Repair vs. Replace

A couple questions that are commonly asked by our customers are “How do I know if I should replace my spindle?” or “How many times can one spindle be repaired?”

In almost all cases, repairing the spindle is much quicker, and less expensive. As part of the repair process, we work with our customer to identify areas of concern related to the lifetime of the spindle and the failure mode. We produce a twelve page failure report each and every time as a tool to share with you the details of your failed spindle and discuss together how failures can be eliminated or reduced.

Most often the repair of a spindle is 30-50% of a new spindle, with lead times for repair being one to six weeks, as opposed to twelve to sixteen weeks for a new unit.

With regards to how many times you can repair your spindle, the answer is “as many as you see fit”. At FISCHER, we quote each repair to bring the spindle back to “like new” condition each and every time. This “like new” condition relates to all critical components, accuracy and reliability requirements to give the repaired spindle the best chance to achieve a full lifetime between service interval, just as if it were new. Throughout the life cycle of the spindle, some repairs may be more expensive than others depending on specifically what parts are in need of replacement. Parts like the bearings and seals are replaced all the time, but items like motor or bearing carriers are only replaced if they are damaged beyond reliable use. These more critical parts are not replaced each repair, but say one in five repairs. Having been in the industry of high precision rotation for 80 years, we still have spindles in the market, working daily, since the 1970’s. Some of them have been repaired over 10 times throughout the years. Each time, bringing your spindle back to “like new” with full reliability and performance.

If you have a spindle in need of repair, or would simply like to send your spare spindle in to FISCHER for a re-certification, please contact us today!