01
Maintenance as a production decision
- The real cost of an unplanned stoppage mid-order
- Planned versus reactive maintenance
- Who owns the routine, and when it happens
VORGEN Education · 02 · Intermediate / Build
Machine Maintenance
Most downtime is a ten-minute fix that took three days to reach.
The daily, weekly and monthly routines that keep machines running — plus how to describe a fault properly so remote support can solve it on the first call instead of the third.
Watch
Understand
Apply
Grow
Who it is for
- Operators responsible for their own machine
- Owners planning maintenance instead of reacting to breakdowns
- Anyone who has lost a production day to something avoidable
- Familiarity with the machines in your own workshop
- Machines must be isolated before any maintenance task
What you will be able to do
- Run a daily routine that takes minutes and prevents hours of downtime
- Keep compressed air and dust extraction in the condition machines need
- Recognise early symptoms of spindle, bearing and drive problems
- Report a fault clearly enough to be diagnosed remotely
- Decide which spare parts are worth holding
Syllabus
10 modules.
Draft course outline for confirmation. Module order and depth to be finalised with the training team.
02
Isolation and safe working
- Isolating power and air before any work
- Lock-off practice and why it exists
- Working safely around stored energy and moving parts
03
The daily routine
- Cleaning down: chips, dust and offcuts
- Draining water traps and checking air pressure
- Visual checks that take seconds and catch real problems
- Start-up checks before the first job
04
Weekly and monthly tasks
- Lubrication points and the correct grease or oil
- Rails, racks, bearings and drive belts
- Filters and cooling
- Building a schedule that fits around production
05
Compressed air
- Why moisture destroys pneumatic components
- Traps, dryers and correct pipework falls
- Pressure and flow: having enough, not just high enough
- Air quality and its effect on hold-down
06
Dust extraction
- Airflow requirements and why undersized systems fail quietly
- Filter cleaning and replacement
- Ducting mistakes: length, bends and open ports
- The link between extraction and cut quality
07
Vacuum and hold-down systems
- Pump care and service intervals
- Seals, gaskets and leak-finding
- Spoilboard condition and resurfacing
08
Spindle and tooling care
- Warm-up routines and why they extend bearing life
- Collet cleaning and correct tightening
- Run-out: measuring it and what it costs you
- Tool storage, handling and sharpening intervals
09
Fault-finding and reporting
- A method for isolating a fault instead of guessing
- What to record: what changed, when, and what it sounds like
- Photographing and filming a fault usefully
- Getting the most from a remote support call
10
Spare parts planning
- Which parts justify holding stock
- Consumables versus critical spares
- Lead times and planning around them
- Keeping a maintenance and parts log
Maintenance intervals in this course are taught as general practice. Always follow the schedule in your own machine's manual.