CNC Machine Maintenance Checklist: Daily, Weekly & Annual Guide

Do you have a CNC machine maintenance checklist? Just as important as CNC machines themselves is routine maintenance. Without it, you can unwillingly set yourself back by hours, days or even more, not to mention thousands of pounds in repair bills.

To help you avoid unwanted stoppages and costs, we’ve put together this handy daily, weekly, bi-annual and annual guide to CNC machine maintenance.

To discuss your maintenance needs or book a machine service, call our team now on 01924 373900.

Why CNC Machine Maintenance Is Essential

CNC machines are complex pieces of high-precision equipment. They work to incredibly tight tolerances and often at very high speeds. As a result, even small faults or deviations can lead to breakdowns or reductions in cutting accuracy.

Not only will a breakdown interrupt your workflow, but it can also cost you heavily in repairs. Engineers typically cost in excess of £100 per hour in labour and parts can run into the thousands. However, by carrying out regular CNC maintenance, you can help prevent breakdowns and minimise long-term costs.

Preventative CNC care can be broken down into daily, weekly, bi-annual and annual tasks. By segmenting the work, you can avoid it becoming arduous or overwhelming, keeping both your workload and costs down.

Daily CNC Machine Maintenance Tasks

• Lubrication – check lubrication levels have not fallen below recommended operating standards
• Fluid levels – ensure hydraulic fluid levels are at an optimum state
• Pressure – check that hydraulic pressure has not deviated from 4.5 MPa
• Chips and swarf – clear the machine of any lingering swarf or chips
• Wipe down – wipe down the door window and stainless steel covers

Weekly CNC Maintenance Checklist

• Mechanical parts – see that all mechanical parts are still securely mounted
• Gear oil – check that the gear oil remains at the recommended level
• Automatic lubrication unit – examine the automatic lubrication unit for fluid levels and normal operation
• Guide ways – check guide ways are properly lubricated
• Pipes – inspect fluid pipes for any signs of damage
• Cables – make sure the wiring hasn’t frayed or become damaged

Bi-Annual CNC Machine Maintenance Tasks

• Chip conveyor chain – check the chip conveyor chain for tension and condition, top-up grease
• Coolant filters – check and clean or replace filters on the coolant tank
• Coolant tank – empty, clean and refill the coolant tank
• Chuck and jaws – take off the chuck and jaws, and clean
• Hydraulic tank – drain the hydraulic tank, clean it and refill with fresh oil
• Line and suction filters – replace line and suction filters
• Radiator – straighten any bent or misaligned fins and clean
• Lubrication unit – drain away old lube, clean the unit and add new lube
• Machine levelling – check the levelling and adjust if necessary
• Wipers – examine the machine wipers and clean or replace as needed

Annual CNC Maintenance Checklist

• Headstock and tailstock – examine the headstock and tailstock for signs of taper
• Spindle – check for radial and end play in the spindle
• Chuck cylinder – see that the chuck cylinder hasn’t developed runout
• Turrets – monitor parallelism and inclination in the turrets
• X and Z axes – look for any indication of backlash in the X and Z axes using the backlash program, and check and adjust the gibs

CNC Machine Maintenance Tips for Longevity

As well as following these routine steps, you can also:

• Train staff – make sure that the relevant staff are fully trained in how to conduct regular maintenance, as well as why it’s important
• Assign and share responsibility – assign responsibility for conducting checks and maintenance tasks to certain staff members or create a culture of shared responsibility to ensure everyone takes part
• Arrange a preventative maintenance plan – you could consider contacting a professional maintenance provider to arrange a formal preventative maintenance plan, involving expert engineers and quicker access to specialised parts when needed

You can learn more about your CNC machine maintenance checklist as well as the professional services available by contacting our expert team today. We specialise in a range of precision cutting tools for textiles and other materials, including CNC equipment. Just call us on 01924 373900, email us at sales@assystbullmer.co.uk or fill out our contact form.