Essential Machine Tool Tips Every Machinist Should Master

Having the right tools makes all the difference in getting the job done quickly and correctly. No one wants to start a new machine shop or a new job as a machinist without the proper equipment, knowing the maintenance routine, and even without the help of the internet. Here are some Machine Tool tips for you.

Always have the Tools

Every machinist tool list is as varied as the job each machinist undertakes. Most machinists who have been in the business for any amount of time should buy and have the common tools to use for work. Here are the top 10 tools you should have:

• Hand tools – There’s no machine shop job where hand tools are not involved.
• 6” Scale – 6” scale is probably the most used tool and a must-have tool for every manual worker.
• Combination Square – A good combination square, properly used, is worth its weight in gold.
• Deburring Tool – These kinds of tools can also be used to remove chatter marks from machining. Deburring tools are incredibly useful when it comes to rounding out rough edges.
• Telescoping Gauge – Telescoping gauge is used to measure the internal diameter of a bore, hole or groove.
• Caliper – An extremely precise measuring instrument used to measure internal and external distances extremely accurately.
• Dial Indicator – Typically used to measure deck clearances, crankshaft thrust and straightness, lifter travel, and other measurements that involve the distance between two (2) surfaces or small amounts of component travel.
• Edge Finder – Edge finder or wigglers are tools used to locate the edges, the center, layout markings, or a previously machined feature.
• Micrometers – This precision measuring instruction is often used to measure diameters, thickness, and length of parts of the material.
• Center Punch – A simple yet pretty common and useful tool that every job shop should have.

The Internet is Your Friend

The internet is a vast resource of guides, tutorials, and forums all full to the brim with all the information a machinist could need. There’s no shame in it, it’s an inevitable part of the process, all that matters is what it is about.

Create a Maintenance Routine

What should be your schedule? Well, it’s up to you to build it around your business and your equipment. Maintaining your shop and equipment is crucial to success. Machines should be cleaned regularly to avoid losing parts in the hustle of day to day work, and perform routine maintenance on your machine tools for safety precautions. Shops all around the world constantly lose hours upon hours searching for misplaced tools or repairing machines that shouldn’t be broken. That is why having a schedule is so important, you can’t miss a step or delay much-needed maintenance.

Always Keep Spare Parts

Having proper spare parts on hand for a machinist is extremely important. Most machinists are reluctant to keep comprehensive spare parts, so it’s a very common mistake a machinist does. Whether you require conveyor system parts, robotic parts, or others, having critical spare parts on hand is key to keeping your material handling system at maximum uptime. You don’t know what kind of situation you could have in the workplace so having spare parts is a must.

Every machinist works carefully with different types of material and products. A machinist is responsible for the final output. With so many fields now using CNC (computer numerically controlled) machines, it is common for machine workers to do less work with hardware tools. Since every machining job differs from the previous one, there is no universal set of machine tips for every single machinist. Oversee the use and care of the tools and the machines. If you’re interested in buying a CNC machine, please look through our used cnc machine inventory or contact us today and we’ll guarantee that we can help you find the right machine that’s perfect for your application.