The Selection of Cooling Mode for High-Speed Milling
High-speed machining has become the mainstream of industrial manufacturing over the past decades. With rapidly-developing new technologies in such areas as materials, computer science, and mechanics, the machining accuracy, efficiency and surface quality of various components and products has been significantly improved. In addition, the use of high-speed processing and high-speed cutting has improved the processing speed and productivity, thus reducing costs and improving production efficiency in a certain range. The cooling system of high-speed machining directly affects the quality, productivity and efficiency of the components.
There are several kinds of cooling methods used in high-speed machining. The most common cooling methods are liquid cooling and air cooling. Liquid cooling is the most common and effective cooling method, where coolant is directly sprayed onto the cutting edge of the machining tool through a nozzle. This cooling system is simple and easy to install. It can reduce the temperature of the cutting zone, improve the chip breaking ability, reduce the cutting force and improve the surface wear resistance. The coolant also has the effect of removing debris and reducing wear on the cutting tool.
In comparison, air cooling is a less efficient cooling system. It works by using compressed air to blow away the heat from the cutting tool. While it is simple and easy to install, it requires a high powered compressor to achieve optimal cooling effectiveness. Air cooling is not as effective as liquid cooling and it cannot penetrate deep into the cutting zone. Additionally, air cooling does not provide the additional benefits of debris and tool wear removal from coolant.
High-speed machining requires efficient cooling to maintain the cutting accuracy, tool wear resistance and production efficiency. It is important for users to consider the characteristics of the material being machined when selecting a cooling system. In general, the cooling system for high-speed machining should be chosen according to the following points:
1) Materials: Depending on the type of material to be machined, it must be determined whether a coolant or compressed air is more suitable. Soft and malleable materials may benefit from liquid cooling while harder and more brittle material may require the use of compressed air.
2) Cost: The cost of the cooling system should be weighed against the expected performance. The cost of liquid coolant and its associated equipment must be weighed against the expected performance gains.
3) Availability: Availability of coolant and compressed air must be taken into consideration when selecting a cooling system. The cost of the delivery and installation of these systems should be taken into consideration as well.
4) Performance: Performance of cooling systems must also be taken into account. Air cooling is often less effective than liquid cooling but is usually cheaper.
High-speed machining requires effective cooling to achieve accurate cutting performance, reduce the machining process costs, and improve the cutting speed of production. Selecting the most appropriate cooling system for high-speed machining often requires a trade-off between performance, cost, and availability. As the technology of high-speed machining continues to advance, more efficient cooling systems will be available to users.
