10 tips to get back to production

When a machining center has been in continuous production and then shut down for an extended period, there are several operations that must be performed and verified before returning the machine to full production.

It is important to pay attention to the following 10 points:

Before starting the machine, all joints, both the telescopic joints and the operator door itself, must be inspected, and any damaged parts must be replaced if necessary.
Check the internal tool coolant pin seal for wear. Replace the pin if necessary, or if your normal maintenance schedule recommends changing the through pin set.
Inspect the tool coolant filters for excessive contamination and/or wear. Replace them if necessary.
Check the fluid levels in the hydraulic unit, the cooling unit, and the spindle lubrication unit. Replenish if necessary, and consider replacing the filters and changing the fluids in both units if it has been a long time since the fluids in the hydraulic and chiller units were changed.
If a tool is in the spindle since the machine was shut down, it will need to be removed manually. Ensure the spindle and tool taper are clean. The tool can then be reinstalled. If there is no tool in the spindle, perform a tool clamp/release cycle by pressing the tool change cycle button and disengaging it. Repeat 5 times to exercise the unlocking system before performing a tool change with the magazine.
Move all machine axes to their full travel within the positive and negative limits in slow motion, one axis at a time to allow the ball screws and linear guides to clean; this way, each component will receive a layer of lubricating oil. When the machine has been shut down for a few days, it is important to run the spindle at 100 RPM for 10 minutes, then perform the warm-up procedure based on the technicians’ instructions and the machine’s power. If the machine does not have a warm-up procedure, run the spindle at 100 RPM for 10 minutes, increase to 500 RPM for 10 minutes, and then increase to another 500 RPM for 10 minutes. The process will need to be repeated until the spindle reaches full speed and allow it to run at full speed for another 10 minutes or so. This allows the spindle to settle from a standstill and the bearings to be relubricated.
Remove the old coolant, clean the coolant tank, and replace it with fresh coolant. This eliminates any buildup inside the coolant tank and ensures that no sludge is recycled in high concentrations during normal production. Request our tank cleaning protocol and recommended lubrication and cooling products.
Manually cycle the ATC through a complete cycle step by step. This allows the ATC to cycle at a slower pace than automatic, allowing for faster lubrication of the camshaft and giving the operator the opportunity to perform a functional test, ensuring there are no anomalies.

Performing all of the above steps will help ensure a smooth start-up after a machine has been down for an extended period. It will also allow for a pre-start inspection to verify any issues that need to be addressed.