LaserTurn
®
1 Hardware Manual
Maintenance
4.2.1. Collet & Collet Chuck Lubrication and Cleaning
W A R N I N G : Failure to lubricate and clean the collet interface surfaces will cause premature
failure and wear that may void the warranty.
For the collet chuck and collet to operate properly, preventative maintenance and regular cleaning is
required.
Before inserting any collet into the chuck, clean the chuck taper and the collet with acetone or isopropyl
alcohol and a lint-free cloth. If required, nitrogen or clean, dry, oil-less compressed air can be used to clean
out the collet grooves. Inspect the collet and the chuck interface surfaces to be sure no wear marks are
present. If wear or fret marks (copper colored oxide marks) are present, the taper can be lightly polished with
a fine-grit crocus cloth. The goal is to clean the surface of the taper and not to remove an excessive amount
of material. If the wear marks are large, or excessive polishing is required to remove these marks, the collet
chuck and collet may need to be replaced. Contact Aerotech Technical Support for more information. Wear
and fretting can be prevented with proper lubrication and maintenance intervals.
After inspection and cleaning, grease the collet chuck taper and collet taper with a small amount of lubricant.
Then, install the collet into the collet chuck. Aerotech recommends using the lubricants listed in
Table 4-1:
Recommended Lubricants
Vender
Product
Item #
Description
Henkel Technologies
Loctite
80209
Silver Grade Anti-Seize
Henkel Technologies
Loctite
51168
Food Grade Anti-Seize
Jet Lube
White Knight
16404
Food Grade Anti-Seize
Lubricant inspection and replenishment depend on application conditions such as collet chuck duty cycle,
clamping force (air pressure), and the machining environment. An inspection interval of once every 8
operational hours is recommended until a trend develops for the application. Longer or shorter intervals may
be required to maintain a film of lubricant on the collet taper. The collet and chuck should also be cleaned and
relubricated after sitting for an extended period of time without operation. If the lubrication sits for long
periods of time, it can become dry and lose its lubrication properties. Insufficient lubrication will lead to wear,
fretting corrosion, and sticking or lock-up of the collet closer. If this occurs, the machine should be
immediately stopped and the collet and collet chuck cleaned and relubricated. It is also recommended that
the collet and chuck interface surfaces be cleaned, inspected, and relubricated every time the collet is
removed.
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Chapter 4
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