Machine tools work better with good maintenance

There are still machine tol users who expect machine tools to perform as per specification without the user doing more than applying lubrication - here is how to choose the best maintenance package

It is very important, when using a modern CNC machine tool, to select the right machine and maintenance package. Cincinnati Machine's service division, Maintenance Technologies, delivers structured maintenance programmes that reduce machine tool downtime. Good maintenance also maintains or improves part quality, reduces part costs, prolongs machine tool life and reduces overall maintenance costs.

Maintenance Technologies can improve maintenance and productivity.

The service is part of Cincinnati Machine's MAG industrial automation Systems group.

This group has extensive process knowledge and a wide industrial experience base that serves Cincinnati Machine and all other members of the MAG group of companies.

In comparison with competing maintenance services in the market, Maintenance Technologies philosophy is to provide comprehensive long-term support to maximise Cincinnati Machine equipment availability and productivity.

It also aims to maintaining the lowest cost of ownership for the user throughout the machine tool's life cycle.

Commenting upon Maintenance Technologies, Ian Curlett, sales manager, said: 'We can provide a complete lifecycle support package of to protect a customer's machine tool investment.

This portfolio of products and services is extensive and significantly different from most machine tool suppliers.' Maintenance Technologies works in all three phases of the machine life cycle as described below.

* The first phase - 'machine build, design and installation': it is here that Cincinnati Machine can guarantee a smooth integration of the machine into any workshop.

The package provides interactive technical support, machine certification, machine monitoring, spare parts packages, technical training and application services.

* The second phase - following machine integration, Cincinnati Machine and Maintenance Technologies support the machine operation by offering service parts, machine repair service, continuous oil monitoring and health checks, on-site maintenance contracts and predictive/preventive maintenance contracts.

* The third phase - when the Cincinnati machining or turning centre has served the end user for some time, the company can supply the end user with machine control and drive upgrades.

It will also perform engineering, rebuild, retrofit, re-manufacture repair and exchange services as well as installation, relocation and rigging services as well as the supply of pre-owned equipment.

'We can provide our own team of resident technicians and parts to look after the customers machine tools.

An example of this has been seen at an aerospace company that wanted to increase the productivity of its machine tool assets on a manufacturing site.

We introduced a regime of regular preventative maintenance to ensure the machinery was available for production.

After one year this aerospace customer has realised 3,000 hours of additional machining capacity as a direct result of our involvement and this is improving further in the second year of the contract,' said Curlett.

Demonstrating remarkable reliability and machine build quality, Cincinnati Machine has a considerable amount of longstanding machine tools in the marketplace and for customers with concerns over longevity of these machines; Maintenance Technologies has an extensive archive of machine drawings and manuals to support all products.

An example was recently noted when a diesel engine manufacturer with well serviced but ageing machines had to change its production requirements.

This required two machines with an increased X-axis travel.

As Maintenance Technologies had access to the intellectual property rights for the discontinued machines, it was able to supply an engineered solution and manufacture the two machines to meet the customer needs.

Looking to the future of machine tool maintenance Curlett concluded: 'Provision of machine tool maintenance is moving beyond just reactive services and many customers are asking Maintenance Technologies to work with them on productivity improvements in their manufacturing process'.

'In response to this we have developed a product called Freedom E Log to monitor any machine tool and display the data gathered to develop improvements in OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness).

We are pleased to talk to any machine tool user who is interested in using Freedom E Log to increase machining capacity'.

* About Cincinnati Machine - Cincinnati Machine Limited designs, builds and sources high-precision machine tools for the global aerospace, automotive, mould and die, medical and general machining markets.

The company offers technology-driven solutions that include 3-, 4- and 5-axis CNC horizontal and vertical machining centres; and vertical, horizontal and multi-axis turning centres.

Cincinnati Machine in Birmingham, UK is a division focused on the design, development, sales and marketing of the Cincinnati range of machine tools.

Cincinnati Machine is a division within MAG Industrial Automation Systems, headquartered in Michigan, USA.

Other divisions within MAG IAS include Cincinnati Technologies, serving the OEM and Tier 1 aerospace market; Powertrain Technologies, serving the global automotive market with customised high-production solutions; and Maintenance Technologies, responsible for the global after-sales and service parts market for all MAG IAS customers.


http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/cci/cci163.html