Re: Running machines at Max RPM
You ask a very interesting question. I can't offer any hard data, but a friend of mine worked in an aerospace shop and that seemed to be their experience. Machines with 10K RPM spindles seem to require spindle rebuild about every 6 months when operated at 10K on 2 shifts, but they would live for a year or more at 8K rpm. My Haas has a 6K RPM spindle and we run it at 6K all the time and have for about 3 years with no problems.
It kind of seems that 10K RPM is the upper limit without getting into special bearings or what ever they do to make higher speed spindles. On the other hand, if you ran your car at 100% RPM all the time the engine wouldn't last long.
I guess there is a balance point between maintenance and production. But given the cost of production, I kind of have to agree with you that the extra maintenance cost might be more than offset by the increased production.
Jim Dawson
Sandy, Oregon, USA