Do you want to give your machine tools a longer life? Replacing this equipment over and over again doesn’t come cheap. The majority of these items should last you years instead of months.
It doesn’t matter what types of tools you’re replacing, the costs start to add up over time. If you look closer as to why you need to purchase them, you might uncover the real problem. It could be that the product is faulty, or it might be because you’re not following the simple machine tool maintenance techniques to give it a longer life.
Machine tool cleaning isn’t optional, it’s a necessity if you want to save money on replacement costs and ensure that your equipment is in the best working condition. So before you leave work for the day, make sure you’re following these simple maintenance tips for cleaning your items to make sure it’s going to work the next day.
1) Pack Them Away
One of the easiest ways to protect your machine tools is keeping it dry and storing it away appropriately. If you keep these items out in the open amongst a dirty and moist environment, then the functionality will start to degrade the next time that you try to use it.
Keeping tools packed up or covered appropriately will go a long way to making sure it’s protected from all of the elements. It also ensures it won’t get exposed to rust or other pollutants that can rapidly reduce its lifespan.
2) Cleaning Tools
If you don’t keep your machine tools clean, then you’ll start to notice an increase in issues. They can get clogged up with hazardous and flammable materials make it unsafe for you to use these items.
Wiping off dust, dirt, and grime helps keep your equipment running at its best. It will also increase its lifespan and reduce the need for repairs. Design a regular cleaning schedule that suits your operations and keeps everything running as smoothly as possible.
3) Lubrication for Tools
One of the most common causes of tool degradation is the lack of regular lubrication. Without performing this simple maintenance step, issues such as chafing can occur and lead to some serious problems.
When you’re constructing a tool maintenance budget, regularly add some lubrication to the shopping list to remind you to get into the habit of following this step. The more often it’s well oiled and maintained, the less likely you’ll have to replace it due to it breaking down.
4) Regular Thorough Inspections
If you use the same tools over and over again every day, then eventually, you’ll begin to notice they’re not working like they once were. When you start seeing a difference in its performance, you should take some time out of your day to do an inspection for any wear and tear issues.
Start by performing some simple tests and looking for any type of abnormalities. If you notice something that doesn’t seem right, then you should give the tool some extra attention and maintenance. This additional effort could help keep it working for a little while longer.
5) Check the Alignment
Aligning machine tools are designed for precision and accuracy. When something is out of alignment, it can negatively affect the quality of your work. In extreme situations, it can waste a whole day of work and leave many materials unusable.
The simplest way to check your alignment specifications is by performing some tests. Measure the appropriate parts and complete an evaluation of the outputs to ensure it’s working correctly. If the alignment is off, you’ll have to adjust the machine to the accurate specifications and schedule another review to see if it’s an ongoing issue.
6) Staying Sharp
Machine tools with drill parts and blades can eventually get dull and worn out. When this happens, your equipment will need to work harder to achieve the same outcome they once did. The extra strain on it can also significantly impact the lifespan of the tool.
As part of your maintenance routine, inspect these parts to ensure they are as sharp as they can be. The sharper, the better as it means what you’re cutting and shaping is going to get completed accurately.
7) Machine Tool Maintenance for Accessories
While it’s important to maintain your machine tool, it’s just as critical to complete maintenance reviews of all your accessories and components. They need the same level of preventative care as the rest of your equipment as they will be just as expensive to replace if their lifespan is impacted.
Design a checklist to remind you to check all of the necessary components and rate the performance of the accessories. You’re particularly looking for anything that seems unusual such as a weird vibration you’ve never noticed or an odd smell coming from the items. The earlier you can detect these issues, the better the chances of repairing it instead of spending a fortune to replace it.
When It’s Time to Replace Your Tools
Performing these simple machine tool maintenance techniques can help keep your equipment in working order for a longer time. If you can end the day with this easy routine, then you’re guaranteed to start the next day with all of your tools ready to work.
But if your equipment is on its last legs and needs replacing, then we can help. We provide companies across multiple industries with top of the line products and parts. Contact us today to find out how we can help make sure your items are working for you and not the other way around.
