How to regularly detect and adjust the accuracy of the planer

How to regularly detect and adjust the accuracy of the planer

Introduction
As a common metal cutting machine tool, the planer plays an important role in the machining industry. For international wholesale buyers, it is crucial to ensure the machining accuracy of the planer because it is directly related to the quality and production efficiency of the processed parts. Regular precision detection and adjustment of the planer is the key to ensuring its high-performance operation. This article will introduce in detail how to regularly detect and adjust the accuracy of the planer to help you better maintain and manage the planer equipment.

1. Why do you need to regularly detect and adjust the accuracy of the planer
Ensure machining quality: The accuracy of the planer directly affects the quality indicators such as dimensional accuracy, shape accuracy and surface roughness of the processed parts. Regular detection and adjustment of accuracy can ensure that the processed parts meet the design requirements and quality standards, reduce the defective rate, and improve production efficiency.
Extend equipment service life: Through regular inspection, problems such as wear and looseness of various parts of the planer can be discovered in time, and corresponding adjustments and repairs can be made. This helps to avoid equipment failures, reduce excessive wear of parts, extend the service life of the planer, and reduce equipment renewal costs.
Improve production efficiency: A planer with good precision can process more stably, reduce processing interruptions and repeated processing caused by precision problems, thereby improving production efficiency, reducing production costs, and enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises in the international market.

2. Items and methods of planer precision detection
Geometric precision detection
Workbench flatness detection: Use a flat ruler and a feeler gauge for measurement. Place the flat ruler on the workbench and use the feeler gauge to measure the gap between the flat ruler and the workbench to determine the flatness error. You can also use optical measuring instruments such as optical straighteners to detect the flatness of the workbench plane by reflecting light through a reflector.
Guide rail straightness detection: Use a laser measuring device or a ruler with a micrometer for precise measurement. Place the laser transmitter and receiver at both ends of the guide rail respectively, and detect the straightness error of the guide rail over the entire length through the linear propagation characteristics of the laser beam. Or use a ruler close to the surface of the guide rail, move the micrometer along the guide rail, and measure the change in the gap between the guide rail and the ruler to obtain the straightness error.
Column verticality detection: An angle ruler or optical measuring instrument can be used to check the verticality. Place one side of the angle ruler close to the column and the other side in contact with the worktable or guide rail. By measuring the angle deviation between the angle ruler and the column, determine whether the verticality of the column meets the requirements. The optical measuring instrument can accurately measure the verticality error between the column and the reference plane through optical principles.
Motion accuracy detection
Spindle rotation accuracy detection: High-precision instruments such as laser interferometers and vibration measuring instruments are usually used to measure the radial runout and axial runout of the spindle. The laser interferometer can accurately measure the displacement change of the spindle during the rotation process, thereby obtaining the rotation accuracy of the spindle. The vibration measuring instrument indirectly evaluates the rotation accuracy of the spindle by measuring the vibration frequency and amplitude generated when the spindle rotates.
Worktable movement parallelism detection: Use an electronic level to measure the parallelism deviation of the worktable during movement in sections along the entire length of the guide rail. Place the electronic level on the worktable, record the horizontal values ​​at different positions as the worktable moves, and calculate the parallelism error. Laser interferometers can also be used in conjunction with standard gauge blocks to perform multi-point measurements according to relevant standards to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the measurement results.
Positioning accuracy detection: Use professional measuring equipment such as laser interferometers to detect the positioning accuracy of moving parts such as workbenches and tool holders. By issuing positioning instructions to the moving parts, measuring the deviation between their actual arrival position and the command position, and taking the average value of multiple measurements to determine whether the positioning accuracy is within the allowable error range. At the same time, the repeatability of the moving parts can also be detected, that is, the same position is positioned multiple times to measure the repeatability of its position deviation.
Cutting accuracy detection
Specimen processing detection: Planing the standard specimens, and then using three-coordinate measuring machines, calipers, micrometers and other measuring tools to measure the various precision indicators such as size, shape and position tolerance of the processed specimens to evaluate the cutting accuracy of the planer. Common specimen shapes include square, round, slotted, etc. The processed specimens should meet the accuracy levels of relevant standards and design requirements.
Surface roughness detection: Use a surface roughness meter to measure the surface roughness value of the processed parts. Place the measuring probe of the surface roughness meter gently on the processing surface. The instrument will automatically calculate the surface roughness parameters, such as Ra, Rz, etc., according to the changes in the microscopic profile of the surface, to determine whether the quality and accuracy of the processed surface meet the requirements.

