The Best Preventative Maintenance Checklist for CNC Machines | Epic Tool
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The Best Preventative Maintenance Checklist for CNC Machines

CNC MACHINING checklist

It’s safe to say we can all agree that solving problems before they actually happen is the smart thing to do. Especially for CNC machines, it’s an absolute must! Due to so many CNC machines in operation today, it’s very important to keep a Preventative Maintenance checklist short, sweet, and straight to the point. You have to take care of the machine, so it can take care of you! From before starting up the machine, all the way until after shutdown, preventative CNC maintenance takes place through the entire operating period. Below you will find areas that should be focused on:

Day-to-Day Care Checklist

  1. Check all hydraulic fluid and liquid levels and ensure hydraulic pressure is adequate for operations.
  2. Grease Chuck(s) and check the Chuck pressure to create proper fit.
  3. Check Lubricant level and Coolant level.
  4. Brush away any chips and wipe down all surfaces.
  5. Visually inspect all tools to be used and check for any damage or excessive wear.
  6. Lubricate all parts as indicated by the manufacturer’s guidelines.
  7. Thoroughly clean immediate operating areas to ensure safe transit for CNC operators.
  8. Clean or replace filters showing excessive contamination.
  9. Review the manufacturer’s maintenance guidebook to ensure compliance.

Every 90 Days or 500 Hours of Operation

  1. Grease chip conveyors and other drive systems.
  2. Inspect possible excessive wear on chucks and tool mounts.
  3. Review the manufacturer’s maintenance guidebook to ensure compliance.

Every 6 months or 1,000 Hours of Operation

  1. Clean coolant tank of sludge and debris.
  2. Remove chucks and jaws for thorough cleaning.
  3. Replace Hydraulic fluid and filters.
  4. Drain and replace Lubricant fluids.
  5. Drain and replace Coolants.
  6. Check the machine for leveling if needed.
  7. Review the manufacturer’s maintenance guidebook to ensure compliance.
  8. Contact a local CNC machine dealer or service center for any repairs or upgrades.

Annually or 2,000 Hours of Operation

Book a manufacturer’s service technician to inspect the following:

  1. Check headstock for taper.
  2. Check the spindle for radial and end play.
  3. Check the chuck cylinder for run out.
  4. Check tailstock for taper.
  5. Check turret parallelism and inclination.
  6. Run a backlash program to check the X and Z axis backlash.
  7. Check the X and Z axis gibs.

Don’t Rush the Proces

We believe the better we maintain our machines, the better our products come out. Taking care of a CNC machine by performing routine maintenance not only keeps costs and repair time to a minimum, but also ensures less frustration and anxiety over time for all staff members. It entirely eliminates all worries and obstacles down the road. Proper care and etiquette for our customers starts from the very start for us. Contact our team to find out how we can provide you that same care that you deserve for all your tooling needs.