Mastering CNC Maintenance: 15 Essential Tips for Peak Performance

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines are essential tools in modern manufacturing and machining. These precision instruments can perform complex tasks with incredible accuracy. However, like any machinery, CNC machines require regular maintenance to ensure they operate efficiently and reliably. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore 15 essential tips for CNC maintenance to keep your equipment in optimal condition.

Chapter 1: Daily Maintenance

  1. Cleanliness is Crucial Maintaining a clean CNC machine is paramount. Dust, chips, and debris can lead to performance issues and wear on critical components.
    • Start each day by blowing away chips and dust with compressed air.
    • Wipe down surfaces with a clean, lint-free cloth.
    • Ensure that coolant and lubrication systems are clean and free from contamination.
  2. Inspect Toolholders and Workholding Devices Check toolholders, collets, and workholding devices daily for signs of damage or wear. Replace any components that appear compromised to maintain precise tool alignment.
  3. Lubrication Most CNC machines require regular lubrication. Refer to the manufacturer’s manual for a lubrication schedule and be precise in your application. Over- or under-lubrication can lead to problems.

Chapter 2: Weekly Maintenance

  1. Examine Way Covers and Bellows Way covers and bellows protect critical machine components from contaminants. Inspect them weekly for damage or leaks and replace any compromised parts to prevent issues.
  2. Spindle and Taper Maintenance Clean the spindle and taper thoroughly, removing debris or buildup. Inspect for wear and have them professionally serviced or replaced if necessary.
  3. Check Electrical Connections Regularly inspect all electrical connections, wires, cables, and connectors for wear or loose connections. Reliable electrical connections are crucial for CNC machine performance and safety.
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Choosing a FANUC CNC

fanuc cnc

Choosing a CNC

Buying and building a new CNC (view FANUC CNC parts) can be challenging and often nerve-racking. Regardless of which space you’re in, downtime needs to be avoided as much as humanly (or robotically) possible.  Check out our points to avoid common CNC issues.

One of the most common reasons for CNC downtime would be low build quality. Balls screws,  linear guides, and linear boxes need to be built with high quality to avoid downtime. Often, unfortunately, CNC machines are built using several high-quality parts, and a handful of cheaper, lower-quality parts. Although a machine may consist of mainly high-quality, top-of-the-line parts, issues are still likely to occur due to the low-quality parts. A CNC machine, like most pieces of machinery, is ‘only as strong as its weakest link’.

By taking a look at the tool changer’s location, you can usually determine if its location will be an issue or not. Faulty tool changer designs are common in the CNC world. If it’s hard to get to the tool changer to, for example, change and replace the cam followers, then another design alternative may be best. Don’t be afraid to research other up-to-par designs and designs that have worked well for others in the past.

Avoid poor-quality spindles at all costs, as they’re everywhere and often result in issues. Take a good look at the spindles’ bearings. If they’re plentiful and look larger-than-average, you’re good to go. If they’re lacking in size, research instances where spindles’ bushings have been an issue to create your standard. Along with that, take a look at the horsepower of them; if their horsepower is below average, avoid at all costs. Stalling may occur with low horsepower spindles, which often results in many others with other parts on top of the spindle. Also, be sure to check out our article focused on maintaining automation machine tools. Maintenance is unavoidable and compiling maintenance with unnecessary rebuilds is unpractical and will likely result in downtime and lost profit.

Tolerance of CNCs should be tight. The tighter the tolerance, the longer the life expectancy generally is. Tighter tolerance will also result in an overall smoother operation. MRO Electric and Supply has new and refurbished FANUC CNC parts available. We also offer repair pricing. For more information, please call 800-691-8511 or email sales@mroelectric.com.

Perks of Operating Motors With Drives 

Perks of Operating Motors With Drives

drives and motors

MRO Electric and Supply has new and refurbished FANUC motors and Servo drives available. We also offer repair pricing. For more information, please call 800-691-8511 or email sales@mroelectric.com.

