Become familiar with the operating manual of each machine and note any periodic preventative maintenance. Many breakdowns may be prevented by proper and regular maintenance. However, some parts are bound to fail eventually, no matter how well you maintain. So our maintenance discussion will be divided into two parts: prevention and repairs.

Preventative maintenance may include:

• Regular inspections of certain machines or components
• Repairs of one part that may lead to the failure of another part
• Replacement of components before they fail

Preventing a breakdown is usually much less trouble than repairing the machine after it breaks. The problem is we often procrastinate and wait on preventative maintenance until it is too late.

• Reduced downtime. Catching a problem before it grows into a bigger problem can save a lot of time.
  • For example, inspecting the machine may lead to discovering a crack beginning to form in a plastic gear. We can order that part and have it on hand, knowing that the gear is likely to break soon. Then when the part does break, we can quickly replace it and keep going.

• Save money. Sometimes preventative maintenance costs money, but it can result in saving money if replacing that part prevents a costlier part from breaking.
  • For example, somebody continued using our paper cutter even while the blade became dull and duller. Pushing the dull blade through the paper required a lot more force which ended up cracking the handle of the paper cutter and bending another part. It would have been a much simpler repair to replace the blade before it got dull than to have to weld and repair the other parts of the paper cutter.

• Increased efficiency. Well-maintained equipment should jam less frequently.

Generally, where metal parts rub against metal parts, it is a good idea to lightly grease. Too much grease may glob off and fall onto places or products where you don't want grease. Grease also attracts sand and dust, so use just enough.

Some plastics will deteriorate faster when grease is applied. Some plastics are self-lubricating; that means a dry plastic gear against a dry plastic gear may be sufficient with no other lubrication.

Pay attention to how things are installed before removing parts. Reference the service manual if you have one.

Take pictures of the component as often as necessary during the disassembly process to help you with the reassembly process later.

When possible and practical, replace fasteners in their original places right away to not lose them or forget where they belong. In the case of a dozen identical screws holding a plastic cover, for example, you may want to keep the dozen screws in a small bag or little plastic cup.