A great deal of what happens in our precision machine shop happens out of view. Our customers and others who aren’t in our shop several days a week can imagine our CNC machines cutting parts and inspection equipment verifying geometries. But what they don’t see is everything that happens behind the scenes to keep those machines and processes operating at their best.
Much like the vehicles we drive every day, CNC machines require regular maintenance. Shops can either stay ahead of maintenance through proactive planning or wait until something fails to take action. Unfortunately, waiting often leads to unexpected downtime and expensive repairs.
At Reata, we’ve always believed prevention to be the best approach to keeping our shop running at peak performance. By staying ahead of maintenance, we’re able to reduce unexpected downtime and provide our customers with more consistent production schedules.
MaintainX Keeps Us Organized and Proactive
Preventative maintenance only works when it’s done consistently. That’s one of the reasons we’ve invested in MaintainX, our maintenance management software.
MaintainX allows us to:
- Schedule preventative maintenance at regular intervals
- Store maintenance procedures in one centralized location
- Track reactive repairs
- Maintain a complete service history for every machine
Having this historical data has become incredibly valuable. If a spindle is replaced, a hydraulic component is serviced, or a recurring issue appears months later, our team can immediately review everything that has happened throughout that machine’s life instead of relying on memory. With a greater level of traceability, our team can make smarter maintenance decisions over time.
Proactive Maintenance Requires Strategic Problem-Solving
Routine maintenance is only part of the story. Sometimes the best solution isn’t simply replacing a failing component, but figuring out why that component keeps failing in the first place.
Solving a Hydraulic Problem
One of our CNC machines presented a persistent hydraulic behavior that routine component replacement did not fully resolve. Rather than keep treating the symptom, our engineering team dug into the root cause themselves.
By studying the machine’s ladder logic and incorporating AI-assisted analysis, our team identified the true root cause. From there, we designed and installed an upgraded digital pressure sensing system and modified machine settings to account for hydraulic behavior at our elevation here in Colorado.
This is a prime example of how the Reata team takes the time to understand how our equipment works so well that we can make improvements as we see fit.
Monitoring Coolant Performance
We’ve also installed digital coolant sensors on our machines and integrated them into our Datanomix monitoring system. That way, our team can continuously monitor coolant concentration and temperature while identifying trends that could impact machine performance or part quality.
Building Better Machine Components
When replacement machine components create unnecessary downtime, we’d rather not wait weeks for new parts to arrive. Our team has designed replacement and 3D-printed machine components in-house so we can get equipment back up and running without waiting for long lead times for replacement components or visits from machine technicians.
Improving Automation Tools
After installing a robot on one of our newest CNC machines, we discovered that the machine’s built-in energy-saving sensor couldn’t recognize the robot as an operator. As a response, our engineers analyzed the electrical system and modified the controls to create a solution that allowed the robot to operate continuously.
Better Machines Yield Better Results
Our customers rarely see the maintenance and upgrade work that happens behind the scenes. What they do experience are the results:
- More reliable production schedules
- Less unexpected downtime
- Greater consistency
- Improved on-time delivery
- A partner committed to continuous improvement
If you’re looking for a manufacturing partner that goes beyond routine maintenance to continually improve its processes, equipment, and capabilities, contact Reata to learn how our team can support your next project.