Commercial and Industrial Machinery: Choosing Cutting Fluids and Heat Transfer Oils
Correct specification of heat transfer oils and cutting fluids is essential to maintain machining quality and protect costly machine tools. Wherever commercial and industrial processes involve cutting and grinding, there's probably an application for high-performance lubricants that cool equipment or transfer heat away. Here are a some of factors to consider when choosing heat transfer oils and cutting fluids...
Selecting the right heat transfer oils
Heat transfer oils, despite their rather exotic name, are actually just specialised coolants used in industrial processing applications. These range from computer numerical control (CNC) machining of ferrous and non-ferrous metals to deep-hole boring. Depending on the application, specifying suitable heat transfer fluids involves complex, multi-dimensional decisions about characteristics such as these:
- Thermal capacity - vital for heat transfer oils - Viscosity - Cost and long-term economy - Hot/cold cycle operation - Zero toxicity - Chemical inertness - Biostability - Suitability for hard or soft water conditions - Electrical insulation properties
These are complex decisions. The consequences of making incorrect choices about such specialised lubricating oils are potentially costly. Because of this, there's no substitute for seeking professional advice from an established manufacturer.
Choosing cutting fluids
The same applies when choosing cutting fluids (also referred to as cutting oils and cutting compounds). As well as dissipating heat generated during machining, these must fulfil one or more of the following functions:
- Prolong tool life (reducing tip welding) - Reduce thermal deformation - Improve surface finishes - Flush away swarf and chips from the cutting zone - Ensure safety for anyone handling the fluid - Protect the environment during fluid disposal
Four main types of cutting fluids
Virtually all cutting fluids that are currently in use fall into one of the following categories:
- Straight oils - Soluble oils - Synthetic oil - Semi-synthetic oils
Straight oils are non-emulsifying and are usually left undiluted for machining. In contrast, soluble oils, the least expensive of the cutting fluids, form an emulsion when mixed with water and are usually diluted. Synthetic oils, which offer some of the best cooling characteristics, are formulated from alkaline compounds and additives. They too are generally used diluted. Semi-synthetics combine the attributes of synthetic and soluble oils and exhibit cost and heat dissipation characteristics somewhere between the two.
As with heat transfer oils, an independent lubricant manufacturer is ideally placed to assess the requirements of each cutting application and recommend the most suitable fluid for the purpose.
Specialist products for diverse engineering markets
The wide range of cutting, grinding and heat transfer products available to modern industry reflects constant innovation by manufacturers. This reflects the way they anticipate the evolving needs of customers in fields as diverse as automotive, industrial and agricultural engineering.
The cost, precision manufacture and attractive appearance of capital goods and consumer products reflect the role of cutting fluids and heat transfer oils in every aspect of engineering. For once it's a matter of truth, not cliché, to say that these advanced industrial lubricating fluids stand at the cutting-edge of industrial technology.
About the Author
The selection of the correct oils and lubrication fluids is a vital part of the safe ownership of any mechanical equipment, be it a car, chain saw or industrial / commercial plant. Graham Baylis is working with some of the best experts in the field, Exol Lubricants. They have a wealth of information on the use and storage of oils and lubricants . See http://www.exol-lubricants.com
Tell others about
this page:
Comments? Questions? Email Here