In CNC manufacturing, downtime is never just an inconvenience. It directly impacts production schedules, labor efficiency, and profitability. Every hour a machine is down creates ripple effects that can take days or even weeks to recover from.
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In manufacturing, the word dead gets used fast. A spindle goes down. A ball screw starts slipping. Accuracy drops. Suddenly, a critical component is labeled scrap before anyone has even asked the right question: Can this be saved?
SPINDLE FAILURE IS A PRODUCTION PROBLEM
For maintenance managers, spindle failure isn’t just a repair issue. It impacts production schedules, delivery dates, budgets, and team stress. When a spindle goes down, everything slows down. The real cost isn’t the repair invoice, it’s the downtime that follows.
2026 isn’t about waiting to be chosen. It’s about choosing yourself, especially in industries where women are still the minority. Manufacturing, CNC, engineering, aerospace, automotive, construction… these spaces weren’t built with women in mind, but that doesn’t mean we don’t belong here. We do. And not just to participate, but to lead, influence, and raise the standard.
Forging Precision Together: Motor City Spindle & Ball Screw Partners with MTD CNC In an exciting development for the global…
CNC spindle bearing failure leads to downtime and scrap. Learn the most common causes, early warning signs, and how maintenance managers can prevent premature spindle failure.
How to Catch It Before Failure
In many machine shops, ball screws quietly do their job day after day without much attention—until accuracy problems, scrap, or downtime force them into focus.
For maintenance managers, ball screws sit at the center of machine accuracy, repeatability, and uptime. When a ball screw begins to fail—whether through backlash, inconsistent positioning, surface wear, or catastrophic damage
The first quarter of the year is more than just a fresh start—it’s a strategic opportunity for manufacturers to strengthen equipment reliability before production demands peak. One of the smartest moves a shop can make during Q1 is inspecting and rebuilding CNC spindles before problems turn into costly downtime.
As a new year begins, manufacturing facilities across the country are setting production goals, tightening schedules, and looking for ways to reduce unplanned downtime. One critical component that should be part of every shop’s annual planning—but often isn’t—is CNC spindle health.