The Importance of CNC Machine Maintenance

CNC machine maintenance may seem like a boring chore compared to the other tasks of running a successful machine shop. When a machine breaks down, it can cost a business owner thousands of dollars, not only for the cost to repair the breakdown but in lost profits too. In those moments of exasperation, missed maintenance can be maddening. With lots of mechanical moving parts and high tech pieces, breakdowns are inevitable. However, a short consistent checklist and long term preventative plan can help reduce the risk of costly stoppages.

Daily CNC Machine Maintenance

These are the “apples a day” that keep your CNC machine tools out of the machine emergency room. They sound simple, and they are. Doing a few minor checks at the end of each day or each shift can help catch a problem before it snowballs into a major breakdown. The machine tool specialists at Absolute Machine Tools recommend the following daily maintenance schedule:

• Check those fluids. CNC machines require adequate fluid levels, such as lube and hydraulic fluid. Working daily with your machines will give you a good baseline for how quickly the fluids need to be replenished. When machines start using fluid at a higher rate, have your machines checked. Excessive fluid use can be a sign of problems.
• Give ‘em grease. Grease is the smooth operator that keeps all the working parts moving and grooving. Not all machine shops check grease points each day, but we recommend looking at all moving parts for dry spots. A quick shot of grease goes a long way to reducing unwanted wear.
• Renew with a Rag. Wipe down all the surfaces to show a little shine by cleaning away the shop grime. Wiping the machine down daily will also keep the smaller metal shavings from building up in damage-prone areas – such as the way cover seals.

Spring Cleaning For Milling Machines & Lathes

When performing a thorough spring cleaning on your milling machines:

1. Make sure the machine tool’s enclosure is cleaned and chips are completely removed from under the way covers and ballscrew area. Basically, perform a full-enclosure cleaning!
2. Check that all lubricants are at normal levels and functioning properly.
3. Perform fine adjustments (if necessary) on the automatic tool changer so it continues to change tools flawlessly with no hang-ups or jams.
4. Complete a thorough inspection of the spindle and spindle drivetrain to ensure there are no contaminants that would affect the overall life of the spindle.
5. Check spindle belts for tension, oil, chips and wear to avoid unnecessary or untimely downtime and avoid compromising a part during cutting operations.
6. It is recommended to perform a ballbar test to check the circularity and alignment of the machine’s planes.

When performing a thorough spring cleaning on your lathes:

1. Indicate the lathes turret, tailstock, and headstock alignment to ensure optimum accuracies and tool life.
2. Check that all lubricants are at normal levels and functioning properly.
3. Perform fine adjustments to the turret (if necessary) to avoid hang-ups, jams or indexing issues.
4. Check hydraulic system for dirt and contamination.
5. Check the actuator for chip build-up.
6. Check spindle belts for tension, wear and overall condition to avoid unnecessary or untimely downtime and avoid compromising a part during cutting operations.
7. Perform a ballbar test to check for accurate circularity and alignment of the XZ planes.

For both types of machines, it is highly recommended that filters be checked or changed often to ensure overall integrity of your systems.

Absolute Machine Tools has the proper equipment for CNC machine tool inspection and preventive maintenance or spring cleaning: Renishaw Ballbar for circularity, Renishaw Laser for pitch error compensation, Hamar Triple Scan Laser for alignment and Faro Tracker Laser for alignment.

Preventative Maintenance Plan

A preventative maintenance plan (PMP) is vital to keeping shop machines running and making money. Routine check-ups boost output efficiencies, increase uptime and improve profit margins. Not convinced? Try this on for size: unplanned breakdowns of CNC machines typically cost 5 times more than annual PMPs. Between expedited part shipment and wasted hours, a PMP wins every time for cost effective machine maintenance.

Absolute Machine Tools offers three levels of PMPs, sure to fit any shop budget and can be performed on any brand. Our Gold Premier Package is a 15-point checklist designed to maintain CNC machines for many years of use. By checking accuracy, repeatability and part integrity, our Gold PMP sets the standard for elite maintenance. The Silver package is a 13-point plan that covers all the major extended service needs, and the Bronze package makes 10 high need checks for shops on a tighter budget.

All three of our preventative maintenance plans will help keep your CNC machines running. Shops that choose to do in-house maintenance can still use Absolute for parts. The service department at Absolute Machine Tools has invested more than $20 million dollars in spare and miscellaneous parts for CNC machines. Call us today for any CNC machine maintenance needs.