Preventative Maintenance turns machine tools’ inherent weaknesses in into assets through advances in sensors and software.
Unanticipated machine tool maintenance is one of the fastest ways for a machine shop to lose money. Unscheduled machine down time has a cascade of negative effects that reach every corner of the business, from inventory costs to lead times to overall throughput. The most extreme example of a maintenance-intensive machining process is waterjet cutting, which relies on the extreme pressurization of water through a series of soft seals and gaskets. Here’s how one company tackled the problem by installing a feedback indicator that shows the operator the remaining life these critical components.
