Automatic flatbed die-cutting machines are common in carton printing and packaging. Poor maintenance by operators causes many faults. Those faults interrupt production, raise cost, and delay delivery. The notes below cover daily care, lubrication intervals, and common fault checks.
Dust and cleaning
Die cutting cartons produces paper trim and paper dust. These particles enter chain drives, the moving platen in the die-cutting section, and rotating parts. They can also block photoelectric sensors and cause faults. Clean the machine body first. A clean machine runs without faults.
Oil changes and lubrication
The main motor drives the slide rod and pulley, then four toggle levers. The machine can run at 6000 sheets per hour. Good lubrication and cooling are needed at that speed. Lubrication is split into daily, weekly, and monthly service.
Daily:
Add oil to the side lay, gears, cam stroke bearings, pressure rod action, feeder head cams, and universal joints.
Lubricate the main chain. Keep the oil level and oil grade in the automatic lubrication unit.
Weekly:
Add oil and grease to the front lay adjustment device.
Add oil to the front lay and cams. Add chain oil to the gauge drive chain. Add grease to springs.
Add oil to the feeder lift cam. Add grease to springs.
Add chain oil to the feeder drive chain.
Add oil to the SS type waste stripping open and close mechanism.
Add oil to the upper die plate clamping device.
SS type waste stripping reciprocating parts: add grease to springs (A), add oil to shaft joints (B).
Add oil to the gripper bars.
Add grease to the sheet feed cam group.
Add oil to the front jogger in the delivery section.
Add oil to the left and right joggers in the delivery section.
Add oil to the pressure adjustment chain.
Wipe the machine body and remove dust at least twice a week.
Monthly:
Add grease to the clutch.
Add oil to the secondary positioning block cam device. Add grease to springs.
Add grease to the delivery section sprocket tensioner.
Add grease to the guide shafts of the SS type waste stripping reciprocating parts.
Add grease to the SS type waste stripping open and close mechanism.
Six-month and other intervals:
Lubricate the main drive chamber. Change the oil at most every six months. Check oil clarity through the sight glass.
Lubricate the indexing drive every six months.
Lubricate the air compressor every three months.
Why maintenance matters
Poor maintenance raises repair cost and company expense. It also damages the machine, shortens service life, affects operation, and delays production. Machine faults affect the operator and the delivery date.
Common fault checks
Mechanical: platen tilt is common on automatic flatbed die-cutting machines. Foreign matter often falls into the die-cutting area. Adjust the two wedge blocks under the drag shaft. Turn the platen to top dead center. Check its position relative to the upper platen. Make sure the distance among the four corners of the moving platen and the upper platen (where the die board is clamped) is correct. This corrects the problem.
Electrical: the central control system uses a PLC. Main inspection points, electrical switches, and output actions start from the PLC. The internal PLC program is a ladder logic diagram.
Hansheng Automation machines replacement and custom parts for flatbed die-cutting machines, including drive components and wear parts, from customer drawings for one-off and small-batch orders.
