eye on equipment

Maintenance Dos and Don’ts

Susan Tarrant

It’s true what they say: in-house finishing equipment is easy to operate, can take up very little room, and will pay for itself with reduced lab bills and increased business as a result of quicker turnaround. But like all equipment, these machines need to be taken care of correctly to thrive—and to continue pumping out quality finished lenses. Establishing a simple maintenance routine is easy, and it will prolong the need for any type of service call.

WET-CUT EDGERS

Wet-cut edgers necessitate a water supply—either a direct supply from a plumbing source or a pump-and-bucket “closed” system that does not need to be connected to a water source. Though the water helps with edging and washing the swarf away from the lens, it also helps turn it to “goop.” And that goop can find its way into the mechanisms of the grinding chamber.

DO: Use the machine’s “cleaning mode” if it has one, and use it properly and frequently. But also do your own cleaning by learning how to access all the grinding mechanisms and clean them off with a small brush (like a toothbrush).

DO: Make sure to clean the debris that builds up behind the safety plate. It’s an often-neglected area. DO: Rinse out the grinding chamber daily and leave the door open overnight to let it dry completely.

DO: Clean the filter and the bucket water regularly.

DON’T: Use caustic chemicals or household cleaning products to clean the edger. The chemicals in them can compromise the wheel lubrication and affect the bearings.

DRY-CUT EDGERS

Though they may not be in the majority when in comes to in-office edging machines, dry-cut edgers have their advantages. But, like their wet-cut counterparts, some simple maintenance is all that’s needed to keep them happy.

DO: Vacuum it out regularly. By design, dry-cut edgers have an internal vacuum system to collect the swarf material released during edging. But, it doesn’t get everything, and the dry swarf will collect on the inside of the edger and build up. The vacuum hose that comes with the edger should be sufficient.

DON’T: Forget to clean the hose itself of debris so that it doesn’t lose suction over time. Bang it to loosen buildup and use a pressure hose to clear it.

GENERAL RULES

Whether using a dry or wet edger, the following tips will help protect the integrity of the machine.

DO: Assign a staff member to be responsible for the cleaning of the equipment. Otherwise, people may assume someone else is doing it. But the ultimate responsibility is with the ECP, and he or she needs to be part of the process, too.

DON’T: Use a lens blank that’s too small for the job (even by a couple of millimeters). It can cause an issue with the lens measuring mechanism of the machine.

DON’T: Alter the master settings based on a particular job. Consult the manufacturer’s customer service if you suspect a “setting” problem. DON’T: Be afraid to consult your equipment representative if something doesn’t seem right with the equipment. Reach out for help; don’t attempt to “fi x” it yourself. EB

TRACER TIPS

The precision of your tracer, whether a separate or all-inone model, will directly affect the finished product. Here’s how to keep the tracer on track, from Jaysun Barr, senior in-office finishing consultant at Santinelli International.

CLEAN.

Ensure that the frame is clean. If it’s the patient’s own frame, take a second to clean any dirt that might be on or near the eyepiece. Microparticles can do big damage. If the frame is from the board, clean any oil or wax from the screws.

SWITCH.

Be aware that the “faux” bevel in some fashion-forward frames is not deep enough to hold the stylus. The operator will have to switch the tracer to semiautomatic positioning mode, and make sure the stylus is in the correct bevel.

STAY.

Don’t walk away from the tracer when it’s operating. If the stylus happens to pick up a speck of debris, an operator needs to be there to shut it down before damage can occur.

THE SECRETS…

to Reducing Service Calls

The technical support team at Coburn Technologies supplied the following simple tips for reducing the likelihood of a repair call:

READ THE MANUAL. This will save you headaches and money. At the very least, read the Quick Set Up guide, as that will answer many questions.

EMPTY THE BUCKET. If using a pumpand-bucket system for your wet edger, replace the water with clean water frequently. It’s easy to forget, as the bucket is often hidden in a cabinet. But swarfy water will at best render the edging component less efficient, and at worst cause premature component failure.

SHUT THE WATER OFF. If using a direct water source, close the main valve when done for the day. Should something happen overnight (e.g., a small leak), the machine can incur damage.