Most CNC breakdowns we are called for could have been avoided with fifteen minutes of daily care. Below is the maintenance routine we hand to every customer after an installation.
Daily checks
- Clean chips from the table, way covers and tool changer.
- Check coolant level and concentration.
- Check the air pressure gauge and drain the water separator.
- Look at the way lube reservoir and top it up if low.
- Listen for any new noise during a warm-up cycle.
Weekly checks
- Clean the coolant tank filter and skim off tramp oil.
- Wipe down the spindle taper and inspect the tool holders.
- Check chuck jaws and clamping pressure.
- Inspect cables and hoses for cuts or chafing.
- Back up the machine parameters and tool offsets.
Monthly checks
- Grease the ball screws and linear guides per the manual.
- Check backlash on each axis and record it.
- Clean the electrical cabinet filters and check fan operation.
- Verify spindle run-out with a dial indicator.
- Test the emergency stop and all door interlocks.
When to call a service engineer
Call us if you hear a grinding noise from the spindle, if an axis starts to drift out of tolerance, if alarms repeat after a reset, or if backlash keeps growing month after month. Catching these early is almost always cheaper than a spindle rebuild.
