coolant question

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liveaboard
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coolant question

Post by liveaboard »

The manual of my 1975 east German mill says to use a mineral oil as coolant, and specifically says not to use emulsion.

So I did that, but hard cuts with carbide inserts cause the oil to smoke heavily. Full combustion isn't likely, but I can't use it that way without adding a fume hood.
Which I have no plans to do.

Also, the oil does tend to fly around a lot and that's dangerous and messy.
So ok, I could build a screen or something for that.

So 2 questions;

1; the objection to emulsion is that it will cause corrosion. But surely today's suds oils have corrosion inhibitors?
It's probably impossible to stop some of it from getting into the ways.
What's the opinion?
I'm not too concerned by odor, but maybe that's an experience I've yet to enjoy.

2; splash screens.
What have you made, what do you use, if anything?

In the meantime, I've been spraying a little bit of suds emulsion at the cuts.
RSG
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Re: coolant question

Post by RSG »

Image

Not a drop gets on the ways....
Vision is not seeing things as they are, but as they will be.
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liveaboard
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Re: coolant question

Post by liveaboard »

that looks like quite the setup!

It would be tough to do on my machine due to the geometry, but food for thought.
RSG
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Re: coolant question

Post by RSG »

It is a bit of a pita but worth it, if I don't flat surfaces will rust. The ways never have thankfully.

Another tip I learned was to have a fan running overhead during and after machining.
Vision is not seeing things as they are, but as they will be.
Russ Hanscom
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Re: coolant question

Post by Russ Hanscom »

For splash shields, I have an assortment of pieces of sheet metal, flat, bent, curved, etc. Those with a few spring clamps enable one to assemble a shield to fit most situations.
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liveaboard
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Re: coolant question

Post by liveaboard »

Sometimes I just look for the quickest solution;
Mill PPE
Milling machine PPE.jpg
RSG
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Re: coolant question

Post by RSG »

If you don't need to see whats going on near the endmill and it works then why not!
Vision is not seeing things as they are, but as they will be.
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liveaboard
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Re: coolant question

Post by liveaboard »

Actually, some error did occur; 1 out of the 4 blocks is scrap.
Next time I'll do better though!
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NP317
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Re: coolant question

Post by NP317 »

No mistakes implies no learning...
RussN
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liveaboard
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Re: coolant question

Post by liveaboard »

Learning is fun; really that's why I'm doing any of this.

Throwing 20lbs of steel and 5 hours work into the scrap pile, not so fun.

But that's how it works!
Largo
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Re: coolant question

Post by Largo »

how about using a vortex chiller instead? Some guys use them and say they work well. You need a lot of air and they are not cheap at initial set up but if they work, you save big time on coolant down the road

https://www.vortec.com/en-us/vortex-tubes
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liveaboard
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Re: coolant question

Post by liveaboard »

The coolant does more than cool, it also lubricates.
And on a budget like mine, a tube with oil is the limit.
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