Proper maintenance ensures the right conditions for precise and high-quality cuts from Summit machines. Machine tool maintenance is not just about changing the oil or traditional tuning. It is more significant than that, and it should be treated as such.
So what’s the best strategy for effective machine tool maintenance? It should be a two-pronged approach, in which you combine routine adjustments with daily working habits. Only when you blend these two can you see results.
First we will discuss the daily maintenance tasks that are part of the two-pronged approach. After this, we will review the less frequent maintenance items. Each maintenance procedure ensures the machine is working smoothly and helps prevent any serious issues from occurring.
Ensure a Clean Workplace
A clean work environment for a lathe is as essential as oxygen for living organisms. Without it, you cannot expect your machine to work at its best.
Having a clean environment protects the delicate workings of a metal lathe. Damage, dust, or dirt negatively affects the working mechanisms of the machine, resulting in the machine malfunctioning at any time.
Keep the Lathe Ways Clear
Accidents can occur if you use the lathe as a shelf for tools. There are multiple other places to store your tools to avoid accidents.
Avoid placing tools on the shelf above the machine as each machine produces significant vibrations during its operation. The vibration can easily knock them off onto the lathe, causing all sorts of issues.
Get Rid of the Metal Chips
Working with metal produces a lot of metal chips. Cleaning the lathe helps avoid the accumulation of metal pieces and keeps the workplace safe. We recommend using a vacuum cleaner instead of blowing the metal chips away. Metal chips fly away and could injure you, or they could enter the machine and clog other parts, requiring intensive cleaning later.
Look Out for Dust and Debris
Metal pieces and even dust can jam the machine and cause it to malfunction. Even cast iron dust is abrasive and tends to stick to the machine’s lubrication, making the cleaning difficult.
Metal chips can also end up in the chucks. Chucks get damaged, and the machine stops working if you don’t remove them. To avoid this, detach the jaws and keep the way wipes regularly. Consistent cleaning ensures your Summit machine works as it’s supposed to every time.
As you wipe down your machine, keep an eye out for pieces that look worn out or aren’t working as they should. Each cleaning should be an opportunity for you to inspect that that machine is running properly.
Don’t Ignore the Spindle Tapers
Don’t forget to clean the spindle tapers as they’re an essential but often neglected part of the lathe. Use a soft cotton cloth to clean the spindle sockets.
Lubricate Regularly
The lathe, like other machines, cannot operate well without regular lubrication. Unfortunately, some people still forget to lubricate their machine, which causes all sorts of trouble. You must lubricate the ways, bearings, and feed screws to ensure the smooth operation of your machine. Ensuring that the machine is adequately oiled should be part of your daily routine. Do it whenever you start and finish using the machine.
Use the machine’s user manual so you know exactly what pieces of the machine to oil. We recommend using a high-quality oil every time to keep your Summit machine running smoothly.
Control Rusting and Corrosion
Rust eats the machine slowly. If it’s not kept in check, you might need to replace your machine. Any machine maintenance strategy is incomplete without involving protection from rust. All machines are susceptible to rust, but those in humid environments are at higher risk. Oiling helps you avoid rusting and keep your machine running smoothly, as well as solving other multiple issues such as corrosion.
Lathes should be fully covered when you are not using the machine for a while. If you plan not to use it for a long time, ventilate the cover to avoid the buildup of humidity.
Ensure Personal Safety
Machines cannot operate themselves; you need workers. So while you focus on machine maintenance, don’t forget to protect your workers, as they’re the real engines that drive these machines.
Worker safety and personal safety should always be your top priority. There are multiple safety issues you can encounter while maintaining a machine. Therefore, protection is paramount to avoid any untoward incident.
Requiring everyone to wear eye protection all the time ensures safety. Moreover, gloves should also be mandatory to avoid damaging your hands. Everyone should wear industry-standard gear that offers solid protection from all types of risks associated with maintaining/using machines.
Use Maintenance Checklists to Make Things Easier
To make matters simpler, streamlined, and efficient, you can draft a daily, weekly, and monthly/annual checklist to ensure that Summit machines are optimally maintained. The more straightforward maintenance checks are performed daily, while the more complex ones are left to the weekly and monthly checking.
Daily Checklist:
- Check gauges.
- Check air pressure.
- Check the spindle by warming it up.
- Clean metal chips.
A machine is only as good as its maintenance. If not maintained properly, it’s going to malfunction sooner or later. To avoid that, one has to ensure the correct maintenance procedures are followed.
The second part of a two-pronged approach is the weekly and monthly maintenance checklist:
Weekly Checklist:
- Check every filter.
- Inspect coolant levels.
- Check grease buildup.
- Check oil levels.
Monthly/Annual Checklist:
- Thorough check the spindle & bearing.
- Check the drive belt.
- Change oil.
- Check alignment.
Whether daily, weekly, monthly, or annually, each check of the machine is equally important. If you need assistance with your machine, Summit can help you out. We have vast expertise of over 70 years and are amongst the most trusted brands in this business. Get in touch with Summit today and experience their quality services!