Adjustable speed drives (ASDs), or variable-speed drives (VSDs) is used to describe equipment that assists to control the speed of machinery. Usually, they are using in mechanical equipment powered by motors.

The drives offer truthful electrical motor control enabling motor speeds to be increased, decreased and maintained.

Save On Energy:

Due to energy consumption, centrifugal fan and pump loads operated with versatile speed drives are reduced. The horsepower needed to operate the fan is cut by a much larger factor if the speed of the fan is cut in thirds or in half. As everyone knows, energy savings are what machine automation professionals yearn for.

Controlled torque limit:

By using an adjustable speed drive, machinery can be protected from any damage that may occur. The specific amount of torque applied by the motor to a load is able to be fully controlled.

Controlled Starting Current:

Usually when an ac motor is started “across the line,” it takes about as seven-to-eight times to start the motor and load.

 By utilizing an adjustable speed drive, the considerably reduced starting current expands the life of an ac motor. The benefits are less wear & tear on the motor which translates to extend motor life and less motor rewinds.
Governed Stopping:

Governed stopping backs up diminish product loss because of machine-driven wear and tear attributed to shocks to the process.

Reverse Operation:

The requirement for a reversing started is mitigated in regards to utilizing an adjustable speed drive. The reason being is the output phases to the motor can be morphed electronically. Removing the reversing starter terminates its upkeep expense while also minimizing panel space.

Decreased Power Demand on Start:

To begin an AC motor across the line, one is going to need much more power compared to beginning an adjustable speed drive. This is only the case at the start because the power to run the motor at load would be the same regardless of its variable speed.

Adjustable Operating Speed:

Process automation and implementing changes in a process is allowed due to deploying an adjustable speed drive. This also enables beginning at a shortened speed and allows remote acclimation of speed by process controllers.

Removal of mechanical drive components:

By using an adjustable speed drive, the likelihood of needing costly mechanical drive components like gearboxes can be mitigated. The AC drive is able to transport the high and/or low speed required by the load with a consistent speed between the motor and load because it’s able to function with an infinite variable speed.

Human Machine Interface (HMI) Retrofitting

At MRO Electric and Supply, we are experts at retrofitting older HMIs with a new interface that is clean, modernized, and still works with your system.

Take this older Fanuc HMI as an example. The old CRT display has begun to fade out, making its use inefficient and none user-friendly. Old CRT screens are also prone to overheating, and they take up a lot of much needed space.

Fanuc HMI
Fanuc HMI Pre-Retrofit

A new LCD retrofitted screen can give you more accessibility, brighter displays, and user-friendly colors. MRO Electric can quickly update your FANUC Displays and HMIs at a fraction of the cost of replacing your whole HMI. You also don’t have to rewrite your programming, or waste time and resources replacing your whole system.

Fanuc HMI next to LCD Retrofit
Fanuc HMI next to its LCD Retrofit

Below is a fully retrofitted Fanuc HMI with an LCD monitor. This lighter, energy-efficient replacement adds years of life and service to existing legacy equipment, and eliminates potential future downtime. In addition, all of our HMI repairs come standard with a 12 month warranty.

Newly Retrofitted Fanuc HMI
Newly Retrofitted Fanuc HMI

Get in touch with us today to learn more about this cost effective solution for your HMIs. You can request a quote by calling 1-800-691-8511 or by emailing sales@mroelectric.com.

Unidrive Security Code Basics

For some new User’s of Unidrives, the parameter security system is sometimes found to be a rather mysterious subject.  This article will attempt to unveil those mysteries with some help to explain the Control Techniques Unidrive Security Code Basics.

Security Basics

Without entering the basic security code, 149, you will only be able to view Menu 0 parameters.   The “as shipped” security code for the Unidrive is 149. To enter this code you would maneuver to #00.00 and enter 149.   Once this security code is entered, you will be able to maneuver throughout the Unidrive menu structure freely to view parameters.

