Cutting Edge Care: Essential Tips for Tool Maintenance
Matthew Viens
In milling, the quality and longevity of your tools is critical to achieving precise results and avoiding costly downtime. Cutting tools are designed to be highly accurate and sharp, but their performance will degrade rapidly if they are not stored and maintained properly. By following some simple yet effective tool care techniques you can extend the life of your burrs. This ensures better outcomes and reliability. In this article, we’ll cover best practices for storing and maintaining your milling tools to prevent premature wear and ensure that they perform at their best when you need them.
Handle Tools with Care: Avoid Unwanted Contact with the Cutting Surfaces – Burrs are designed with extremely fine, sharp cutting surfaces that can be easily damaged if handled improperly. Contact with foreign surfaces or even human hands can compromise the precision of these tools and lead to premature wear. When handling burrs, wearing gloves can prevent oils and dirt from transferring to the cutting surface. If you must touch the tool, handle it by the non-cutting part of the shank.
Store Burrs in Their Original Packaging Until Use – The packaging that burrs and milling tools come in is designed to protect them not only during shipping but also for storage. Keeping tools in their manufacturing packaging ensures they remain free from dust, moisture, and physical damage. Storing burrs improperly can expose them to environmental elements and increase the likelihood of accidental damage.. If the original packaging is no longer available, consider investing in a dedicated tool storage case with compartments that hold each tool securely. Label the packaging with the date of purchase or first use so you can easily track the lifespan and lot numbers of each tool.
Regularly Inspect Tools for Wear and Damage – Regular inspection of tools allows you to catch any early signs of wear, corrosion, or damage before it affects your milling results. Make it a habit to inspect burrs before each use for signs of wear, such as chips or blunt edges. Even minor imperfections can impact the precision of your work. If you notice any damage or if the burr seems less effective than usual, replace it before it can cause issues with your milling jobs.
Avoid Overusing Tools Beyond Their Recommended Life – Burrs and other cutting tools are engineered for specific lifespans, depending on the material being milled and the frequency of use. Overusing tools can result in subpar cutting quality and even tool breakage. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for the expected lifespan of your burrs. Most mills will track how many hours or milling cycles each tool has been used for and recommend replacement when its limit has been reached. This proactive approach helps avoid issues like tool wear causing inconsistent results or machine damage.
Conclusion – Proper tool storage and maintenance are key to extending the life of your burrs and other dental milling tools, ensuring that they continue to deliver the precision and accuracy you expect. By following these simple but effective tips—from proper handling and storage to regular inspection and cleaning—you can prevent premature wear and keep your tools performing at their best for longer. Remember, investing a little time in tool care today can save you a lot of time, money, and frustration in the long run.
Pro Tip
For additional peace of mind, consider creating an external tool maintenance log separate from the mill software. Here you can record each burr’s use, inspections, and replacement schedules. This log would help you track the tool lifespan trends and help to maximize the efficiency of your production capabilities.