The tools of the CNC machines are one of the most important parts of the machines, as the quality of the tools affects the quality of the products that are being manufactured with the CNC machine. Whether you are buying a new CNC machine or a used CNC machine, proper CNC machine tool maintenance is required for the sake of proper manufacturing of different products.
Manufacturers who are in industries that need micron level accuracy should be more worried about the maintenance of CNC machine tools. The accuracy and precision of machining are largely dependent on the quality of the tool being used for machining, so it’s very important to keep it in the right state. If you are also a CNC machinist seeking CNC tool maintenance tips to extend its lifespan, read this article to the end.
Here are some top CNC tool maintenance tips that you can follow for a longer life of your CNC tool and better machining capabilities:
One of the most important things one needs to do is clean the tool holders regularly. Chips, coolant residue, or debris inside the taper and the collet can cause improper seating. Even small contaminants can lead to different kinds of issues, like uneven tool loading and accelerated wear.
Use compressed air to blow away the debris and loose chips, and then wipe down the tool holder with lint free cloths for better cleaning.
Lubrication is also an important part of proper CNC machine tool maintenance. Proper lubrication helps in reducing friction or heat that can further dull the tools. You need to apply the right kind of lubricant as per your tool type for proper operation.
But one needs to be careful and make sure they don’t over lubricate. Excess lubrication can attract more chips and debris, which will just kill your efforts of cleaning.
Storage of tools is often an ignored factor regarding their maintenance, but it directly affects the longevity and condition of the tool. Make sure you use dedicated toolboxes or drawers for keeping them, and also make sure that the temperature and humidity are maintained, especially for high-value carbide and HSS tools.
Several manufacturing shops run with the philosophy of using it till it stops working. That’s not a correct way of thinking about it for production environments because a half damaged CNC tool can damage the quality of your products.
Make sure you regrind or recondition solid carbide and HSS tools when worn, but the body is still intact. Replace indexable inserts as soon as wear is detected, extending the life of the tool body, and discard tools that have excessive wear, chippings, or cracks.
Incorrect speed and feeds are one of the common reasons behind premature tool wear. So, one of the CNC machine tool preventive maintenance is following the right speed and feed rates during machining.
Running tools in inappropriate cutting parameters can generate excessive heat, vibration, and edge breakdown, so it is important to follow the tool manufacturer’s manual before running the tool in the machine.
Recutting of chips is also one of the major reasons behind tool wear and even poor surface finish of products. So, one of the important CNC machine tool maintenance tips is to manage the chip evacuation system of your CNC machine effectively.
Firstly, toolpath optimization is needed to ensure that the chips are cut into the right, manageable sizes. Other than that, adjusting feeds, speed, and coolant pressure is also needed to ensure proper chip management.
Last but not least, using tool monitoring systems is also going to be a huge benefit for a machining shop for the maintenance of CNC machine tools. Tool monitoring systems will help you get real-time feedback about the tools, which is helpful for shops using costly tools.
These systems use sensors to track vibration, temperature, and cutting forces, which will help you by alerting you when the tool condition deteriorates and can save you from catastrophic failures and downtime of the machine.
In conclusion, we can say that the CNC tool is a very important part of the machine that determines the result of machining, so it is important to keep it safe by following the right CNC tool maintenance tips. Giving some extra effort for the tool maintenance will definitely make your machining experience much more efficient.
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Ans: Visible edge wear, chipping, inconsistent surface finish, increased cutting noise, or changes in chip formation often indicate that a tool may need replacement.
Ans: Coolant quality influences heat control and lubrication at the cutting edge. Improper concentration or contamination may lead to increased tool wear.
Ans: Tool holders and collets are typically replaced based on wear, runout, or damage rather than on a fixed schedule, following inspection results.
