That coolant flood nearly took out my machine last Wednesday

Was running a 5-axis program at the shop near Tacoma and suddenly the coolant line popped off and sprayed everything - the control panel, the chip conveyor, the whole floor. Had to hit the E-stop and grab towels while my lead hand yelled at me to kill the main power. Anyone else had a coolant hose fail mid-cycle like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

owens.willow1d ago

You said hitting the E-stop was a mistake, but I gotta push back a little on that one, @black.mark. Most modern 5-axis machines have safety relays that actually cut the main power when you hit the E-stop anyway, so the spike risk is pretty minimal. If anything, letting the pump run dry could cook the seal and then you're looking at a rebuild cost that's way worse than grabbing some towels. I've had a coolant line pop off on a Haas VF-4 and hitting the big red button saved the spindle from taking a coolant bath mid-cut. So I'd say you did alright, just make sure to grab the disconnect after you stop everything to be safe next time.

black.mark1d ago

Only real mistake was hitting the E-stop before the main power. That spike could've fried your drives if the controller took a bath. Should've just let the pump run dry and pulled the disconnect first - save the machine, mop up later. Five axis machines are way too expensive to risk board damage over a little water on the floor.