Electrical Health Check for Swiss-Type Lathes – Keeping the Invisible “Nervous System” in Good Shape

Why a check-up is needed
Inside the metal enclosure of every Swiss-type lathe lies a delicate “nervous system”: main power, servo drives, I/O boards, sensors, cables and grounding networks. A single loose wire or oxidized contact can act like a “nerve-signal interruption,” causing mysterious alarms or gradual loss of accuracy. Regular electrical inspections spot problems before they blossom into scrap batches or sudden shutdowns.

What to inspect
• Power and distribution
– Verify the three-phase supply is balanced and cables show no discoloration or burning smells.
– Ensure breakers and fuses are correctly rated to prevent undersized protection.

How to inspect
• Visual and manual: look, smell and feel for discoloration or looseness.
• Multimeter / insulation tester: confirm continuity and dielectric integrity.
• Thermal camera: capture heat maps of drives and contactors to reveal overheated points.
• Vibration probe: listen for abnormal motor or fan noise, indicating bearing wear.
• Built-in diagnostics: run the CNC’s self-test to scan I/O status and servo load patterns.

Inspection cycle and records
Include “electrical health checks” in the annual maintenance plan. Record any findings, corrective actions and next review dates to maintain a traceable health file.