[meatychips]

So I was machining some angles into some 2x4 inch 1/4 wall steel tubing and had a 1 inch HSS 4 flute catch near the end of a cut and break. Ever since I've had a different noise when the spindle is running. The machine in question is an 06 vmx30 with a 10k spindle. I suspect the belt but perhaps someone can direct me otherwise. Really hoping I didn't mess up the spindle itself. I have measured with an indicator for play and haven't found any. But it was a very violent breakage as I'm sure you can guess. Shifted the vice 40 thou and the part in the vice shifted as well. Any advice is welcome of course.

[meatychips]

Perhaps I can get some video of the noise tomorrow. Shame I don't have a video of before and after. Would probably be easier to tell. It's a faint difference but I noticed it right away.

[underthetire]

Belts. Probably flat spotted them, or just tore them up.

[meatychips]

Yeah that's what I suspect. This should be interesting.

[powerr]

pull the front cover off the head then the belt cover. run the spindle at 100 rpm and spray the inside of the belt with WD40 see if the noise goes away.

[meatychips]

pull the front cover off the head then the belt cover. run the spindle at 100 rpm and spray the inside of the belt with WD40 see if the noise goes away.

Somehow I think belt dressing would be a better choice. Good call.

[Geof]

Somehow I think belt dressing would be a better choice. Good call.

Not on a toothed belt which is what is most often used for spindle drives. Belt dressing is okay for flat belt drives, all other types of belt drives do not need it.

You have probably torn a few teeth off the belt which means it needs replacing.

[powerr]

Geof is correct, we use WD40 or Mothers equivalent of Armor All. to silent the belt. The herring bone belt on the VMX machines need to have the tension set with a frequency meter stile belt tensioner.
Real pain in the arse.

[meatychips]

Sounds like it. Well son of a *****. I will get back to y'all when I get a chance to open her up.