When you have a busy job on that you need to get out quickly, we know thinking about the maintenance of your machine may slip down your to do list. We will be sharing a series of top tips to help you get the most out of your machine and prevent issues before they occur.
In any CNC Machine there are several types of lubricants in use at any given time. These are generally in the following categories.
Lubrication for general machine elements and moving parts. This is used for the lubrication of slideways, ballscrews, tool changers and other elements that need to move during the operation of the machine. It is important that the reservoirs are filled with the correct grade of oil as recommended by the manufacturer. A lot of failures occur due to the incorrect grade or type of oil being applied.
Gearbox lubricants is definitely an area not to get wrong. We have seen failures of gearboxes that have caused major down time of equipment because people who are unaware of lubricant properties and think ‘oil is, well oil’, this is not a one size fits all area. Due to the extreme pressures within a gearbox the oil is the barrier to stop metal to metal contact and wear of the gears. Therefore again, only use oil as recommended by the manufactures. Buy the best oil you can as this will save you £s in the long run.
Grease, this is often an over looked area, as where there are manual interventions where a centralised system or automatic lubricators can't be used, the humble grease nipple gets missed, and again will lead to premature failure some of which could be catastrophic and costly in both down time and cost of repairs. It is important with all these areas to seriously consider a robust preventive maintenance schedule to ensure all areas are addressed in a timely manner. This will lead directly to improved reliability of the equipment. You could consider doing this in house or use an external service provider.
Hydraulic oil. Where hydraulics is used on a machine tool, the oil that is used over time will degrade and lose its properties, both compressive and lubricating. If you work with hydraulic oil good condition oil is clear, should this become cloudy it indicates that moisture is in the oil and this will breakdown the chemical properties of the hydraulic fluid. This will eventually manifest itself with pump cavitation leading to pump and hydraulic equipment failure. A good measure to have in place is to send a sample of your fluid to a laboratory for testing. These checks are relatively inexpensive and could save you £1000’s. It may be that your sample is OK, and the fluid is good. On the other hand, it may be a recommendation to change the fluid to prevent early equipment failure. And always address hydraulic leaks as soon as possible as if you are constantly ‘topping up’ the tank you are wasting money.
Not correctly lubricating the internal components of your machine can mean that dirt and debris can build up over time resulting in breakdowns and downtime as well as the replacement of some of these components. Alan Webb director of Rochford Machine Tool Services says, “Keeping your machine well lubricated, not only improves the reliability of the machine but also plays a big part in improving the output and quality of work.”
The behind-the-scenes lubricant does not necessarily have to be constantly topped up. If the correct type is used for your machine (as well as for the work being completed) then, half a gallon of lubricant can last up to 8 months. Most CNC machines come already equipped with a lubrication system for internal mechanisms so replenishing your supply when needed should be relatively simple.
When choosing a lubricant, you should always follow the manufacturers recommendations on grades. The same grade will be available from many oil producers.
Rochford Machine Tool Services will always check your lubricant levels and how well this is working on a service or repair visit. We will also top up and change any lubricant you supply. Our engineers work on these machines all day so can tell very quickly if the lubricant is enhancing or causing issues to your machine
So, remember,
Check lubricant levels regularly
Use the right type of lubricant for your machine
Remember to clean your machine of debris and blockages
Contact us if you want any more information
Got any questions or want to find out more about keeping your machine in top condition? Contact us on here at sales@rochfordmts.co.uk. Alternatively, for more information about all our services, visit rochfordmts.co.uk.
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