EX/EXR Series Maintenance Guide

This guide collects EX and EXR series machine-frame and motion-system maintenance procedures that are not specific to the ATC spindle itself.

For spindle taper care, pull studs, cooling, and tool-change-specific information, see ATC Spindles.

🛤 Ball Screw and Linear Rail Maintenance

Proper lubrication of the ball screws and linear box rails is essential for maintaining accuracy, smooth operation, and long service life.

Ball nuts and linear bearing blocks are equipped with grease zerks to facilitate periodic lubrication.

Recommended Lubricant

PROBOTIX recommends using:

Super Lube Multi-Purpose Synthetic Grease with Syncolon (PTFE)

NLGI Grade #2
14.1 oz cartridge
Part Number: 41150
Amazon Product URL: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042FG74W

Using a single lubricant throughout the machine simplifies maintenance and avoids compatibility issues.

Lubrication Schedule

Normal Use

Lubricate all ball screws and linear bearing blocks every 100 hours of operation or monthly, whichever occurs first.

Heavy Production Use

Lubricate every 40 to 80 hours of operation.

Dusty Environments

Lubricate more frequently as required to purge contaminants from the bearings.

Machines operating in woodworking environments should be lubricated more frequently due to the presence of fine dust and abrasive contaminants.

Lubrication Procedure

Home the machine and turn power off.
Wipe accumulated dust and debris from the ball screws and linear rails.
Clean the grease zerks before attaching the grease gun.
Apply one or two pumps of Super Lube grease to each fitting.
Continue adding grease until a small amount of fresh grease appears around the bearing seals.
Wipe away any excess grease.
Jog the machine through its full travel to distribute the lubricant evenly.

Ball Screw Maintenance

Keep the ball screws free of chips and contaminants.
A light film of grease on the screw surface is normal and beneficial.
Never operate the machine with dry ball screws.

Linear Box Rail Maintenance

Inspect the rails periodically for dust buildup.
Lubricate each bearing block through its grease fitting.
Fresh grease should emerge slightly from the seals, indicating that contaminants have been purged.
Wipe away excess grease after lubrication.

Accessing Grease Fittings

Some grease fittings are not easily accessible with the machine fully assembled.

Depending on the machine model and the lubrication point being serviced, it may be easier to partially disassemble portions of the machine to gain access to the grease zerks.

For example:

The Z-axis assembly can be unbolted cleanly from the rest of the machine to simplify access to the Z-axis ball screw and linear bearing blocks.
On some machines, it may be easier to detach the ball nut blocks from the gantry uprights to gain convenient access to the grease fittings.

These procedures do not normally affect machine calibration, provided that components are reassembled in their original positions.

Important Warnings

Never remove a ball nut from the ball screw. The ball bearings inside the ball nut are not captive and will fall out if the nut is removed from the screw. Reassembling a ball nut without the proper loading sleeve and procedure is difficult and time-consuming.

Never remove linear guide blocks from the guide rails without proper ball retainers or loading tools. The bearing balls are not captive and may fall out of the block, requiring complete disassembly and reassembly.

If access to a grease fitting appears to require removal of a ball nut from a screw or a linear guide block from a rail, stop and contact PROBOTIX for assistance before proceeding.

Important

Do not use spray lubricants or penetrating oils in place of grease.
Do not over-grease the components. A small amount of fresh grease appearing at the seals is sufficient.
Regular lubrication is far less expensive than replacing ball screws and bearing blocks.

Operator Tip

One or two pumps from a hand grease gun per fitting is typically sufficient. The objective is to replenish the grease and purge contaminants, not to completely fill the bearings.

Taking off a Z-axis assembly or unbolting a ball nut mount from a gantry upright is preferred over removing a ball nut from a screw or a linear guide block from its rail.