A machine tool is a valuable piece of equipment for any small or large business. Cared for properly, your machine can last for years, but if your machine tool is neglected, it can add up to a number of costly machine tool repairs. If you want to extend the life of your equipment, here are the major maintenance components you should be aware of.
Keep Them Dry
In terms of preventative care, it’s crucial that you keep your machine tools dry. By storing them out of the elements where they can be exposed to rust and other environmental pollutants, you can keep your equipment in better working order for a longer period of time.
Keep Them Lubricated
While it’s crucial to keep the body of the machine dry, it’s equally important to keep moving parts lubricated properly. If you use your machine tool on a daily basis, be sure to check lubrication levels of joints, moving parts, and internal components. Without proper lubrication, friction on these moving parts can cause your machine tool to break down. For questions about what kind of lubrication you should use between maintenance visits, contact your local Phoenix machine shop.
Keep Them Sharpened
If your machine tool has components designed for cutting, slicing, or sharpening, it’s crucial that you check your equipment regularly for sharpness. Not only can wear and tear on these sharpening elements force your machine to work harder, causing unnecessary wear and tear, but it can also put production at risk by producing substandard products. This is especially true if the materials you’re producing are designed with precision in mind, where accuracy is of the utmost importance.
Keep Them Clean
If your machine tool isn’t clean, then problems can start to crop up in both the short and long term. Machines clogged with potentially flammable or hazardous materials can pose a threat to both your workers and your machinery in the short term. Over time, grime can keep your machinery from running at optimal levels, leading to a shorten lifespan or more costly repairs. The technicians at a Phoenix machine shop should be able to advise you on what an ideal cleaning schedule should look like based on your machine, your production output, and other factors that are unique to you.
Don’t Forget Accessories
While maintaining the machine itself is vitally important for the health of your equipment, it’s important to apply these same standards of care to accessories as well. Machine accessories should be handled and stored with the same care, and you should always take care to ensure that you’re buying the correct accessories for your machine and its needs. Mismatched accessories can cost you time and money, especially if incompatible materials lead to broken machines down the road.
If you’ve made an investment in any kind of machine tool, you know that machinery can be a valuable part of any business, and that it’s important to take all the steps you can to ensure the health of your machine over the course of its lifetime. If you want to learn more about preventative maintenance, to set up repairs, or to learn what a Phoenix machine shop can do for you, give our office a call and speak to one of our technicians today.
