The lubrication system is one of the most critical aspects of braiding machine maintenance. Moving parts such as spindle bearings, cam mechanisms, and guide rail sliders on high-speed braiding machines operate under continuous high-speed conditions, and poor lubrication directly leads to accelerated wear and excessive temperature rise. We recommend using ISO VG68 machine oil as the lubricant for spindle bearings, replacing it every 500 operating hours or monthly. For machines equipped with automatic lubrication systems, the oil level gauge should be checked daily to ensure the oil level remains between 1/2 and 2/3 of the sight glass. Manual lubrication points (such as spindle bases and wire guide rod joints) should be greased once per shift (8 hours) with lithium-based grease (NLGI No. 2). It is particularly important to note that lubricants of different brands and specifications must never be mixed; when changing oil, the lubrication circuit must be thoroughly cleaned to avoid contamination of new oil by old oil, which would degrade lubrication performance.
Belt tension inspection and adjustment directly affect the transmission efficiency and running smoothness of the braiding machine. Braiding machines typically use multi-rib belts or timing belts to transmit spindle power to each spindle drive wheel. A loose belt will cause slippage, transmission ratio inaccuracy, and unstable braiding pitch; an overly tight belt will increase bearing load and accelerate bearing wear. The standard method for checking belt tension is to apply 10N of vertical pressure at the center point of the belt span, and the belt deflection should be between 1% and 1.5% of the span length. For example, for a belt with a 400mm span, the deflection should be controlled within 4-6mm. We recommend conducting quantitative inspections weekly using a belt tension gauge and recording the results in the equipment maintenance log. When cracks, delamination, or tooth surface wear exceeding 20% are found on the belt, it should be replaced immediately with a new belt of the same specification, and all belts in the same transmission group must be replaced simultaneously to ensure uniform tension.
Bearing maintenance and cleaning protocols are the other two core components of a preventive maintenance plan. Spindle bearings in braiding machines typically use double-row angular contact ball bearings or cylindrical roller bearings, with a design life of 20,000 hours under the L10 standard, but actual life depends largely on maintenance quality. We recommend disassembling and inspecting spindle bearings quarterly, checking whether the raceways and rolling element surfaces show fatigue spalling, scratches, or corrosion. Bearing clearance should be measured using a dial indicator, and bearings should be replaced when radial clearance exceeds 150% of the original value. For cleaning, dry compressed air (pressure not exceeding 0.4MPa) should be used to remove flyings and dust from the equipment surface after each production day, paying special attention to cleaning around the spindles and the cooling air passages of electrical control cabinets. Weekly wiping of equipment casings and guards with neutral cleaning agent is recommended; corrosive solvents or high-pressure water jets must never be used to wash the equipment. Establishing and strictly enforcing this maintenance system can increase the mean time between failures (MTBF) from the industry average of 800 hours to over 1,500 hours.