What usually comes to mind when you hear the words “preventive maintenance” for CNC cutting machines? If you understand the real value of these pieces of equipment to your business interests, shutting them out of production is enough to make you cringe just at the thought of it.
If you happen to own such pieces of industrial equipment for your business and you are meticulous enough to know that good upkeep practices are essential to optimize their longevity and thus maximize their production value for your company, you will understand that proper maintenance and care for it is part and parcel of making them last longer.
Below is a compilation of some of the most effective preventive maintenance tips that will surely make your CNC machine cutting tools run at their peak performance while keeping an unplanned downtime situation at bay.
Daily Care and Maintenance Tips for Your CNC Machine
- Make it a habit to always check out the hydraulic pressure and see that it is set at 4.5 MPa.
- Check out also the hydraulic fluid and determine if they are just at the right level.
- Inspect your chuck pressure, this should always be at the right operating pressure. If you deem it is necessary to grease your chuck, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendation on this part.
- Replenish your lube level whenever needs, and see to it that your machine does have adequate amounts of it.
- If your CNC cutting machine for wood, steel, or for any material you may use it for, is equipped with its cooling mechanism, make sure that the cooling unit is always set at the right operating level.
- Make it a habit to clean and clear the chip pan of chips.
- Always practice cleaning the window of the door and light, this should help see what is inside your machine.
- You need to wipe clean your stainless steel way covers. Lubricating them with hydraulic is highly advised so they will move smoothly.
At the lapse of 40 hours, get your filter out from the CNC control cabinet and thoroughly clean it. By this measure, you will optimize the air flowing through it which will help in cooling the machine down.
Every Quarter of the Year
At the end of 3 months, which is equivalent to about 500 hours, make it a habit to observe the following:
- Inspect the chip conveyor chain and apply grease to it as necessary.
- Check out your machine’s coolant tank filters and clean them as necessary.
Every Six Months
- Six months would be equivalent to 1,000 hours. During this time, you will need to reach out to your local distributor to carry out the following preventive maintenance measures.
- Check out the coolant tank for the presence of chips, sludge, and oil.
- Drain the hydraulic tank and replenish the hydraulic oil with something new and fresher. Additionally, you will also need to have it’s suction filter replaced.
- Clean the radiator and see to it that its fins are straight.
- Drain and clean out the lubrication unit before applying a fresh way lube.
- If your machine comes with its cooling unit, you can have it drained and refilled.
- Verify your machine’s leveling and make necessary adjustments.
- Check out your machine’s wipers and look for any fray or damage. They should be replaced immediately if they are damaged.