A CNC Lathe is not only a machine and also a core asset for any factory that pursues high-precision production. Whether you are using a new CNC lathe or are maintaining a used CNC lathe, regular maintenance is the key to ensuring long-lasting accuracy and extending machine life.
At Jianke Machinery, we know the importance of maintenance. This blog is intended to help CNC lathe operators make a sense of system maintenance and ensure that your equipment is always in the best operating condition.
Understand the Basics of CNC Lathe Maintenance
The core of CNC lathe maintenance is not only to repair the broken things, but to prevent them from being damaged. Efficient CNC lathe machining depends on preventive maintenance.
Because CNC machine tools combine complex mechanical components and sophisticated electronic components, ignoring maintenance will lead to reduced accuracy, increased downtime and even expensive maintenance costs.
For more complex equipment such as CNC lathe and milling machine, the basic logic of maintenance is consistent : keep clean, keep lubrication and keep calibration.
Understanding these foundations is the first step to avoid production accidents and to distinguish between professional operators and ordinary operators.
Recognize Common Maintenance Needs for CNC Lathes
We need to pay attention to the requirements of different components in daily operations. Identifying these requirements can help you solve them before the problem expands. The following are the most common key maintenance areas of CNC lathes :
| Common Key Maintenance Areas of CNC Lathes Table | ||
|---|---|---|
| Component | Common Issues | Focus Area |
| Hydraulic System | Oil contamination | Replace the hydraulic oil regularly to check whether the oil pressure is stable. |
| Blocking of filter element | ||
| Lubrication System | Guide rail lack of oil | Make sure that the lubricating oil tank is adequate and check that the guide rails and screws of CNC lathe machines are lubricated in place. |
| Oil blockage | ||
| Coolant System | Improper concentration | Monitor the concentration and regularly clean the tank sediments to prevent the cooling effect from decreasing. |
| Bacterium breeding | ||
| Chuck & Jaws | Clamping force decreased | Remove and clean, apply grease to ensure safe clamping. |
| Chip accumulation |
Hydraulic System Maintenance
The hydraulic system is the power core of CNC lathe machines, which controls the key actions such as the opening and closing of the chuck and the rotation of the knife tower.
Oil quality monitoring : Hydraulic oil will be oxidized or contaminated by impurities over time. The CNC lathe operator should regularly check the color and viscosity of the oil. If it is a used cnc lathe machine, it is recommended to thoroughly clean the tank and replace the new oil immediately after starting.
Pressure check : observe the pressure gauge value every day. If the pressure is too low, it will lead to the clamping of the chuck being tight that caue safety accidents ; excessive pressure may damage the seal.
Lubrication System Care
Lubrication is the first line of defense to prevent direct friction of metal parts. For high-precision CNC lathe machining, the oil film of guide rail and screw is very important.
Preventing oil blockage : Many modern devices are equipped with automatic lubrication systems, but oil distributors are prone to blockage. It is necessary to regularly check whether each lubricating point really has oil outflow, not just to check the oil tank level.
Choose the right lubricating oil : Select the guide oil strictly according to the instructions. The wrong oil will lead to crawling phenomenon, which directly affects the surface finish.
Coolant System Management
The cutting fluid is not only used for cooling and also responsible for chip removal and lubrication of the cutting area. Ignoring it can lead to rust and bacterial growth inside CNC lathes.
Concentration control : The concentration is periodically measured using a Refractometer. Too low concentration will lead to accelerated tool wear and workpiece rust ; excessive concentration wastes cost and may irritate the operator ‘s skin.
Miscellaneous oil separation : Slide oil is often mixed into the tramp oil that form an oil film to isolate the air and result in odor deterioration of the cutting fluid. The use of oil-water separators is best practice.
Deep Cleaning of Chucks & Jaws
The chuck connects the machine and the workpiece. In CNC lathe machining, the chip accumulation inside the chuck is a common cause of accuracy error.
Disassembly and lubrication : Don ‘t just spray oil from the outside. The chuck claw must be removed regularly, the fine chips of the internal chute must be cleaned, and a special high-pressure chuck grease must be applied to ensure that the clamping force does not decay.
Establish a Maintenance Schedule for CNC Lathes
A strict maintenance schedule is a sign of an efficient workshop. As a CNC lathe operator, you should follow the following periodic checklist. This is suitable for evaluating the state of both new machines and used CNC lathe machines.
Daily Maintenance
Check the level of hydraulic oil and lubricating oil.
Clean up the chips on the chip conveyor and the shield.
Check coolant level and concentration.
Make sure that all fans and cooling devices are working properly.
Weekly Maintenance
Clean the heat exchanger filter.
Check and clean the chips around the Turret or turret.
Check CNC lathe machine programming data backup ( if applicable ) to prevent accidental loss.
Check whether the mechanical home position is accurate.
Monthly/Yearly Maintenance
Monthly : check the belt tension, lubrication chain.
Every half year : check the machine tool’s leveling, which is essential for high-precision CNC lathe machining.
Each year : change the hydraulic oil and filter element, check the Spindle Runout.
Utilize Software for Maintenance Management
Relying solely on paper records has become outdated in the modern manufacturing industry. With the computerized maintenance management software ( CMMS ), you can track the health status of every CNC lathe machine.
