Family-owned since 1993, with over 30 years of machine tool experience and field service support from Locher’s Ohio and Texas service footprint.
Practical machine tool service for manufacturers that need accuracy, uptime, and the right repair path.
Locher, Inc helps manufacturing facilities diagnose and repair machine tool problems that affect tool holding, spindle performance, boring accuracy, part quality, and production reliability. Our core work starts with on-site spindle taper grinding and extends into boring mill spindle taper insert solutions, machine tool spindle rebuilding, headstock rebuilds, #50 CAT conversion cartridges, calibration, alignment, and machine tool products.
When a machine shows runout, chatter, poor part finishes, sticking tools, taper damage, bearing failure symptoms, or accuracy problems, Locher helps determine the source and the best repair path moving forward.
Is time of the essence? Click here to call us or submit your info on our form here.
What Does Locher Do?
Locher, Inc provides precision machine tool service, repair, inspection, and support for manufacturers that rely on CNC machines, machining centers, boring mills, lathes, and other production-critical equipment.
Locher’s primary service is on-site spindle taper grinding, which restores the internal spindle taper surface where the toolholder seats. In many recoverable cases, this may help improve taper contact and toolholder seating without automatically removing the spindle.
Locher also supports manufacturers with boring mill replaceable spindle taper inserts, spindle rebuilding, headstock rebuilds, #50 CAT conversion cartridge review, machine calibration and alignment, preventative maintenance consultation, and machine tool products.
Start With the Spindle Taper. Then Confirm the Right Repair Path.
A damaged spindle taper does not automatically mean the spindle has to come out. Runout, chatter, sticking tools, poor finish, and toolholder seating problems may point to a taper-interface issue, but they can also involve toolholder condition, drawbar force, spindle bearings, machine geometry, fixturing, or cutting conditions.
Locher’s approach is simple: diagnose before recommending. If the issue is concentrated at the spindle-toolholder interface and the spindle is otherwise mechanically sound, on-site spindle taper grinding may be the right first repair path. If symptoms point deeper into the spindle, headstock, alignment, or boring mill structure, Locher will help review the next practical option.
EMERGENCY SPINDLE REGRIND
"Thank you very much for the quick response. You're a lifesaver." Thank you!
- Houston Miller, Miller Precision Machining
Machine Tool Services Built Around Uptime, Accuracy, and Practical Repair
Locher helps manufacturers evaluate the repair path before assuming a machine needs one specific service. The right recommendation depends on machine condition, symptoms, inspection findings, and whether the problem is concentrated at the taper interface or points deeper into the machine.
Locher’s flagship service is on-site spindle taper grinding for recoverable taper damage. This service may be appropriate when symptoms point to poor taper contact, bellmouthing, galling, spun-tool material transfer, minor crash damage, sticking tools, tool runout, chatter, or poor toolholder seating.
Spindle rebuilding may be needed when the issue goes beyond the taper interface, including bearing noise, heat, severe vibration, damaged shafts, failed seals, contamination, or internal spindle damage.
For certain horizontal boring mills with damaged spindle bars, quills, or taper/front-end interfaces, Locher may review whether a replaceable spindle taper insert is a practical repair path. This service is machine-specific and depends on design, damage severity, and inspection.
A headstock rebuild evaluation may be appropriate when symptoms point to the headstock assembly, transmission components, shafts, bearings, gears, or related mechanical systems rather than only the spindle taper.
For certain older boring mills, Locher may review whether a #50 CAT conversion cartridge is appropriate for the machine, tooling goals, and spindle interface condition.
Calibration and alignment services help evaluate whether machine geometry, axis positioning, squareness, straightness, repeatability, or alignment conditions are contributing to accuracy problems.
Comprehensive Machine Tool Spindle Services
Not Sure Which Service You Need?
Start with what the machine is showing. Locher can help review the symptoms and determine which repair path should be evaluated first.
| Machine Symptom | What It May Point To | Service to Review |
|---|---|---|
| Tool runout, chatter, poor finish, sticking tools | Taper contact, toolholder seating, drawbar force, spindle condition, or geometry | On-site spindle taper grinding |
| Spun-tool damage, bellmouthing, galling, taper wear | Recoverable taper-interface damage or more severe spindle/taper damage | On-site spindle taper grinding |
| Bearing noise, heat, severe vibration | Internal spindle condition, bearings, shafts, seals, preload, or contamination | Machine tool spindle rebuilding |
| Damaged boring mill taper, spindle bar, or quill | Localized boring mill front-end damage or deeper boring mill repair need | Boring mill spindle taper inserts |
| Gear, shaft, bearing, or transmission symptoms | Headstock assembly or related mechanical systems | Headstock rebuild evaluation |
| Parts out of tolerance, poor repeatability, out-of-square features | Machine geometry, alignment, positioning, tooling, or process variables | Calibration and alignment |
| Recurring taper damage or toolholder movement | Drawbar force, retention knobs, toolholders, taper condition, or maintenance practices | Preventative maintenance consultation |
Call Locher Toll Free: 1-800-956-2437
*Symptoms are not final diagnoses. The right repair path depends on inspection, machine condition, taper type, damage severity, drawbar force, spindle condition, gauge-line relationship, machine geometry, and production symptoms.
Why Manufacturers Call Locher
Diagnose Before Recommending
Locher helps manufacturers avoid guessing at the repair path. A runout issue may involve the taper. It may also involve drawbar force, toolholders, spindle condition, alignment, machine geometry, or process variables.
