The second-hand machine market is a massive one. You will most likely want to investigate selling your own system, to upgrade to a newer model with better technology. The more you can fetch for your old system, the less you pay for your new machine. If your machine is in a terrible state, you might not even be able to sell it.

If you can produce evidence that you regularly serviced your equipment, it will justify the price you are looking to sell your system for and you are more likely to fetch your price.

Put yourself in the buyers’ position.  What sort of questions would you ask, when buying a second hand piece of equipment.

• Is the cutting quality still up to scratch?
• Is the machine reliable?
• Was it serviced regularly?
• Has it ever had significant damage to it that would affect its abilities?

Maintenance documentation can give piece of mind. Invest in your cutting system now and it will pay off later.

Keep an eye on your System’s Technology

This might seem pretty obvious, but technology has come along way and our systems have a variety of sensors that will notify you that there is an issue. Do not ignore, or override these warnings, because you are in a hurry to get the job out. When you get a warning, call a MicroStep technician to have a look and fix the issue. No matter how small the problem might seem.

Train Your Operators

It does not matter how advanced the technology is, if it is not used correctly, and if it is not monitored properly, it will not work effectively. It takes a trained operator to understand the problem and to notify the person in charge that the equipment is faulty and needs to be maintained. Educating your equipment operators is key to extending the life of your equipment. They will make sure that little issues don’t turn in to big ones. Most importantly, they will know how to change the consumables correctly, how to setup the system to cut effectively and how to keep it running optimally.

In general, training operators can prevent issues of mis-use. They need to be trained to use that specific piece of equipment.  Operators need to be trained on the specific model of equipment they will be using. An operation manual needs to be available and in place at all times so you can ensure operators are using the equipment the way it was meant to be used. An untrained equipment operator could unintentionally cause costly repairs. It is vitally important that the MicroStep trained service engineers come through and train any new staff on the cutting system. Too often we come across operators that have been trained by operators and there is much information lost in the process.

 Our CNC Cutting Machines are highly intricate and need to be maintained regularly. Do you never service your car and wonder why it then breaks down? Generally not. This is the same. These machines have seals, belts, bolts, etc., that need to be replaced regularly.  Rather than fixing it only when it is broken and then dealing with unscheduled down time, that ultimately will cost you more in the long run, schedule a maintenance when you can afford to.

Commit to it. It may seem like by being proactive you’re attempting to fix something that isn’t broken, but trust us, neglecting to do this will result in expensive repairs.

Checks are not the same thing as a service. Cutting systems should be inspected every time they are used. Trained operators should know what to look and listen for to ensure equipment is working properly. Looking out for the small things like wear and tear can take you a long way.

Do Regular Checks

This happens with all cutting systems or general equipment, and the key to extending the life of your machine is to make sure you do something as simple as making an operator responsible for checking up on the machine after every shift. Noticing warped belts, dry or cracked seals and loose bolts may seem small, but these things can be found through a quick inspection and fixed before they cause larger issues.

Test Lubricants and make sure your Cutting System is Lubricated at all Times

Lubrication is vital to keeping your machine running optimally and to avoid any issues with friction and breaking of seals.

Make sure you regularly clean your Machine

All CNC Cutting systems are very susceptible to dirt and contamination. It is made up of many moving parts and very intricate technology. If things are not kept clean, they impact the way the cnc machine runs and the machine can break down, which results in a very expensive repair. We definitely see the difference in a way the machine runs when the system is regularly cleaned.

Use genuine OEM Parts

Why use genuine OEM consumables when you can get the same parts from another company for less money? This is a legitimate question and one we hear often. We all know you can find the same part for a cheaper price.

Let’s say you’ve found a cheaper option. Ask yourself a few questions:

• Do you know if it’s made from the exact same material composition as the original?
• Do you know if your cutting quality is equally as good?
• Does your warranty require OEM parts?
• Is that consumable compatible with your cutting system?

Your equipment manufacturer spent a lot of time formulating that exact part/consumable for system, so in the interest of extending the life of your cutting system and keeping the cutting quality at it’s optimum, choose genuine OEM parts.