Lath machine maintenance?

"Daily Maintenance Check before starting the machine: Check all the running parts no too tight, or loose."

"Lathe Preventative maintenance check list sheet for yearly and monthly pm  for machinery and CNC equipment. "

Maintenance

                     Lath machine Maintenance

°Daily Maintenance

• Check all the running parts no too tight, or loose. Bearing of headstock, longitudinal and cross feed , tool holders, etc. would be examined and adjusted by hand  or proper fitness.
• Check the sensitivity and reliability of all manual control levers: To try the speed change rate function of headstock feeds and apron in gear box and inspect their  starting, stopping, forwards and reverse action whether they are sensitive, reliable or not.
• Cleaning the machine: dust, chips and other particles should be removed from sliding surface of machine to make the rotating or sliding parts performing easy  and smoothly. All other static parts can be often also cleaned to avoid corrosion.
• Check the tightness of the bolts holding the millhead in place.
• Greasing and oiling: regular oiling should be done everyday (see lubrication plan sheet) to keep the machine properly lubricated. Check the oil site gauge under the lathe chuck and add oil if the level is below the half way point. - show the lubrication plan sheet.
• Fixture and fig of headstock, tailstock and tool holder tight clamping between tailstock and bed surface, close running fit of spindle in tailstock, clamp bolts of tool holder and figs on headstock.
• Check and adjust the lock position of the bed clamp lever on the tailstock.  Should be located before top dead center.
• Start lathe or turning machines and observe operations to ensure that specifications are met.
• Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies using bench grinders or cutter-grinding  machines.

Check after starting the machine:

• Lubricating system: Examine all lubricating system carefully and ensure all flowing line without obstacles.
• Check the electrical control system: switch the "on" and "off" button and examine the sensitiveness of starting, stopping and pilot lamp strictly.
• The sensitivity and reliability of mechanical control device: control levers for forward and reverse main spindle, automatic feed and thread change should be sensitive and reliable. Automatic control devices for longitudinal and crossfeed, gear change, threads change, carriage, and spindle direction change should be accurate also.
• Coolant system: check the quantity of coolant oil and start the oil pump for inspecting its function and leakage.

 Caution during operation:

• Noise and vibration:
If you find the noise and vibration of the machine are abnormal or irregular. Stop the machine immediately for inspection and adjustment. When starting max. speed of headstock spindle on no loading basis, check the noise and vibration whether they are over specified limit or not. Aware of vibration and unusual noises that the machine produced. Stop the machine immediately and check the following cause:
• 1) Lack of lubrication
• 2) Faulty adjustments
• 3) Dull tool bit or cutting tool
Correct any problems before resuming the work.
• Temperature of bearing and motor.
• Tap the main bearing by hand and the motor as well, feel the temperature if it is normal or not.
• Safety affairs:
• a. Must stop operation when you leave the machine.
• b. When changing main spindle speed or feeding speed stop running first.
• c. All tools and products are strictly not allowed to be left on sliding surface of bed.
• Quality of products:
• If you discover the quality of product is out of limit, stop the machine at once for finding the causes of defects.

  Check after operation:

• Cleaning the machine:
All of the oily matter, chips, etc, on the machine should be removed completely and put a thin lubricating oil on the sliding surface of machine to prevent the corrosion.
• Tailstock, carriage and tool holder should be place to proper position.
• All tools should be kept clean first then put back to original position.
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  Weekly maintenance:

• Check the lubrication of the sliding parts of the machine. Apply  light grease or oil if needed.
• Visually inspect the drive belts for excessive wear and cracking. Check the belt tension by applying finger pressure to each belt at a point midway between the two pulleys. For correct tension a deflection of about 3/8 of an inch should be evident in each belt.
• Lubricate all points as required.
• Transmission system:
Check the damage of rubber V-Belt and read just the tensile strenght of V-belts.
• Clean and coat the lead screw with oil. 
• Check all guards are secure and function correctly(includes latches, locks, fasteners,and/or interlocks if fitted).
• Removed, cleaned, and re-saturated the wipers pads with oil regularly. Wipers are designed to keep out small chips and dirt between the slides and the ways.
• Check locking levers and adjusting handlers/levers for smooth operation.
• Cooling System:
Clean-up the whole and replenish with new cooling fluid.

Monthly maintenance
• Electrical system: Carefully examine the connection of all electrical wires, terminals and switches, which occasionally have been damaged by chips or others.
• Check and adjust backlash as necessary.    
• Check the condition of all drive belts and replace if necessary
• Check all gibs adjustments.
• Cleaning and oiling of the chuck should be done on a regularly scheduled basis as well as whenever the chuck jaws become difficult to move.                         
• Adjust the accuracy of the slides on both the cross and longitudinal feeding.
• Dismantle and clean all the dust, chips and foreign matter from moving parts.


• Every 6 Months meaintenance:

• Lubricate the change gears in the lathe pulley box with an aerosol chain lubricant.
• Lubricate the bearings, worm gear and worm shaft with light grease.
• Check the wear and tear of all gears in gears and packing:
Inspect the damage of all gears in various box, spindle, bearings and packing.
• Repair or replace it if necessary.
• Check the clearance fit between feed screw lever, nut and main screw spindle and nut whether they are right or not.
• The stability of machine body:
• Tighten up the foundation bolts of machine body to the ground and make the body stable.
• Lubricate the change gears in the lathe pulley box with an aerosol chain lubricant.
 Yearly maintenance
• Inspection of accuracy
1. a. Inspection work for accuracy should be rechecked, if the accuracy is over specified limit, the adjustment or alignment will be done accordingly.
2. b. Bearing inspection
3. c. Re-examine the insulating materials and clearance fit and lubrication of all bearings.
4. d. Inspection of appearance.
5. e. If the paint is peeled off, repaint it with the same color.
6. f. Check the exposed parts whether they have been damaged, corroded or deformed.
    Repair or replace them if necessary.
• Check the electrical cord, plug, circuit breakers, switches and terminals and related connections to assure that they are secure and safe.
• Positioning and leveling
According to the inspection regulation, recheck the positioning and leveling once after a year service.
• Drain the lubricant from the gear box of headstock, feed and replenish with fresh oil.
Depending on the use if necessary change or timely basis)
• Remove the X and Y axis gibs and clean with solvent. Coats gibs with way oil and reinstall.
             
CNC Machining Maintenance 


"If you own a manufacturing business, then your operation is undoubtedly dependent on one or more CNC machines that perform"