The Spanish proverb “A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools,” is particularly fitting for CNC shop owners, whether male or female. Running a demanding business with its tight deadlines, employee issues and financial risks takes a toll on even the heartiest of souls. That’s why paying attention to your health is so important.
You may remember a long running campaign for automotive transmission service that stated: “You can pay me now, or you can pay me later.” The phrase still holds true when it comes to performing preventative maintenance on cars, trucks or CNC machine tools.
Many CNC applications require a steady stream of coolant to optimize cutting speeds and throughput. This is especially true when machining parts from hard-to-machine steel alloys, titanium, and other metals that often require precisely applied high-pressure coolant to maintain cutting efficiency and to reduce tool wear.
CNC machine probes are much more versatile than some shops realize. Are you taking full advantage of in-machine probe technology?
The interesting thing about clichés is that they wouldn’t exist unless they contained an element of truth. So it is with the old saw “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is especially true in the world of CNC machine tool maintenance.
Despite all of your efforts to increase productivity through advanced CNC machine technologies, factory automation and smarter machining techniques, unnecessary machine downtime can eliminate everything you’ve gained. That’s why a planned preventative maintenance program (PPM) is so important. And it really isn’t all that complicated. In fact the basics of PPM can be summed up in these 5 actions:
Because the computers and electronics that enable us to program and control CNC machine tools are typically housed in a protective cabinet, we sometimes forget that they are still subject to damage if heat builds up or debris finds its way into the enclosure. In fact, a widely accepted rule of thumb is that the rate of failure for electronic devices is cut in half for every 50º F (10º C) decrease in temperature.
Many newer cars have maintenance reminders built in that alert owners when it’s time for routine services like oil changes, which is a great convenience. Surprisingly, having this feature doesn’t keep some drivers from putting off servicing the vehicle until problems arise. True, you still must make the appointment and then either wait, or leave and arrange for someone to take you back to pick up the vehicle. However most of us realize that it’s important to protect this major investment, and that preventative maintenance is less costly and less inconvenient than dealing with a breakdown.
Gosiger encourages all customers to have in place a comprehensive Planned Preventative Maintenance Plan for all of the equipment in their shop. By performing the regular inspections and service that every machine requires, you can avoid unnecessary downtime, lost production, late deliveries and expensive machine repairs.
Here are 7 things to keep in mind about gibs: