Metal fabrication machinery, tooling, parts & service in NY, PA, NJ, DE, MD and WV
Blog posts: “Preventative Care” – keep your machinery and tooling operating at its potential with advice and ideas from the experts in our service department.
To avoid downtime it is helpful to know your band saw’s specific checkpoints. Refer to your machine’s manual for factory recommendations and use the list below as a guideline to develop a PM schedule.
Your machine’s up time is vital to your success. We work tirelessly to earn your “A+” rating through quality repairs, installations and upgrades, preventative maintenance, operator training and more. No one provides better service & customer support for your metal fabrication needs.
Article Contributed by:
In this handy guide, the experts at Dake give suggestions and reminders on properly caring for your bandsaw.
The Benefits of Proper Maintenance
Ensuring that you perform the appropriate maintenance on your vertical or horizontal bandsaw will help prevent costly problems and downtime in the future. Additionally, this attention boosts productivity levels, improves the lifespan of the bandsaw blade, and helps to produce higher quality cuts.
An easy comparison: chefs sharpen their knives regularly so that they can cut meats, vegetables, and other food products with ease and precision. A dull knife can lead to a very messy cutting board and some haphazardly sliced pieces of produce. While the average household may not sharpen their knives often, professional chefs are expected to maintain a clean edge of their bladed tools. The same can be said for metalworkers using bandsaws. Whether you prefer a vertical or horizontal model, they need to be tended to regularly in order to cut at peak performance.
Before undertaking any sort of maintenance on these heavy machines – make note of the guidelines presented in the owner’s manual and follow all appropriate safety procedures.
The bandsaw blade should go through a tension test every day. Do not skip this step and start up the machine without giving it a once over. If the blade needs to be changed, be sure to follow the tension guidelines from your owner’s manual.
Other aspects that need to be inspected daily include the oil level and the hydraulics system. Be sure that there is plenty of lubrication and that there is no buildup or residue left behind on the bearings. If you have a chip removal system, check that the conveyor is working properly. As a last step in your daily check – make sure all the fluids levels are correct.
Manufacturers recommend that you monitor the maximum and minimum band speeds every week to ensure consistency.
Every time you change out the blade on your bandsaw check the alignment of the bank wheels. This will ensure that blade is rotating smoothly when in use.
Take some extra time every six months to check the moving parts with a longer lifespan. Inspect the wheel bearings to see if there is any unusual movement. If you notice something is off, replace the bearings.
Examine the drives and band guides for wear and replace if needed. Making notes and referring back to past notes may
identify potential issues that could cause downtime and high repair costs if left unaddressed.
Additional areas to inspect include the transmission oil level, bearings, seals, drive wheel, pulleys, belts, and vises. Top off the
transmission oil if it’s low, replace damaged seals and bearings, and make sure the drive wheel isn’t overly worn down.
Pulleys should all be aligned and at the appropriate tension with minimal signs of wear. Belts should be free of cracks and stretch marks, and both the movable and stationary vises should have minimal wear in order to pass the inspection. Also, keep in mind that the vises need to be aligned to the bandsaw blade and adjusted as needed.
About Dake
Since 1887, Dake has been a trusted name in manufacturing. Dake tools have been passed down for generations for their reliability and durability. Today, their product line has expanded beyond hydraulic and arbor presses to include; bandsaws, cold saws, drill presses, laboratory presses, and more.