Repair When Practical. Rebuild When Necessary.
On-site spindle taper grinding may reduce unnecessary spindle removal when the taper is recoverable and the spindle is otherwise mechanically sound. If internal spindle damage is present, another repair path may be required.
Correct, Verify, and Document
Depending on the service, Locher may review taper contact, test-bar runout, drawbar or clamping force, gauge-line relationship, dual-contact face relationship, spindle condition, machine geometry, or related component condition.
Field-Tested Machine Tool Experience
Locher is family-owned, founded in 1993, and built from in-place spindle grinding into broader spindle repair, drawbar repair, metrology, machine alignment, boring mill repair, machine tool maintenance, and product support.
Field Service Support From Ohio and Texas
Locher supports manufacturers from its Ohio and Texas service footprint, with priority coverage around Lancaster, Ohio and the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area.
Locher’s ideal customer is a manufacturing business within roughly 500–700 miles of Lancaster, Ohio, and roughly 500–700 miles of the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area. Service availability depends on the machine, location, repair scope, and scheduling.
Click Here to Send Us Your Facility, Location, and Machine Details for Service Review
Machine Tool Products for Inspection, Toolholding, and Maintenance
Decades of Technical Mastery in Spindle Services
Locher also supports manufacturers with machine tool products that help maintenance teams inspect, verify, and support machine performance.
- Drawbar retention force gauges / dynamometers
- Precision plug and taper gauges
- Precision test bars
- Tool holders
- Tool holder inspection gauges
- Retention knobs
- Belleville washers
These products can support drawbar force checks, taper inspection, toolholder seating review, setup verification, runout review, and preventative maintenance. Product selection should be based on the machine, taper, tooling system, application, and inspection need.
What to Send Locher for a Faster Review
You do not need every answer before contacting Locher. Send what you have, and Locher can help determine what else is needed.
Helpful Details to Include
- Machine make and model
- Machine type
- Taper size
- Description of the issue
- When the issue started
- Whether the machine is currently down
- Photos or videos, if available
- Current runout, accuracy, vibration, temperature, or inspection data, if available
- Known drawbar, toolholder, spindle, headstock, or alignment concerns
- Facility location
- Desired timing
Submit your info here for a faster review
Trusted Precision, Proven Results
Locher, Inc’s expertise restored our spindle’s performance beyond expectations, minimizing downtime and maximizing output.
TESTIMONIAL GOES HERE
Locher, Inc QUOTE FORM
Contact Us
Thank you for reaching out to contact us. We understand the urgency of our customer's service related inquiries and will review your email ASAP. Please allow us up to 24 hours to follow-up. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
If this is extremely urgent or an emergency request, please give us a call @ 800-956-2437. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
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Expert Spindle Services Backed by Decades of Experience
Locher, Inc On-site spindle taper grinding & machine tool repair FAQs
Does Locher provide on-site spindle taper grinding?
Yes. On-site spindle taper grinding is Locher’s primary service focus. It may be appropriate when the problem is concentrated at the spindle-toolholder interface and the taper damage is recoverable. Locher reviews the machine, taper condition, toolholder seating, drawbar or clamping condition, runout behavior, and related factors before recommending the repair.
Is spindle taper grinding the same as spindle rebuilding?
No. Spindle taper grinding focuses on the internal taper surface where the toolholder seats. Spindle rebuilding addresses the full spindle assembly and internal components such as bearings, shafts, seals, spacers, and related mechanical conditions.
Can on-site taper grinding avoid pulling the spindle?
In many recoverable taper cases, on-site service may reduce the need for spindle removal. However, Locher does not assume the spindle can stay in place until the machine condition, damage severity, spindle condition, gauge-line relationship, and related factors are reviewed.
What symptoms suggest a spindle taper problem?
Symptoms may include tool runout, chatter, poor finish, sticking tools, poor toolholder seating, toolholder release issues, fretting, bellmouthing, galling, material transfer, or problems after a crash or spun-tool event.
What if the issue is not the spindle taper?
If the issue points beyond the taper interface, Locher may review spindle rebuilding, boring mill insert work, headstock rebuilds, machine calibration and alignment, drawbar force issues, toolholder condition, or preventative maintenance needs.
Does Locher repair boring mills?
Yes. Locher supports boring mill repair needs, including evaluation for replaceable spindle taper inserts, #50 CAT conversion cartridge options, headstock rebuilds, spindle rebuilding, taper service, and alignment-related concerns.
Does Locher serve my area?
Locher’s primary service footprint focuses on manufacturers within roughly 500–700 miles of Lancaster, Ohio, and the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area. Send your facility location, machine details, and repair need so Locher can review service availability.
What should I send for a quote?
Send the machine make and model, machine type, taper or tooling system, symptoms, photos if available, current measurements if available, recent crash or service history, facility location, and desired timing. Partial information is fine.
Need Help Determining the Right Repair Path?
If your machine is showing runout, chatter, poor finish, sticking tools, taper damage, boring accuracy issues, spindle symptoms, or alignment concerns, Locher can help review the problem and recommend the next practical step.
Send Locher your machine details, symptoms, photos, facility location, and any current measurements. A technician can help review whether on-site spindle taper grinding, spindle rebuilding, boring mill insert work, headstock repair, calibration, alignment, or another repair path should be evaluated.
