4 steps for CNC machining center maintenance

To successfully perform mechanical maintenance on your CNC equipment, follow these steps:

1. Customize scheduled maintenance tasks

Every facility will be different when it comes to preventive maintenance requirements. Maintenance tasks are organized around not only OEM guidelines, but also the actual usage of the facility. If you have a critical set of equipment that runs 24/7, make sure to perform preventive and equipment maintenance on it frequently. On the other hand, rarely used machines may only need occasional checks.

You may also want to consider your available workforce. If you use an external maintenance company, address its availability. If you have an internal team, be sure to consider skill levels and other priorities.

Important Preventive Maintenance Benchmarks:

daily:

Check hydraulics and fluids to make sure they are working at the correct level

Check lubrication operation level and replenish if necessary

Make sure the cooling unit is working properly

Clean the windows, doors and lights of the machine so you can see inside

weekly:

Remove control cabinet filter and clean, let air flow through to cool

Every 3 months or 500 hours:

Lubricate chains or conveyors

Check and clean the coolant filter

Every 6 months or 1000 hours:

Clean the coolant tank and radiator

Drain and clean hydraulic tank and replace filter

Drain and clean the lubrication unit

Check and adjust the levelness of the machine

Yearly or every 2000 hours:

Check the taper of headstock and tailstock

Check spindle and cylinder for alignment and runout

Run the backlash program on the X and Z axes and adjust as needed

Of course, these tasks will vary depending on the type of machinery or the expected preventive maintenance results. These are just the points to get you started thinking about how to better maintain your CNC machine with a preventive maintenance program!

2. Provide a channel for reporting problems

While regular preventative maintenance and automated sensors and detectors are very effective at flagging potential problems, don't forget to use the technicians who are on the front lines of the equipment every day. Make sure you have an easy-to-use system for reporting anything they might see while doing their day-to-day tasks. If they feel the equipment is louder than normal, running slower, or just having a problem, they should be able to report it as soon as possible so that it can be incorporated into future preventive maintenance planning.

3. Keep spare parts handy

While you really don't want to have a ton of unused parts, you'll want to have critical parts of your CNC machine on hand in the event of a breakdown. Prioritize hard-to-find parts or items that need regular replacement, and make sure you have a system for finding them quickly.

4. Keep good records

A preventive maintenance system is only as good as the information in it. Make sure this information is recorded whenever the machine is inspected, serviced or replaced. Complete records are critical for assessing true maintenance costs, deciding when to replace equipment, and during audits. A good track record also provides a basis for making other business decisions.