Scheduled Maintenance

Scheduled Maintenance

Scheduled Maintenance - Scheduled maintenance is a stich in time procedure aimed at avoiding breakdowns. Breakdowns can be dangerous to life and as far as possible should be minimized. Scheduled maintenance practice incorporates (in it), inspection, lubrication, repair and overhaul of certain equipments which if neglected can result in breakdown.

Inspection, lubrication, servicing, etc., of these equipments are included in the predetermined schedule. Scheduled maintenance practice is generally followed for overhauling of machines, cleaning of water and other tanks, white washing of buildings, etc.

Lubrication: The day to day responsibility for the maintenance of machine tools is in the hands of the operator, and provided he uses it properly, his next greatest contribution is to ensure that it receives an adequate supply of lubrication. For many years motor car manufacturers have supplied lubrication charts with their products, giving specific and elaborate instructions as to where and when to lubricate, the grade of oil to use, and so on.

Until recently, this practice does not seem to have been prevalent amongst machine tool manufacturers, who probably assumed that the users of such tools, being engineers, would need no advice on the subject.

On modern machine tools various units such as headstocks are provided with automatic lubrication by means of a pump with provision for a continuous filtering system and an indicator to observe the circulation of the oil. Other parts of the machine, however, depend on the daily attention of the operator, and it is fairly general practice to issue a chart for his guidance.

Methods of Lubrication

Cleanliness: Next to lubrication, cleanliness is an important factor in the life of a machine, particularly where the slides are concerned, and it may be taken that the skill and efficiency of an operator are reflected in the condition of the machine tool he is using. From the metal being cut, and the atmosphere, minute particles of dust are deposited on the slides, and in spite of slide covers and other devices to keep them out they act as abrasives to accelerate wear.

By maintaining slides as clean as possible these influences are kept at a minimum. Compressed air is not a good medium for cleaning machines as the pressure tends to force small particles of abrasive dust into the surface of metal. In addition, the blast from a nozzle carries dust through crevices into bearings, motors, gear boxes, and so on.