After a security code is entered, it will remain in effect until power is removed from the drive or if you wish to re-establish this security, you can set  #XX.00 to 2000.  (where  XX means  “any menu”  )

The User Security Code parameter is #11.30.  The “as shipped” value in this parameter is 149.

For more info you can check our webpage here, or email sales@mroelectric.com or call 1-800-691-8511.

If you find that you cannot change R/W (Read/Write) parameters (including those in Menu 0), someone has most likely assigned their own security code.

User Security Code Assignment

User’s can assign their own 3 digit security code within the range of 1-255 by placing it into #11.30 (writing over the 149) and performing a STORE.1 Note that this does not eliminate or change the “Normal security” code number – 149.

From this point forth, access to parameters will require that code to be placed into #XX.00.  At this point you only have access to Menu O. After this code is entered, you must still enter the normal access code (149) to gain access beyond Menu 0 parameters ( full access).

These security methods do not affect serial communications.  Security affects only access to parameters through the keypad on the front of the Drive.

Forgotten Security Codes

People often forget their security codes.   A User assigned security code is not visible at #11.30 via the serial port (you would still see 149).  To retrieve the forgotten security code,  you must go in through the “back door” .

“The Back Door”

To obtain the forgotten security code, you can DEPRESS and HOLD the MODE key, LEFT ARROW key and either UP or DOWN Arrow key then APPLY POWER to the drive.   The User security code number should appear on the data display at #00.00. Normally, the drive displays the contents of parameter #0.10 upon application of power therefore the User security code may not immediately appear.  You must use maneuver to #00.00 to see the forgotten security code then enter it (hit the mode button twice).

Security Bypass 

During initial start-up of the drive, having to enter the security code after each power-up can become a nuisance and slow down the start-up process.   To bypass or eliminate the need to enter a security code, one can accomplish this by placing a 0 into parameter #11.30 and performing a Store.
If this bypass is done to speed up the start-up process, you should remember to re-assign the 149 default to #11.30 (and Store) before leaving the job site. Otherwise, the drive will have no parameter access security.
Note: Defaulting the drive parameters (using 1244 or 1254) does not reset the User security code.  A previously assigned code by the User will remain in effect even after defaulting parameters.

Additional information     

Parameter 0.49 Security Status
Coding:  RO, U Range:  0 to 1000
This parameter indicates the current status of the drive parameter security system. Each digit indicates a particular aspect of security as follows:-

Units digit:  0 = Standard security has been unlocked    1 = Standard security is still set

Tens digit:                0 = User security has been unlocked or is not active    1 = User security is active preventing RW access

Hundreds digit: 1 = Parameter 11.30 not equal to 149*

Thousands digit: 1 = Parameter 11.30 equal to zero*

* The value of 11.30 is the last value written by the user. Parameter 11.30 always appears as 149 when first accessed by the keypad to hide the real value last written by the user. If 11.30=149 then user security is cleared. If 11.30=0 then user security and security preventing access outside menu 0 is cleared.

Note: – In contrast to all the other parameters in menu 0, this parameter does not exist in any other menu.

Siemens Sinumerik 840D Application

For customers interested in learning more about the Siemens Sinumerik 840D Application here is an excerpt of the catalog from Siemens.

SINUMERIK® 840D sl provides an open, flexible and powerful CNC system with the SINAMICS S120 design for up to 93 axes. With characteristics that describe it as decentralized, scalable, open, inter-connectable and with a wide range of functionality, the SINUMERIK 840D sl is suitable for use in almost every machining technology and it sets
the standard in dynamics, precision and network integration. The SINUMERIK 840D sl offers you uniformity in its programming, operation and machining cycles. With its efficiency in programming, installation and commissioning, this CNC system platform is characterized by its optimum design, innovative NC functionality, communication
and openness. The SINUMERIK 840D sl, available in several performance variants, can be perfectly customized to the practically every machine and machining technology in the manufacturing industry.

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