Thread: 3 machine failures in a week.

Not a good week for Hafco gear in our shop. Brand new in 2008 the gear has seen had relatively little use. The failures are not a result of student lack of care or abuse ,either.

The 14" 3 phase pedestal grinder grinder blew a coil in the switchgear and its a real PITA to pull out. I learned a new way to take the switch out.
(not on my own-I was ta for the Liscenced tech guy)

Pulled motor off its base and turn upside down as all the wire connection are fitted sideways on the relay switch.

One of the 14' lathe overload relay switches went poof. The legend on it reads made under liscence from Siemens-the repair guy won't fit a hafco replacement -we can get a Swiss made relay, locally to do the job and rely on it.

The BM 52 VE mill that has about 40 hours on it lost the transverse auto feed-well the bearings really - not lubed- theres a set of lube lines but no master lube box containe rto feel oil or grease oil or grease- the manual is hopeless. This is particularly galling as the kids are right in the middle of a the vice jaw supports and are cutting a recess to position the jaws.

The tech guy is pretty good as a Electrical mech engineer he can diagnose problems and have gear on line pretty quickly.

We had most of the other schools through for a look at one time or another and we gave them the word about our troubles.
All the money to upgrade has been released and they are spending it.

One other college went straight to Colchester lathes.

Thats abouta total of $1.5 Million that you know you won't see a dollar of.

Grahame