Making the decision to invest in portable or centralized machine coolant filtration systems is an essential consideration in any machine, fabrication, or manufacturing shop. While a portable system is often the most cost-effective for a small shop, with multiple machines a centralized unit is often the most time and cost-effective, and it also avoids the risk of missing a scheduled filtration for a particular machining center or piece of equipment.
In addition to the benefit of reusing and extending the life of the coolant, a machine coolant filtration system can also offer the following benefits to the operation of the equipment and in reducing the overhead for the company.
Better Equipment Performance
Entrained oil in the coolant, as well as oil collecting on the surface in the sump and reservoir, creates a significant issue for providing quality finishes and processes. When the coolant is not maintained regularly through the use of a machine coolant filtration system, it does not adequately dissipate the heat produced by the operation of the cutting tool.
The result is an uneven surface on parts, particularly with grinding processes, but it can also limit the cutting tool life cycle for drilling, boring, milling or turning operations.
Increased Corrosion Potential
The use of contaminated coolant in any equipment increases the risk of corrosion throughout the system. Not only is heat a factor in part and component failure, but the increased levels of solids can also damage the surface of the equipment, providing a greater opportunity for corrosion when exposed to contaminants.
In some cases, the corrosion is a result of the incorrect choice of coolant. However, if the coolant is not filtered, it is also possible for the corrosion inhibitors in the concentrate to be ineffective due to the presence of entrained and surface oil. With regular filtration, this issue can be eliminated entirely.