3. Methods and techniques for adjusting the precision of the planer
Adjustment of basic components
Adjustment of the guide rails of the bed: If the straightness or parallelism of the guide rails is detected to be out of tolerance, the installation level of the guide rails should be checked first. Use a level to measure the longitudinal and transverse directions of the guide rails, and adjust the horizontal state of the bed according to the measurement results. The level of the bed can be adjusted by inserting adjustment pads such as thin copper sheets and aluminum sheets at the bottom of the bed. At the same time, check the lubrication of the guide rails to ensure that there is a good lubricating film on the surface of the guide rails to reduce the influence of wear and friction resistance on the accuracy.
Adjustment of the workbench: For the case of out-of-tolerance flatness of the workbench, the surface of the workbench can be repaired by scraping. A professional fitter uses a scraper to scrape the plane of the workbench. Through repeated scraping, measurement and inspection, the plane of the workbench reaches the required flatness accuracy. When adjusting the clearance between the worktable and the guide rail, the size of the clearance can be controlled by adjusting the insert or pressure plate on the guide rail. Generally, the clearance is required to be between 0.03-0.05mm to ensure the smoothness and accuracy of the worktable movement.
Adjustment of the transmission system
Adjustment of the screw nut pair: The wear or clearance of the screw nut pair will cause the positioning accuracy and repeat positioning accuracy of the worktable movement to decrease. For the clearance of the screw nut pair, it can be adjusted by adjusting the adjustment screw on the nut or using a pre-tightening device. When adjusting, first loosen the locking screw on the nut, and then screw in or out the adjustment screw to make the nut produce axial displacement, thereby eliminating or reducing the clearance. After the adjustment is completed, tighten the locking screw to ensure that the nut will not loosen during the operation. At the same time, the preload force and operation of the support bearing of the screw should also be checked. If necessary, the bearing should be pre-tightened or replaced to improve the transmission accuracy and rigidity of the screw nut pair.
Adjustment of gear transmission: Check the meshing of each transmission gear of the planer, including meshing clearance, contact area and tooth side clearance. If the meshing clearance of the gears is too large, it will cause the transmission to be unstable and the accuracy to be reduced. The meshing clearance of the gears can be adjusted by adjusting the axial position of the gears or using methods such as eccentric sleeves. During the adjustment process, use the lead wire method or the feeler gauge method to measure the meshing clearance of the gears to ensure that the clearance is within the specified range. At the same time, the wear of the gears should also be checked. If the wear is serious, the gears should be replaced in time to ensure the transmission accuracy and efficiency.
Adjustment of tool holder and tool
Adjustment of tool holder: The movement accuracy and positioning accuracy of the tool holder also have an important influence on the processing accuracy. Check the wear of the guide rails and the lead screw nut pair of the tool holder. If necessary, refer to the adjustment method of the above-mentioned transmission system and guide rails for repair and adjustment. At the same time, adjust the tool setting device of the tool holder to ensure the positioning accuracy and repeat positioning accuracy of the tool holder when it moves horizontally and vertically to meet the processing requirements.
Adjustment of tool: Correct installation and adjustment of the tool is an important part of ensuring processing accuracy. When installing the tool, ensure that the cutting edge of the tool is perpendicular to the processing surface of the workpiece or reaches the required cutting angle. Tools such as tool setting gauges or angle rulers can be used to assist in adjusting the angle and position of the tool. In addition, the wear of the tool should be checked, and the severely worn tool should be replaced in time to ensure the stability of the cutting process and the processing accuracy.

4. Periodic inspection and adjustment of the planer accuracy and precautions
Inspection and adjustment cycle
Daily inspection: The operator should conduct a simple appearance inspection and operation status inspection of the planer before and after work every day, including checking whether the components are loose, abnormal noise, oil leakage, etc., checking whether the lubricating oil level is normal, and performing no-load operation tests to observe whether the moving parts of the machine tool are normal. If any problems are found, they should be recorded and reported to the maintenance personnel for processing.
Regular inspection: According to the frequency of use and work intensity of the planer, it is generally recommended to conduct a more comprehensive accuracy inspection every 3-6 months. For planers that are frequently used and have high processing accuracy requirements, the inspection cycle can be appropriately shortened, such as a quick inspection of geometric accuracy and motion accuracy once a month, and a comprehensive accuracy inspection every quarter. For planers that are used less frequently, the inspection cycle can be appropriately extended, but a comprehensive inspection should still be conducted at least once every six months.
Precautions
Operation by professionals: Precision detection and adjustment should be performed by maintenance personnel or technicians who have received professional training and have rich experience and skills. They are familiar with the structure, performance and detection and adjustment methods of the planer, and can accurately perform detection and adjustment work to avoid equipment damage or precision reduction due to improper operation.
Use appropriate detection equipment: Selecting detection equipment with appropriate accuracy and range is the key to ensuring the accuracy of the test results. Before performing precision detection, the detection equipment should be calibrated and checked to ensure that it is in good working condition. At the same time, the detection equipment and measurement methods should be reasonably selected according to the different detection items, such as using laser interferometers to measure positioning accuracy and using electronic levels to measure guide rail straightness.
Record and analyze detection data: During each precision detection process, the detection data and test results should be recorded in detail, including the detection date, detection items, detection values, detection equipment used and other information. By sorting and analyzing the detection data, we can understand the changing trend of the planer’s accuracy, discover potential problems in a timely manner, and provide a basis for formulating reasonable maintenance and adjustment plans.
Safe operation: When performing precision testing and adjustment work, you must strictly abide by the safety operating procedures of the planer, cut off the power supply, and hang up warning signs to prevent misoperation from causing personal injury or equipment damage. At the same time, operators should wear necessary personal protective equipment, such as gloves, goggles, etc., to ensure safety during the work process.

5. Conclusion
Regular precision testing and adjustment of the planer is an important means to ensure its processing accuracy, improve production efficiency, and extend the service life of the equipment. By testing the geometric accuracy, motion accuracy, and cutting accuracy of the planer, timely discovering problems and making corresponding adjustments and repairs, the planer can always maintain a good working condition and meet the requirements of processing and production. For international wholesale buyers, understanding and mastering the methods and techniques of planer precision testing and adjustment will help you better select and use planer equipment and improve the production efficiency and market competitiveness of the enterprise.