Metalworking and fabrication machinery needs regular maintenance to remain functional during its lifespan. Tasks, such as cleaning, lubricating, and testing parts, should be done on a scheduled basis by people who understand the equipment. Workers can also complete pre-operation inspections and documentation to keep track of what mechanisms need attention and approximately when they need care. Used machinery dealers like Vander Ziel Machinery offer more information on how to maintain and extend the life of used equipment.
How to Maintain Used Machinery
Fabrication and metalworking machinery have many moving parts, like motors, pumps, compressors, and belts. All of these parts need regular maintenance to make sure the machine runs without interruption. Workers should perform both preventative and predictive maintenance to prevent complete machine failure. Here are some maintenance tasks used machinery dealers recommend:
Lubricate Moving Parts
The materials and shape of the moving parts in machinery can wear away from constant use. Radial drills use spindles, rotating arms, hydraulic clamps, pumps, gears, and drive motors to work in tandem to drill holes in metal, wood, and other materials. Properly lubricated parts help them move smoothly, which should keep workers safer by reducing abnormal wear. Lubrication reduces friction between moving parts, also preventing overheating and melting.
Clean the Machines
When workers use fabrication machines, they generate chips and debris. When holes are drilled into metal, wood, or plastic, the unused remnants accumulate on and around the machine. Buildup from this waste can interfere with sliding surfaces or gear movement. Some machines utilize mist and airborne debris collectors to automatically gather the fragments. Clean these collectors by disassembling, washing, drying, and reassembling them. For heavier debris, shop vacuums, blowers, and brushes could be a cleaning option.
Inspect Parts for Wear and Tear
A key part of maintenance awareness of when certain machine parts need replacing. Before a machine is used, workers should inspect each moving part, the base, and any cutting edges. Workers need to check for dullness in blades, drills, and cutting tools. If any of these parts are dull, they should be sharpened before use or replaced if sharpening isn’t recommended. Moving parts that show signs of abnormal wear and tear may cause machine malfunctions. Workers can also inspect small pieces like bolts, nuts, screws, and other fasteners for loose fits and damage.
How to Extend the Life of Used Machinery
Beyond maintenance, there are other measures that technicians can take to help predict future machinery needs. Preventative action is a helpful way to stop issues that could shorten the lifespan of the machine before they happen. Here are some tips to extend the life of used machinery:
Install Sensors
Sensors notify workers when a process is finished, if the project runs into a problem, and relay the overall condition of the machine, such as if a part needs to be replaced, lubricated, or cleaned. Some machines already have sensors installed, but others may need sensors retrofitted. With sensors, workers can monitor the machine’s condition and know when to replace, repair, lubricate, or clean parts.
Don’t Exceed Machine’s Performance Specifications
Machines are built with certain performance specifications that should not be exceeded. If the machine is pushed past its specifications, it may fail due to parts wearing out sooner than expected. When workers stay within the machine’s limits, the machine is more likely to reach the end of its lifespan.
Document Maintenance and Use
Documenting the daily operation and scheduled maintenance of machines will help workers know when the regular maintenance needs completion. It also allows workers at larger companies to collaborate more efficiently because the various shifts are aware of what tasks were done by previous employees. Documentation could help workers avoid the mistake of forgetting to lubricate the moving parts of a machine.
Replace Parts Before Failure
If a mechanism or part fails during operations, it may cause irreparable damage to the machine. During the pre-operation inspection, workers can identify parts that are experiencing abnormal wear and replace them as soon as possible. By replacing parts before failure, they prevent damage that could cause costly repairs or delay business. It also prevents an early and complete breakdown of the machine.
Follow Cleaning Schedule
Following a strict cleaning schedule prevents machine maintenance from being overlooked. Workers can follow a checklist of parts to clean by setting up a collaborative schedule and clearly blocking out time for certain cleaning tasks. The checklist can include hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Daily or hourly tasks may include cleaning, lubrication, and checking the overall functioning of a machine.
Purchase Equipment from Used Machinery Dealers
Vander Ziel Machinery sells new and used machinery, such as drills, presses, milling machines, and many more. These machines require regular maintenance to keep them functioning. Performing maintenance frequently may help extend the life of the machine by preventing downtime or machine failure. Browse our website to see what equipment we have in stock. Contact us today for professional advice on choosing the right machines for any business needs and how to maintain them.