CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) machines have changed the manufacturing industry landscape, making it fast, easy, and efficient to mold metal and other rigid materials. The precision they offer is impressive, down to the thousandth of a millimeter. This level of accuracy is not possible with manual labor. But like every other convenience, this one comes with a cost too. When CNC machines break down, they can be hard to fix and require professional help. The entire operation comes to a halt, and production has to stop till the machine is repaired. Finding alternative CNC machinery for sale is a true blessing for any manufacturing business; however, one should keep the device they already have in pristine working conditions.
This blog post will talk about a few preventative maintenance services for CNC machines you can get to guarantee an uninterrupted workflow.
Maintenance Services to get before putting CNC Machinery up for Sale:
Industrial machine tools require close attention as they usually follow a pattern before they stop working. Keeping an eye on these things can help you avoid disasters from happening down the road. After all, prevention is better than cure.
Why do CNC machines need maintenance?
CNC machines are heavy-duty production machines, but they also need to be extremely precise to achieve high levels of accuracy. One minor bug in the software or lack of expertise while handling them can lead to disastrous outcomes. Prolonged use of this kind can break down the machine, which can be hard to fix.
Also, regular maintenance is required because the machines are cutting hard metals sometimes 24 hours a day.
Weekly Maintenance:
Weekly maintenance includes a checklist that needs to be marked off. Your CNC services provider makes sure to go through each one of the list items.
· Checks if there is any blockage to air supply
· Check the condition of cutting tools and if they could be a hazard soon
· Check hydraulics for any leakage
· Check coolant levels
· Check chucks and pneumatic pumps
· Lubricating moving parts
· Check for any strange sounds during operation
· Check machine’s overall cleanliness
It’s good to have this list handy to ensure your service provider correctly goes over all the items.
Biannual Maintenance:
This one is carried out to see if all the mechanical and moving parts are working fine. Along with any oiling or coolant refill that may be required. A reliable CNC machine services company like Flint Machine Tools always makes sure your devices are in working order.
· Draining and refilling the cooling unit
· Making sure the coolant tank is clean
· Cleaning the lubrication unit
· Check to see if the hardware is appropriately leveled for accurate results
· Draining the hydraulic tank and replacing it with new oil
Last but not least is yearly maintenance.
Yearly Maintenance:
An important thing to note is the more axes your machine has, the harder it can be to keep them calibrated. Axes are planes on which these machines operate. For example, a 3-axis machine can move on the X, Y, and Z planes. Here is what goes into the yearly maintenance of a CNC machine.
· Check spindle for radial locomotive obstruction
· Check turret for inclination and parallelism
· Check the headstock for structural misalignment or damage
· Check the tailstock for proper quill function
CNC machines for sale are a great second option for a quick solution to keep your production going. But your priority should be to maintain the machine you have. Maintaining CNC machines is crucial to their proper functioning. After reading this blog, we believe you are ready to overhead any services you get for your CNC machines.
For further information, visit the FAQs section below.
FAQs:
What problems can occur with CNC machines?
Like every other mechanical system, CNC machines can run into problems as well. Here are a few issues that can occur:
· Power supply issues
· Operational issues due to lack of training
· Overheating
· Chuck misalignment
· Wrong settings leading to the miscalibration of the machine
What are general safety precautions in CNC?
General safety precautions for CNC machines include a soundproof casing for you to operate it from, an emergency stop button, a guard fence, and contacts mats.
What is the useful life of a CNC machine?
The useful life of a CNC machine is easily a decade for a 3-axis CNC machine.