Making the Most of CNC Machinery

Keep your computer numerical control machinery in top operating condition

Making the most of CNC machinery means taking good care of it. It’s an expensive piece of equipment for any shop and it can vastly improve the quality, as well as the quantity, of production. However, CNC machines are high-tech pieces of equipment and need specialized care to extend their usefulness.

While CNC manufacturers recommend that you hire someone from the CNC manufacturer to perform routine maintenance, it is possible to find local technicians that are just as qualified who can give you quality service at a lower cost. Whether you choose to go with the CNC manufacturer or a local repair service, just make sure your CNC equipment is in good operating order at all times.

Routine maintenance should be a part of the daily operation of your CNC machinery. Someone with knowledge of the inner workings of CNC equipment in your shop should be in charge of supervising the following tasks:

1. Clean the CNC machinery daily.

2. Inspect all electrical and mechanical systems of the CNC machinery thoroughly at least once a week.

3. Run analytic software to check the computers that operate the CNC machinery.

 

Acquire information about computer numerical control machinery

Even if you don't run the equipment in your shop, it's important that you have a working knowledge of what the equipment is capable of doing. Once you have that knowledge, you are will understand more ways of making the most of CNC machinery.
Try: CNC Concepts has a good article that explains computer numerical control machinery. Applied Robotics has an informative article about what not to do with CNC equipment in your shop. If you practice its advice, you are going to find making the most of CNC machinery is an easy task in your business.

Find out more about safety and maintenance of CNC equipment

Each type of CNC machinery has its own special safety issues. Mandate safe use of your machines at all times. This includes maintenance of safety guards that come as part of the machinery.
Try: The article from TechnologyStudent.com points out that while computer numerical control machines come with more safeguards than a manual machine, it’s still possible to override some safety features. Be sure no one in your shop has that capability. Since a computer runs computer numerical control equipment, it stands to reason you can also do technical maintenance on a computer. Find out how at Automation.com.

Keep operator's manuals for your CNC machinery in the shop

Make copies of the manuals and put them in binders near the equipment. Store the original manuals in a file in the office.
Try: You can find maintenance manuals for CNC machinery from Fryer Machine Systems. MachineToolHelp.com also offers maintenance manuals from leading CNC machine manufacturers.

 

• If you have someone in your shop that expresses an interest in learning CNC machinery maintenance procedures, it may be a wise investment for you to send this person for specialized training. This is a good way to avoid costly service calls from the CNC manufacturer.

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