Driving innovation: it’s in our DNA

Kingsbury is focused on delivering continual innovation for its customers. A revolutionary new ‘cradle to grave’ blueprinting process is now being rolled out which will reduce maintenance bills while virtually eliminating downtime.

A quantum leap forward in maintenance

The latest development by Hermle effectively takes preventative maintenance to the next level. The new technique is referred to as ‘fingerprinting’ because it literally uses the CNC machine itself as a diagnostic tool to provide intuitive maintenance support.

The process starts during commissioning with a comprehensive round of testing, resulting in the generation of a unique profile for each Hermle machine (fingerprint), which is stored electronically against its serial number.

Using the installed Hermle’s ‘fingerprint’ software, the regime carried out by Kingsbury’s engineers includes testing against all key protocols. Including movement, temperature and speeds, hydraulic pressures and vibration levels. Thermal imaging is used to evaluate the generation and build-up of heat. The results provide an essential benchmark for future comparison, as well as allowing programming to be fine-tuned to ensure maximum efficiency during machining.

Every 750 hours, this process is repeated. Initiated by an operator, the testing cycle is automated, with collected data transferred on completion to Hermle’s engineering team for recording and comparison against original benchmark values.

The report provides an overview of machine condition and looks at key parameters including operational hours recorded and performance, as well as signs of wear and potential temperature or lubrication issues, advising whether additional steps are required before the next maintenance cycle.

Subsequently, Kingsbury’s technicians carry out detailed functional tests on a range of aspects every 3,000 hours which include checks on central lubrication, the pneumatic unit, the main spindle and the cabinet cooler. The development of temperature is checked through thermographic examination, creating a profile that can be compared against the original benchmark results. Additionally, vibration values are recorded, with further checking to establish and optimise the machine’s kinematics, as well as running an external ovality test. The results are used to inform the maintenance and repair schedule, with colour-coded diagrams clearly displaying areas requiring attention.

Putting manufacturers ahead of the curve, this very different approach enables condition-based maintenance and repairs to avoid unplanned stoppages, essential to building a reputation for reliability.

For more information on Kingsbury’s support options, talk to our team.