Coolant

Jul 10, 2023

Coolant for CNC machines is a specialized fluid designed to optimize machining operations by managing heat, friction, and material debris during cutting processes. Typically composed of water, oils, or chemical additives, CNC coolants serve multiple purposes, including cooling the cutting tool and workpiece, lubricating contact surfaces, and flushing away chips and debris.

Why Is Coolant Important?

There are 3 main purposes of coolant for CNC metalworking:

Cooling
Cooling leads to a decrease in temperature in the cutting zone, which in turn contributes to a better surface quality (no burning, etc.) and increased tool life
Lubrication
Lubrication reduces friction between the workpiece and the cutting tool, which allows for a higher cutting speeds and has a positive effect on the roughness of the treated surface
Rinsing
The removal of chips from the cutting zone and from the working area of the CNC machine allows you to avoid defects (scuffing), and also has a technological function, for example, during drilling operations, when processing deep pockets on mills or during boring operations on lathes, etc.

Secondary (but no less important) functions of coolant include:

Corrosion protection of the part and the machine
Neutrality to sealing materials
Foam control
No harm to the health of personnel
Preventing the formation of bacteria in the emulsion
Resistance to miscibility with tramp oils and greases

For all the seeming secondary, coolant is a full-fledged and very important element of the technological chain of parts production on CNC metalworking machines, which directly affects the productivity of the equipment and stend by time, incl. equipment downtime.

What Happens if You Don’t Use Coolant For a CNC Machine?

Skipping CNC coolant fluid in machining can lead to significant issues that compromise both the quality of the work and the lifespan of your tools. What is the purpose of coolant? It plays a critical role in dissipating heat, but without it, the heat generated by friction during cutting is not properly managed, causing the cutting tool and workpiece to overheat. This can result in thermal distortion, reducing the dimensional accuracy of the part and potentially ruining the material. Additionally, the lack of lubrication increases friction, which accelerates tool wear and can lead to tool breakage during high-speed or intensive operations.

The absence of coolant also hampers effective chip evacuation, allowing debris to accumulate around the cutting area. These chips can be recut, damaging the surface finish and introducing defects to the workpiece. Furthermore, excessive heat and debris can affect machine stability, potentially leading to costly downtime for maintenance and repairs.

Ultimately, neglecting to use all purpose coolant undermines the efficiency, precision, and reliability of CNC machining processes, emphasizing its critical role in achieving successful outcomes.

Explore EASYCUT coolant solutions at CNCMarket.ca to enhance the precision, efficiency, and longevity of your machining tools. We're committed to providing you with high-quality coolants that exceed your expectations. Get in touch to place your order and elevate your machining operations to new heights.

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