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Tool Maintenance Tips

Have you ever stopped to think about what would happen to your business if your CNC Router Machine were to stop running? Production would very quickly grind to a halt, and you would start losing money almost instantly. 

That's why you must regularly service your tools in order to maintain their condition and ensure maximum performance. Not only will looking after your tools save you money on maintenance and replacements, but it will also save you time – and in our industry, time is money.

So, how can you maintain your tools to achieve the best possible performance? We spoke with our technical team with over 35 years' experience, to find out their top tool maintenance tips for you to follow.

Here is what they said…

Keep your tools in their original packaging

We understand this one might not always be possible, but, if you can, store your tools in their original cases. Not only will this protect them from damage, but it will also keep them dust and dirt free.

 

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Use your tools for their specific purpose

Only use the tools for what they are intended for. For example, if a tool has been designed for plastics only, and you were to use them for machining wood, then they will lose their edge and will no longer be suitable for use on plastics again.

It's tempting to use your tools for machining multiple materials, but if you do this, then you risk damaging your tools, meaning you could lose time and money.

Keep your tools clean and dust-free

Always inspect your tools for damage, wear or debris before and after use. This prevents any problems from occurring during production, ensuring efficiency, and making your job that little bit easier.

Ensure you use dead size collets to hold your tools precisely

Always use dead size collects to ensure your tools are held correctly. If you use a spilt range collet, it will not hold the tool correctly this will cause vibration and shorten the tool life.

We offer a full range of high precision dead-size collets for CNC machines.

Regularly clean out your tool holder and collets thoroughly

To maintain efficiency and precision, regularly remove the collet and use your collet brush set to remove dust and debris from the collet and tool holder.

This is relatively easy to do and can be carried out with a set of collet bush kit.

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Replace collets and tool holders when they come to their end of life

Sadly, collets and tool holders don't last forever, and therefore should be replaced once they no longer work sufficiently. Get into the habit of ordering in replacement collets and tool holders before they come to the end of their life. That way, production never stops.

Maintain your vacuum bed

Ensure your vacuum bed is well maintained. By maintaining your vacuum bed, your parts will stay securely in place during production, reducing the risk of damaging your tools.

Have a backup supply of tools available

Although, we understand that this isn't always possible, especially if you are just starting out in the industry. However, having a supply of 'backup' tools readily available will reduce downtime and increase production efficiency. By doing this you can then send your worn tools away for service and this will mean you will always have a good tool ready to use when needed.

Get your tools serviced regularly

Did you know that tools can be re-sharpened for a fraction of the price of a replacement? At RTL, we professionally sharpen, regrind, and recondition all types of router tooling and saw blades.

Our re-sharpening service is hassle-free and completed via post for ease. If you’re local to us, we also offer a free drop off and pick-up service – Covid-safe, of course!

Learn more about our reconditioned cnc routers service.

Contact us

To discover more about the services and solutions we offer, as well as view our extensive product offering head over to our website, alternatively, drop us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..