Lost a $400 endmill because of a stupid coolant line

Last Tuesday I was running a job on our Haas VF-2 and a coolant hose popped off its fitting mid-cycle on a 3 inch deep pocket. By the time I caught it the tool was glowing red and the insert broke off, which then gouged the whole sidewall. Had to stop the job, replace the $400 1/2 inch Iscar endmill, and spend 3 hours reprogramming to avoid that area. Has anyone rigged a better way to keep those cheap plastic Y-connectors from blowing off under pressure?

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3 Comments

ivan_harris2mo ago

Did you try using zip ties to secure those plastic Y-connectors?

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the_jake2mo ago

Yeah I've tried zip ties on those plastic Y-connectors before. Honestly it worked okay for about two weeks until the plastic started cracking from the pressure. I ended up just replacing them with metal ones from the hardware store and calling it a day. My track record with zip ties is basically me hoping they'll hold things together longer than my patience does.

9

ward.anna2mo ago

My zip tie adventures always end the same way, everything looks tight and secure until one random morning I hear that awful pinging sound of plastic shattering and water spraying everywhere. I learned the hard way after a cheap fix on my washing machine hose failed at 2am and flooded half the laundry room. Now I just bite the bullet and buy the proper metal clamps or barbed fittings upfront, costs like $8 more but saves me from waking up to a mini indoor swimming pool. My buddy tried using zip ties on his aquarium filter lines and ended up with a wet carpet and some very confused fish on the floor. Zip ties are great for cables or temporary stuff, but anything with constant water pressure is asking for a disaster.

3