How to Maintain CNC Machines for Their Efficient Working?
In today’s advanced manufacturing space, customers demand increased customization and shorter lead times, so investing in the latest CNC (Computer Numerical Control) turning, milling, and grinding machines can help manufacturers consistently deliver high quality complex parts with very tight tolerances.
Mills, lathes and all sorts of CNC machines are marvelous machines, but they all require diligent care to keep them working under optimal conditions.
Maintenance can be a hassle but it is necessary for any machine shop or even hobbyist to regularly undertake to avoid breakdown or operational inefficiencies.
As such, this article will serve as a basic introduction to the art of CNC maintenance, providing rough guidelines that should work with most standard mills and lathes.
Ways to maintain the efficiency of CNC machines
- Have a regular checkup routine
If you want machines to work efficiently for a year to come you need to put efforts daily to keep it going. In terms of physical activities that need to be carried out daily, wiping and greasing various machine parts is a must.
Moreover, daily tasks that apply to most machines include regular check-ups for the hydraulic fluids and pressure systems. For instance, 4.5 MPa of pressure is recommended as the ideal level to keep their lathes at optimal efficiency.
These check-ups also involve maintaining a feasible chuck pressure and refilling the fluids as necessary. The same goes for the lubrication levels.
- Weekly maintenance has different parameters to consider
There are some components of these machines that require weekly lookouts. For instance, it is best to check and grease the chain on the chip conveyor, along with removing any stray chips and material fragments. It’s also important to check and clean the filters on the coolant tank in this time frame as well.
Various companies recommend having more intensive check-ups performed by professional engineers approved by the distributors themselves.
- Train your operators
It is extremely crucial to train your operators about how to work with CNC machines so as to extract the best results without damaging its components.
Your operators should know more than just how to start and operate their machinery. They need to be educated on the day-to-day inspection and “housekeeping” tasks required by their particular machine, then perform those tasks faithfully.
Also, trained operators can be your “eyes and ears” on the floor. A keen-eyed worker can sense when something is amiss with a machine’s operations, identifying problems early before they cause damage.
- Go thoroughly through the manual of the machines
Prevention is better than cure and thus, it is crucial to go through the manual of the machine prior to operating it. It will ensure zero damage to the machine and minimal to zero error in the final product.
Each machine will have acceptable operating conditions, factory recommended service intervals, and prescribed maintenance schedules; this information is included in the Operation Manuals
Thus, be sure your operators read the manuals to familiarize themselves with the equipment’s optimum performance specs, what status messages mean, and appropriate safety procedures.
Summary
While these CNC machines can deliver tangible benefits like more precise workpieces, faster turnaround, improved productivity, a stronger competitive edge, they can only do so when operating at peak performance.
If a machine becomes inoperable or even slows down, it can stop production in its tracks and cost manufacturers thousands of dollars in lost productivity and customer goodwill.
It’s a give and take system. Thus, it is highly recommended to opt for the above mentioned maintenance tactics to get the best out of these machines.
