Many of the service calls received here at G B Cutter Service could be prevented by attention to a few
simple points. Following is a list of top reasons for service calls that really shouldn't have been necessary:

    Change the blade. A sharp blade is essential to proper cutting. A dull blade may result in sheet-pull, ragged or poorly cut bottom sheet, and un-even cutting. It is suggested that the blade be changed after 20 to 40 hours of use for bond paper. Cutting tissue or NCR paper will extend blade life by double, while coated stock will cut blade life in half. Cutting chip board may require changing the blade after only a few dozen cuts. Some clients change the blade daily. This actually results in longer overall blade life since the sharpener has to remove much less metal than from a severely dulled blade.

    Clean the cutter. Daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning schedules are suggested. Paper dust is actually very abrasive, and this, combined with old grease build-up can obstruct and wear bearing surfaces, and increase the load on the mechanism. Paper dust is non-conductive and may cause problems with electrical contacts. Both paper dust and excess grease make the cutter harder to service and therefore more expensive.

    Don't add oil. It is suggested the gearbox oil be changed every two years, being careful not to overfill. The hydraulic oil should be changed by a qualified service technician, since it must be pumped out (no drain hole) and replaced with an exactly compatible oil. As long as oil is visible in the sight-glasses, the level is sufficient. The hydraulic system can lose about half it's oil without causing a problem. Both the hydraulic system and gearbox can be damaged by overfilling. If the machine is leaking, it should be inspected by a technician and serviced before refilling.

    Follow proper blade-change procedure. Failure to use the proper tools, particularly the blade-height gauge, or to follow proper procedures can be hazardous to the operator as well as the machine. Most of the repairs to the pull-arm (very expensive) are due to failure to use the blade-height gauge. Using any tool to hammer the cut-stick into position will eventually damage the cut-stick groove and make the stick hard to insert or remove. Turning off power to change the blade makes a simple job much more difficult.

    Follow all safety rules. The operator is the most expensive part of the machine.
    Call for regular maintenance by a qualified service technician.
    Assure sufficient lighting in the work area.
    Provide proper operator training, both in maintenance and safety.

When calling for service:
    Make sure you can describe the problem exactly. We may be able to repair it over the phone.
    Have the machine Model and Serial Number available so we can best advise you on repairs.
    Prepare to wait. There are a lot more paper cutters than service technicians in Southern California
and most of them are usually very busy. This is one reason for avoiding service calls when possible.
 
 

Call G B CUTTER SERVICE to arrange for  regular maintenance or operator training, or  to ask any questions regarding your machine. (909) 628-6886