This is as important as CNC lathe machine programming. Through software, you can :
- Automatically remind the next maintenance time.
- Record the historical data of each fault for easy analysis.
- Manage spare parts inventory to ensure that parts are available for maintenance.
For workshops with multiple CNC lathes and milling machines, digital management can significantly reduce management costs.
Train Operators on Best Practices for CNC Lathe Care
The machine is operated by a man. Even the best CNC lathes for sale on the market can be quickly damaged if operated by untrained personnel.
Business owners should invest in employee training, including :
- Cleaning habits : the machine must be cleaned before work, and the chips should not be allowed to corrode the rail overnight.
- Auditory diagnosis : Train the operator to identify abnormal sounds ( such as spindle howling or bearing noise ).
- Standard operation : operate in strict accordance with the CNC lathe machine programming specification to avoid crash.
Troubleshoot Common CNC Lathe Issues
Even if properly maintained, problems sometimes occur. Here are some quick troubleshooting tips :
Vibration or Chatter Marks during Processing
This is the most troublesome problem in CNC lathe machining, which usually leaves wave patterns on the surface of the workpiece.
- Check the clamping stability : confirm whether the workpiece is clamped and whether the jaw pressure is sufficient. If it is a slender shaft part, check whether you need to use the tailstock or center frame.
- Check the tool state : is the tool overhang too long ? Is the blade worn or chipped ?
- Rotational speed and feed adjustment : Sometimes resonance is caused by a specific rotational speed. Trying to fine-tune the spindle speed ( RPM ) or feed rate in CNC lathe machine programming can usually eliminate vibration.
Dimensional instability or Drift
If you find that the size of the newly started is inconsistent with the size of the afternoon, or the size of the same batch of parts is too large or too small.
- Thermal Drift : The machine will heat up during operation, resulting in metal expansion. It is recommended that the warm-up program should be carried out every day to allow the machine to reach heat balance before starting processing.
- Mechanical transmission clearance : check whether there is a backlash between the ball screw and the coupling. For the old used CNC lathe machine, this is usually the main reason and it may be necessary to compensate for the backlash through the system parameters.
Abnormally Short Tool Life
Too fast tool consumption will significantly increase production costs.
Tool center height : check whether the tool tip is strictly aligned with the spindle center. For CNC lathe and milling machines, the calibration of the power tool holder is particularly important. Too high or too low a tip will lead to chipping.
Coolant spray point : Ensure that the high-pressure coolant is sprayed directly on the cutting edge, rather than being blocked by the chip.
Material matching : confirm whether the blade brand you use is suitable for the current workpiece material ( such as stainless steel, aluminum alloy, etc. ).
Recovery After a Crash
Even the most experienced CNC lathe operator may encounter a crash.
- Geometric accuracy inspection : after the collision, we must first check whether the turret is offset and whether the spindle is running.
- Origin regression : recalibrate the mechanical origin of each axis.
Most crashes are caused by cnc lathe machine programming errors or coordinate system setting errors. It is recommended to use the graphic simulation function to verify the program before actual cutting.
Electric Alarms & Startup Failures
Emergency Stop : Check whether the emergency stop button is accidentally pressed or the line is loose.
Limit Switches : If the machine is over-travel, check whether the limit switch is stuck by the chip.
Fuse and relay : Check if there are fuses in the cabinet.
Boost Lathe Performance NOW
By implementing the above maintenance strategy, your device performance will be significantly improved. Maintenance is not only to save money, but also to make money – because a stable machine means a stable output.
If your existing equipment can ‘t meet the accuracy requirements after multiple repairs, or you ‘re looking for a more efficient solution, it may be time to consider upgrading.
Jianke Machinery provides top-level services of CNC lathes for sale and Swiss type lathe machines for sale. Whether you need a standard centering machine or a complex CNC lathe and milling machine, we can provide you with professional solutions.
Contact us now to get the latest CNC lathe quotation and technical support !
FAQ
The assessment focuses on machine age, hours of use, maintenance history, spindle and guide rail conditions, and control system compatibility. It is best to test the operation on site, measure the machining accuracy, and consult professional technicians to avoid potential problems. It is also important to understand the warranty and service support provided by the seller before purchasing.
It includes two-axis flat bed type, inclined bed type, multi-axis turning and milling machine ( CNC turning and milling machine ) and double spindle machine. Choose according to the complexity of the parts, such as mass production for a high degree of automation model.
Operators should master drawing interpretation, tool setting, parameter monitoring and basic fault diagnosis. When you get started, you need to be familiar with safety specifications and manual mode operations, and gradually learn automatic programming and machine tool adjustment to ensure efficient production.
CNC lathe processing is mainly used for rotating workpiece cutting, suitable for manufacturing cylindrical or symmetrical parts, such as shafts, threads or flanges.
The milling process cuts the fixed workpiece by rotating the tool, which is suitable for complex shapes such as planes, grooves, and gears. If the project needs a combination of the two, CNC lathe and milling machine can achieve multi-function and improve efficiency.
Depends on the model and program stability. Long cycle parts can run at night, but need to monitor tool wear and set 25 % fast mode anti-collision.
Novices avoid, and professionals use vibration sensors for early warning. Combined with software optimization to ensure safety, but it is not recommended that the entry-level machine be unmanned for a long time.
