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How To Maintain Your CNC Machine Tools

A CNC machine could be very costly if the machine is not maintained properly. When purchasing a CNC machine, it is important to know how to take proper care of the machine. Maintaining it could save the engineer and company from spending and replacing parts of the machine, and it could help the machine to always be at its peak performance when in use.

Daily Maintenance

For its fundamental daily maintenance, experts recommend to always check the fluids. When using a CNC machine, it usually requires fluid levels, such as the lube and the hydraulic fluid. Always make sure the fluid levels are at the required operating level and replenish if needed. Take note of how often the machine is getting used, because having excessive fluid can be bad for the machine. If your CNC machine has a cooling system, it’s important to make sure the cooling unit is at the right operating level. Make sure to wipe down any stainless steel way covers and lubricate them with hydraulic oil, clean the chips out of the chip pan, and clean off the window of the door so you can see inside your machine.

Milling Machines and Lathes

Make sure the machine tool’s enclosure is cleaned and the chips are removed. Next, assess for fine adjustments and make sure there are no jams or hang ups. Thoroughly assess the spindle and spindle drivetrain, this is to make sure there is no contamination that would affect the functioning spindle. You should also assess the spindle belts, the tension, oil and the chips. Experts also recommend performing a ballbar test. A ballbar test checks the circularity and the alignment of the planes of the machine.

When cleaning lathes, include the turret, tailstock and the alignment of the headstock. Assessing these would ensure the accuracy and the tool life. To avoid hang ups, jams or indexing issues, check the lubricant if it is at a normal level and if it is properly functioning. Perform adjustments if necessary. Next, assess the hydraulic system, make sure there is no contamination or dirt. Check the actuator for a build up of chips, and test the tension of the spindle belts. Perform a ballbar test again to check the alignment of XZ planes. This is to make sure it is still accurate on its circularity. Lastly, for any type of machine: it is highly recommended to change the filters more often than not. Always ensure the overall integrity of the machine to get its best performance.

Preventive Maintenance Plan

For every three months of use of the machine or for over 500 hours of use of the machine: Always assess the grease chain in the chip conveyor and check the and clean the filters on the coolant tank. And for every six (6) months or over 1000 hours of use of the machine: it is vital to contact your distributor to have preventive maintenance that is an accustomed engineer. The engineer usually performs it routinely: assessing the coolant tank, removing the chuck and jaws to be cleaned, the hydraulic tank is drained and replaced with new hydraulic oil, and the filter of the suction is changed. The radiator is also cleaned and made sure it is straight. The lubrication is also drained and cleaned out, then replaced with new lube. And if the machine has a cooling unit, it is drained and refilled. The leveling of the machine is also done and adjusted if it is necessary. The wipers are also assessed if there are damages, it is of course cleaned and replaced if there are damages seen.

For more information on CNC machinery, contact the knowledgeable team at Tramar Industries today. Browse our extensive inventory of used CNC machines and we’ll help you find the right machine for the job.

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