from the motor pins. See note on use of pliers below before attempting.

Use of pliers is recommended, but only clamp on the section indicated below. Clamping elsewhere risks permanently damaging the components.

Remove and replace the PCB

Remove the old PCB and then insert the new PCB (note the correct setting in the slot).

Insert the 2 power wires into the terminal contacts and close the contacts.

Re-connect all contact crimps from the PCB to the main switch (black wires) and the motor (brown wires)

Replace rear cover

  

Read above section ‘How to return the rear cover’ to learn how to replace the cover correctly. This article will contain essential information.

Tool changing

How to change the tool in your YetiTool SC1 Spindle motor

A: Spindle motor

B: Z Head

C: Spindle cage (this moves up and down in the Z Head)

D: Clamping collar (this holds the spindle motor in place in the cage)

Loosen the clamp bolt (anti-clockwise) with the supplied 6mm hex driver.

Unplug the power and signal cables from the Z Head.

A: Power cable

B: Signal cable

 

To remove the spindle motor from the Z Head you will need to ensure that the orientation is correct. 

The spindle motor switch (A) should be pointing straight towards the front of the Z Head. 

It should look like this:

A: Spindle motor switch.

Not this:

A: Spindle motor switch.

When the spindle motor is in the correct position you will be able to pull it upwards out of the Z Head.

To find out how to fit a tool correctly follow the steps in our collets section by clicking here.

Make sure that the spindle motor switch is in the On position.

A: Spindle motor switch


 Load the spindle motor into the Z Head from the top. Ensure that the switch is facing straight forward towards the home end of the X Upper Beam else the spindle motor will foul the cage and won’t fit.

Take care not to hit the cutter as the sharp edges are delicate. 

A person on the machineDescription automatically generated


 

The spindle motor has air ducts on each side to allow for air to pass through to cool the internals during use as shown below.



 


 With the spindle motor inserted into the Z Head, rotate the spindle motor anti clockwise so the switch is in line with the front edge of the aluminium pillar to maximise airflow for cooling.

Air flow out of the spindle: A

Once the spindle motor is in place in the Z Head, tighten the clamping bolt. Do not over-tighten, since this will over-compress the bearings in the spindle:

  • If using the supplied T driver, tighten until you feel resistance then apply an additional 90° maximum.

  • If using a torque wrench, apply a maximum of 7Nm.

Plug the power and signal cables back into the Z Head.

B: Power cable

C: Signal cable