Servo Press Gib Adjustment: Step-by-Step Procedure

admin

## When to Adjust Gibs

Adjust gibs when:
- Slide parallelism exceeds 0.02mm per 300mm
- BDC repeatability degrades beyond 0.02mm std dev
- You hear knocking during the stroke
- Gib clearance measured over 0.03mm with feeler gauge

## Tools Required

- Feeler gauge set (0.01-0.5mm)
- Dial indicator with magnetic base
- Torque wrench
- Gib adjustment tool (usually supplied with press)
- Cleaning solvent and lint-free cloths

## Procedure

1. **Lock out / tag out** the press. Confirm zero energy state.

2. **Clean the gib surfaces.** Remove all old lubricant and debris. Inspect for scoring or galling.

3. **Measure current clearance** with feeler gauge at top, middle, and bottom of gib travel. Record all measurements.

4. **Loosen the gib lock screws** (typically M12-M16, 1/4 turn only).

5. **Adjust the gib adjustment screws** — tighten to reduce clearance. Target: 0.01-0.02mm clearance.

6. **Check slide movement** by hand (with counterbalance air on). Slide should move smoothly with no binding.

7. **Re-measure clearance** at all positions. Adjust until uniform.

8. **Tighten lock screws** to specified torque (check press manual — typically 50-80 Nm).

9. **Run 20 test strokes** at 50% speed. Check BDC repeatability with dial indicator.

10. **Verify parallelism** with dial indicator on slide surface.

## Target Values

- Gib clearance: 0.01-0.02mm
- Slide parallelism: 0.01mm per 300mm
- BDC repeatability: std dev < 0.01mm over 20 strokes

mike_chen_eng

The gib adjustment procedure is spot on. I'd add one step: after tightening the lock screws, run the press through 5 slow strokes (10% speed) and re-check clearance. The gibs can shift slightly when the lock screws are torqued. We always do a final check after locking.

mike_chen_eng

**Related reading:** After gib adjustment, verify your results with [Servo Press Slide Parallelism Check](https://servopress.club/d/111). Also see [Servo Press Annual Maintenance Schedule](https://servopress.club/d/83) for the full quarterly maintenance checklist.

mike_chen_eng

The gib adjustment procedure is spot on. I'd add one step: after tightening the lock screws, run 5 slow strokes at 10% speed and re-check clearance. The gibs can shift slightly when lock screws are torqued. We always do a final check after locking.