Adding a lathe to your machine shop equipment roster vastly improves the range of jobs you can perform, but lathes are expensive machines. Even a secondhand model can cost thousands of dollars, and for a top-of-the-line CNC lathe, the price tag is frequently in the range of tens of thousands.
So if you do get a lathe, it’s absolutely critical that you keep it fully functional for as long as possible, getting the most value for your money. To do that, you need to stay on top of lathe maintenance.
How do you maintain a lathe? What actions should you take, and how often should you take them? In this guide, we’ll discuss the goal of a good lathe maintenance program, a sample checklist, and then some inside tips for lathe maintenance.
Maintenance goals
Lathes can – and should – last for years. When made to the right design and standards, a good lathe can stay workable for decades. You’ll still find hobbyists and small machine shops using manual American or European-made lathes from the 1950s and 60s, machines that are still going strong because they’ve been properly maintained and were made to exacting standards.
The goal of any lathe maintenance is twofold: to keep your lathe running as long as possible, and to make sure that it is running as smoothly as possible. The better it runs, the more accurate and precise your lathework will be.
3 steps to proper lathe maintenance
We’ll talk more about an actual maintenance checklist shortly, but first there are three simple steps to consider that will set you up for a successful maintenance schedule.
- Start with a quality lathe.
Even the best, most rigorous maintenance schedule in the world will only delay the inevitable if you start with a cheaply-made lathe. Choose a reliable brand from a reputable manufacturer. You could even consider an American-designed lathe that draws on the long tradition of high-quality machine tools made in the U.S.A.
Whatever brand you settle on, if you start with a quality machine your maintenance will be more effective and you’ll likely see improvements to the lifespan of your machine.
- Use trained and skilled operators.
Nothing can damage a lathe faster than poor operation. Running a lathe too fast, or feeding a heavy-duty part through too quickly are just two of the ways in which an operator can cause serious damage to a metal lathe. Rely on operators who are skilled and well-trained; they will also be more likely to follow a strict maintenance schedule.
- Follow a clear schedule.
Lathe maintenance isn’t something you can do once and forget about it, or even something that you need to do only once a week. At least some parts of a good maintenance schedule should be done on a daily basis. Following a simple but clear maintenance schedule every day will reduce the number of repairs and major overhauls you require.
A simple lathe maintenance checklist
Nearly any maintenance checklist will be broken down into different tasks depending on frequency: daily tasks, weekly tasks, etc. We’ll follow the same basic outline here. This is a simple checklist only – most lathe manufacturers will provide more extensive information on what needs to be done and when, so always check with the manufacturer when you set up a maintenance checklist.
Daily checklist
These are best done every day, typically at the beginning of a new shift. None of these steps is terribly time-consuming or technical.
- Check gauges – hydraulics, water line pressure gauges
- Check air pressure
- Warm up spindle – low speed for five minutes
- Clear off chips from waycovers
- Clean chip filter
Weekly checklist
- Inspect all filters
- Check coolant levels and concentration
- Inspect for oil/grease buildup
- Top up oil levels
Monthly or annual checklist
These are tasks that need to be completed more infrequently; some can be done on a monthly basis, while others only need to be completed once or twice a year. They include:
- Spindle bearing inspection
- Drive belt inspection
- Oil inspection/change
- Alignment
General inspection
In general, be aware of chips and debris. The more debris and waste material cluttering the area around your metal lathe, the more likely it is that something will get lodged and jammed somewhere it shouldn’t, and begin to do some serious damage.
It pays to keep your workspace clean. Tidiness will make all lathe inspections easier to perform and any errors easier to spot.
Many manufacturers or machinery dealers will also perform more technical maintenance for you on an annual or semi-annual basis. While this in-depth maintenance may be more expensive than doing the inspections yourself, the extra care and knowledge can do wonders for your lathe.
Maintenance schedules don’t need to be draconian or inflexible in order to be effective; they simply need to be done regularly and followed closely. Stick to a good maintenance schedule, and there’s no reason your new lathe won’t last for decades.
