Industrial Cutting Equipment: Fundamental Tips for Promoting Fabrication Efficiency

Posted on: 9 June 2021

The importance of cutting equipment in fabrication operations cannot be overemphasised. Most core manufacturing processes depend on some form of cutting. In some cases, the process is crude and involves dividing large pieces of materials. Cutting also creates complete products through the intricate or refined shaping of goods. Therefore, if you are running a manufacturing business, plan on improving the efficiency of this core process. Here are important tips to keep in mind when dealing with industrial cutting equipment.

Choose the Right Tools 

When choosing your cutting equipment, consider the right tool for each task. Experienced manufacturers will not attempt to reduce the capital costs for their businesses by using a single cutting machine for all operations. Remember that certain tools are not suited to specific tasks, and continued use of unsuitable machines could wreak havoc in the worksite.

For example, a hydraulic guillotine is suitable for sheet metal shearing, but its use in cutting thick rods or panels is limited. This incompatible usage will cause poor results, and the risk of damaging the equipment will increase. Moreover, significant safety hazards might arise. Therefore, consider the suitability of different pieces of equipment for specific tasks. Where possible, invest in multiple cutting tools for specific cutting requirements.

Inspect the Equipment

The damage to the cutting equipment in your manufacturing operation could cause production delays. Therefore, consider establishing an inspection routine to identify potential faults to avoid machinery breakdown and subsequent downtime for repairs. Under normal circumstances, the assessment of the equipment should be conducted daily.

The workers can check the cutting equipment before use to avoid problems while working. If there are anomalies, the details should be recorded for further actions. However, if the equipment runs constantly, choose a specific idle period during which thorough inspections can be carried out. Do not overlook this process even if the equipment is in high demand.

Use Expert Operators

The performance of cutting equipment depends on the operators. If an amateur or otherwise unqualified person runs the cutting operations, the production quality will be poor, and the overall output will be low. Therefore, choose specialists for all your manufacturing needs. Keep in mind that some pieces of equipment are complex even to knowledgeable operators. Therefore, if you acquire new tools, plan for a training session to inform operators on standard operating procedures and precautions.

Finally, think about the maintenance of your cutting tools. The components, especially the blades, should be serviced regularly for the best performance. Contact a supplier for more information regarding cutting equipment.

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