The use of laser cutting has become more extensive. All thanks to the metal work and their role in the economy. However, maintaining them requires a lot of work. You won’t attain the quality cut merely by replacing failed components. Though, parts like Mitsubishi replacement parts and Trumpf replacement parts can add to the laser’s life cycle. But maintenance requires extra care during the operations and preventing components from failing.
Many manufacturers fail to understand this. They check the equipment only when there’s a breakdown. In most cases, they keep the production going on without checking the parts and consumables, which results in the consumption of consumables. Only when the cut is not clear, they realize they need to change the parts. And this halt can sometimes be longer than the preventive measures taken at the right time.
When preventive measures are ignored, repairing costs can amplify. So focus on preventing and implementing these tips:
1. Provide Operator Training
Your laser cutting machine may have multiple operators. Thus, it is necessary to train them. Generally, it is provided directly after the purchase of new equipment. But, it should be an ongoing process. New staff comes and goes, skills turn rusty, and poor operation results in breakdowns. So you must provide periodic training of the machinery.
For this, you can update the operation manuals. You can rewrite them in simple language, create a compressed version, and hand them over to operators. If you want to go paperless, you can send them the PDF via email or upload it on your company’s site.
The key factor is to identify the best practices to maintain the equipment. Once you’ve it, share this valuable information with your team.
2. Monitor the Performance
To ensure that your laser is working fine, you must first understand its working and track its jobs. Statistics such as beam on time, transit delay, bottlenecks can help you identify the faults and improve the laser cutting process.
Now, you can also equip some laser cutting machines with production monitoring systems. The systems would provide you with transparency about the processes. It would ensure real-time data accessibility 24*7. With this data, you can then check how the process is working. If something sounds off track, you can take action immediately.
3. Check out Wear and Tear
There are some predefined conditions in which laser machines work. If there are some changes in the condition, the machine may not work. Vibrations, shocks, high temperature, friction are the general causes of machine breakdown. So if you identify any such thing, you must replace the parts. Mitsubishi replacement parts and Trumpf replacement parts are some of the best to go with.
Here’s how to identify when the parts need replacement.
- Vibrations: they come from gears and belts that are out of alignment
- Shocks: they are a result of accidents and poor operator techniques
- High temperature: The reasons include extensive use, inadequate lubrication, friction, and using worn parts
The last component you must check is the age of the part. Over time, belts will warp, the seal will dry and crack, and bolts will stretch out the shape. So monitor this, and you are good to go.
4. Maintain the Machinery
Lasers often comprise small tiny parts and consumables that need regular maintenance. There are also some seals and filters that keep the working parts clean. And keeping them in check is your primary task. For this, you must first lubricate the jobs. Fill each bearing with oil regularly so that they work smoothly. This would increase the service life of the machine.
Along with this, you can set a list of maintenance checks in the controllers. You can schedule and set it on automatic detection. The controllers would then conduct the check and store all the details for future reference.
5. Automate the Process
Technology equipment provides tools to maintain and improve the efficiency of laser machines. You can bring in CNC machinery, which can help monitor the working of the machine.
You can also use conveyors to allow denesting to occur at the same production rate. They will give you time to act quickly on the production problems and focus on downstream operations.
To Conclude
For laser machines to operate well, preventive maintenance is mandatory. And by following these 5 tips, you can be sure of that. For basic practices, you must know about your laser machine, its spare parts, and consumables.
Only when you have detailed information, you would be able to prevent your machine from breakdown and costly repairs.
