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The Best Way to Clean a Used CNC Machine

Used CNC machines are a lucrative purchase option for manufacturing companies as they get a high quality CNC at a distinctly low price when going for use. But as these machines are often used for cutting and drooling work, they often get dirty and need regular cleaning to ensure that the machine operates properly and delivers accurate products. This will help you optimize the performance of the machine and also increase the total lifespan of the CNC machine. If you are also looking for the best ways to clean your CNC, then read till the end to know those in detail.

Why does cleaning a CNC machine matter?

Used CNC machines tend to have some dust and hubris in them, and the amount of those wastes will only go up when you use the machine more and more. But cleaning isn’t just normal maintenance but it is essential for several things like –

It helps in the performance optimization of the machine by removing all the dust and debris from the machine.
Regular cleaning of the machine helps you prevent any kind of wear and tear, ensuring a longer life span of a CNC machine.
Cleaning helps you in cost cutting of unnecessary repairing of the machine parts.
Also, a clean machine will help you fetch a good price if you plan to resale.

Steps to prepare for cleaning of your CNC machine –

Here are the steps that you should take before you start the cleaning –

Make sure to disconnect the power at first.
Make sure to wear gloves, safety googles, and a dust mask to make sure you’re safe.
Make sure that the whole area is well ventilated.
Also, gather different other necessary tools like – vacuum cleaner, adhesive removers, soft bristled brushes.

Top ways to clean your CNC machine

Now, let us dive deep and find out the steps that you need to take to clean your CNC machine thoroughly –

Exterior cleaning – The cleaning needs to start from the exterior of the CNC machine. The exterior part is where all the dust, oil, and residue accumulate in a CNC machine. So, here’s how you can clean the exterior of a CNC machine
- Clean the residual dust – You must start with dry cleaning the residual clouds of dust on the exterior surface of the machine. Blow off that residual dust with the help of dry compressed air.
- Degrease the surface – The exterior cleaning of a CNC machine starts with degreasing the surface of the machine. Just use a degreasing agent on the top, sides and back of the machine. Don’t use harsh materials that can corrode the sensitive parts of the machine.
- Remove stubborn residue – every machine gets some stubborn residue in its exterior part due to the use of oil, and different dust particles that come out while machining operations. Clean those stubborn residues with the help of some adhesive remover.

Interior cleaning – Once you are done with cleaning the exterior of your CNC machine, you should move towards cleaning the interior of your machine. Here are the steps you should take to clean the interior of the machine –
- Vacuum debris – Start with cleaning the dust, debris, and chips inside the machine with the help of a vacuum cleaner or a soft brush. Clean the interior of the machine inch by inch to make sure it’s totally clean and hard to reach areas like guide rails.
- Degrease the interior parts – Apply a degreasing component to the interior of the machine with the help of a spray and later clean it with a soft piece of cloth. But avoid using the degreaser on the electrical parts.
- Clean ball screws and bearings – The ball and bearing parts of a CNC machine are the ones that often face any kind of wear and tear. Relubricate the ball and bearings after completing the whole cleaning process.

Clean the coolant system – The coolant system of the CNC machine is one of the most important parts of the whole machine, and that also needs to be cleaned regularly. Here are some steps on how you can clean the coolant system of your CNC machine –
- Flush the remaining coolant – The first step of cleaning the coolant system is by flushing the remaining coolant inside it. That remaining coolant is not only dirty but can damage the machine too.
- Open and clean the coolant filter and pump – Open up the different pipes, and filter of the coolant system, and then clean it thoroughly.
- Clean and refill the coolant – Finally, make sure to clean the coolant reservoir thoroughly with any kind of mild detergent or other components. After you completely clean all the parts of the coolant system, fill the reservoir with clean coolant in the appropriate amount that’s needed for your application.

Reassemble and test

Once you are done cleaning, you need to reassemble the machine parts in the right way and test them by following these steps –

Carefully reattach all the parts and the covers.
The plug in and power up the machine.
Run a dry test, ensuring everything moves smoothly.

Common mistakes to avoid while cleaning your CNC machine

Here are the top mistakes that you should avoid while cleaning your CNC machine

Using the incorrect tools and ingredients – Using hard metal brushes or any kind of abrasive and strong detergents for cleaning can harm your machine.
Using liquid in electronics – Don’t use electronics on the electronics and motors, as that may cause big accidents in the future.
Skipping lubrication post cleaning – After cleaning the machine, you should lubricate the machine properly to make sure the operations run smoothly.
Overcleaning sensitive components – Make sure that you don’t clean the sensitive components of the machine like circuit boards or drive harshly.

Conclusion:

CNC machines are used for several heavy machining works, and that leads to the gathering of dust, debris, and other elements on the machine’s surface. They need regular cleaning and that should be done using the right things in the right method to make sure the machine lasts for long.