Recommended Preventative Maintenance Checklist
Our CNC router maintenance checklist includes tips on how to keep your CNC router running smoothly: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Semiannually.
Preventative maintenance is one of the most overlooked ways to keep CNC routers online and productive. Using this CNC maintenance guide in your factory can reduce the overall cost of machine ownership. Proper maintenance will ensure maximum return on machinery, while keeping the headaches down and production quality up.
Preventative Maintenance Checklist
Our service technicians created the recommended CNC router preventative maintenance checklist listed below. Keeping up with maintenance and cleaning can help avoid costly downtime, so don’t skip these important steps.
Daily Maintenance
- Clean all debris off machine (blow off with pressurized air after every part)
- Inspect the following:
- Tool holders for cleanliness**
- Internal taper of spindle motor**
Weekly Maintenance
- Check pneumatic oil level in regulator*
- Empty water in regulator or separator
- Inspect blower filters, then clean as required
- Grease all lead screws and linear guides***
Monthly Maintenance
- Upload all machine data via RS232 or Ethernet (machine settings and program files)
- Copy machine data onto CD or USB drive, then store in a safe location
- Inspect:
- Pneumatic connections – listen for leaks and inspect enclosures for excess oil*
- Electrical enclosures – check for cleanliness (power to machine should be off)
- Belt and pulley assemblies – check for tightness and belt integrity
- Clean, then grease fourth and fifth axis gear assemblies***
Semiannual Maintenance
- Deep clean all lead screw and ball nut assemblies by flushing ball nuts with WD40
- Clean dry assemblies, then perform error calibration on all axes
- Inspect:
- All wiring connections in machine enclosures
- Brushes in DC brush servo motors
*CNC machines with HSD motors should not have oil in their regulators. For these machines, apply pneumatic oil directly to the cylinder shafts. Machines require 10-weight pneumatic oil for lubrication of cylinders, pneumatic drills, and mechanical moving components within Colombo type spindle motors.
**Tool holders and spindle motor shafts can be cleaned using rust inhibitor solvents.
***Recommended Grease: Lithium based multi-purpose grease.
Important Notes:
- Follow individual company safety procedures.
- Only use power for the maintenance steps which require machine operation.
- When using pressurized air to clean electronic components, ensure there is no moisture present.
In addition to the list above, our routine router maintenance service is recommended for all CNC machines in production. Our service technicians can come to your factory yearly or more frequently depending on your level of production. To request a quote, call us at (858) 922-4967 or send us a message.
