Maintenance and Management of Cutting Fluid in Use
Cutting fluid is a large class of materials used in various cutting processes, such as cutting, milling, grinding, drilling and so on, with the purpose of reducing mechanical friction, cooling down the cutting temperature, and flushing away the chips. As an indispensable part of machining processes, good maintenance and management of cutting fluid can help to extend the life of cutting tools, increase machining efficiency and enhance the surface quality of machined parts. Here are some tips on maintenance and management of cutting fluid in using it.
In many turning and milling processes, the cutting tools will generate a great amount of frictional heat when cutting hard materials. This heat has a great negative impact on both tool life and machined surface quality. And in this case, coolant can effectively reduce the cutting temperatures, increasing tool life and machined surface quality. Therefore, it is recommended to use cutting fluids appropriately when machining hard materials. The cutting tool and machined parts should be constantly sprayed by a stream of coolant from the nozzle.
Another important tip for maintenance and management of cutting fluid is that it should be used in a dedicated cutting fluid tank, which will help to ensure each cutting operation to get a steady stream of cutting fluid. The tank should also be regularly refilled to ensure the continuity of machining operations.
Proper filtration of cutting fluid is also necessary in maintaining and managing it. Filtration is an essential step in removing chips and other contaminants generated by machining processes, which will help to reduce the risk of tool wear and improve the quality of machined parts. Therefore, it is recommended to use a filter device on the cutting fluid tank to extend its service life.
Another point of maintenance and management on cutting fluid is adding lubricants. This process is especially important for machining operations such as broaching and drilling, where lubricants help to reduce tool wear and improve surface quality. The lubricating agent should be compatible with the coolant to ensure its excellent performance.
Apart from these points above, it is also important to periodically clean and flush the cutting fluid reservoir, so that any suspended particles and contaminants can be cleared away. Regular draining of cutting fluid and filter exchange are necessary to ensure the cutting fluid always performs its best.
In addition, it should be noted that the shelf life of cutting fluid can be reduced due to high temperature and sunlight. Therefore, liquid cutting fluids should be stored in a sealed container or tank at a cool place.
To sum up, good maintenance and management of cutting fluid can help to ensure excellent cutting performance and machined surface quality. It thus should be taken seriously.
