Appreciation post: The old Fadal 4020 at our shop finally gave up the ghost

It happened last Thursday, right in the middle of a run of 6061 parts. The spindle drive just quit, no warning. We had to pull the whole job off and move it to our newer Haas, which set us back a full day. That machine was a workhorse for fifteen years, and you just don't see that kind of simple, fixable design anymore. Anyone have a good source for Fadal parts in the Phoenix area?

3 comments

3 Comments

hollyscott3d ago

Was it the original spindle drive or had you already replaced it once? Those old ones were tough but fifteen years is a long run, and I've heard the replacements aren't always the same. That simple design is exactly why shops kept them running forever, everything was right there to get at. Sucks to lose a day over it though.

taylor.brooke3d ago

Ever think about how the old stock of spare parts is drying up? @hollyscott is right about the new ones not being the same, but the real problem is finding any decent used spares left to keep them going. That's what's really gonna kill these old machines for good.

blake_owens3d ago

Yeah, and like taylor.brooke said, the used parts are just gone now. I had to wait three weeks for a rebuild kit last year, it was brutal.