CNC Plasma Machine Maintenance Checklist
Maintenance schedule
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| When | Task | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | Drain water from the compressor tank and the air filters | Water in the air is the main cause of short consumable life |
| Daily | Check air pressure at the plasma source | Low pressure shortens consumable life and spoils the cut |
| Daily | Inspect the electrode and nozzle | Catch wear before it spoils parts |
| Daily | Knock slag off the slats and check the earth clamp | Slag lifts the plate; a poor earth causes arc faults |
| Weekly | Clean the linear rails and rack; lubricate as the manual says | Dust and grit wear the rails and cause rough motion |
| Weekly | Check the water table level, or clean the down-draft filters | Keeps smoke and dust under control |
| Weekly | Test the torch collision sensor and torch height control | Prevents torch crashes |
| Monthly | Check rack-and-pinion backlash and the cable chains | Backlash shows up as uneven circles and corners |
| Monthly | Clean the control cabinet fan filters | Overheated drives cause random stops |
| Monthly | Remove sludge from the water table | Sludge and slag reduce water depth and table life |
| Yearly | Check gantry squareness and recalibrate | Keeps parts square across the whole table |
| Yearly | Replace worn slats and inspect power cables and torch leads | Damaged leads are a safety risk |
Compressed air: the part most shops neglect
A plasma source needs clean, dry air at the right pressure and flow. Fit a refrigerated dryer after the compressor, then a particle filter and an oil coalescing filter near the machine. Drain the tank and filters every day, more often in humid climates. In tropical regions this one habit makes the biggest difference to consumable life.
Electrical supply and grounding
Plasma sources and servo drives need stable voltage. Where the grid is unstable, use a voltage stabilizer sized for the whole machine. Connect the table to a proper earth, keep the work clamp clean and tight, and keep the plasma leads away from control cables to reduce interference.
Common symptoms and causes
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| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Bevelled edge on one side | Worn nozzle, wrong torch height, or torch not square to the plate |
| Heavy dross underneath | Cutting speed too slow or too fast for the current, or worn consumables |
| Circles not round | Backlash in the rack or loose belts and couplings |
| Torch dives at the end of cuts | Torch height control active over holes; set the THC to lock on small features |
| Arc will not start | Worn electrode, low air pressure or a poor earth clamp |
Saws need care too
On band saws, release blade tension at the end of each day if the manual asks for it, keep coolant at the right concentration, clean chips from the vise and brush, and check the blade guides. On circular cold saws, keep the micro-lubrication nozzles clean and re-sharpen or replace the TCT blade before it starts to chip.
Ask an engineer
If your machine shows one of these symptoms, send a short video by WhatsApp and our engineers will help you find the cause.