New Master Chemical fluid takes heavy duty machining in its stride

Citation

(1999), "New Master Chemical fluid takes heavy duty machining in its stride", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 51 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilt.1999.01851ead.006

New Master Chemical fluid takes heavy duty machining in its stride

New Master Chemical fluid takes heavy duty machining in its stride!

Keywords: Master Chemical, Europe

With its combination of improved sump life, better surface finish and increased corrosion protection, Master Chemicals TRIM SC880 mid-range general-purpose cutting and grinding fluid has been well received since its introduction.

But in one of Austria's leading heavy duty machining plants specialising in the manufacture and repair of large machines, aerospace equipment, rolling mill components and turbine blades for power station applications, the fluid has proved it can maintain peak performance in even the most arduous operating conditions.

Aggressive surface residues on components coming for repair, debris being dragged into the machines, levels of petroleum seeping into the fluid and heavy residue from machining metals such as grey iron, spheroidal cast iron and stainless steel, combine to create the most arduous environment for the fluid to remain effective.

Health and safety in the factory is also a major consideration and mineral oil - from the previous preferred machining fluid - was causing problems for the operators working on the machine beds. Some of the machines have work tables in excess of 20m in diameter and the operators spend a lot of time working on the open tables which were becoming very slippery and difficult to work on as the soluble oil evaporated and left a residue.

A decision was taken to try a water-based fluid to overcome the problem and, after successful trials, four of the largest machine tools - a CNC machining centre, CNC centre lathe, vertical bore and turn mill and a sister CNC version - were converted to TRIM SC880 in early 1998, soon followed by a large grinding machine.

With capacities of between 7,000 and 8,000 litres, the machine coolant tanks were thoroughly flushed with Master Chemical Water Mix Machine Cleaner to create a clean, bacteria-free environment.

On the four main machines, SC880 fluid concentration was 7 percent with the grinder operating at 4 percent. Water in the area is medium hard but winter temperatures in the region are low, so water is usually heated to 25°C to make mixing easier.

As Ray Weaver (Master Chemicals' European Sales Manager) explains, taking into account the operating conditions, SC880 has performed admirably.

"Given that the customer was previously using a chlorinated soluble oil to offset the heavy duty requirements, SC880 as a lighter duty product has coped superbly.

"The safety considerations around the machine beds are now overcome and with the customer testing and maintaining his oil in the prescribed manner, machine protection from corrosion is maintained at a high level."

Testing for bacteria, fungus, nitrite and nitrate is carried out every two weeks, and the demulsification properties of the SC880 have also acted to overcome another problem. With tools and components often sprayed and cleaned with petrol, the ingress into the coolant can be as much as 20-30 litres a week. This creates foaming, but once this is skimmed off the coolant remains unaffected.

"Good housekeeping at the plant with regular top-ups ensures that the coolant remains in excellent condition, and after some 15 months of operation there has been no need for any of the machines to be drained", concludes Ray Weaver.

Apart from overcoming the slippery surface problems, SC880 is odourless and is non-chlorinated - personnel at the plant confirming that it is very "operator friendly".

For more information contact Ruth Lucas. Tel: +44 (0) 1920 468443.