The work performed on tool room machines is prototype or short run jobs and there is rarely the opportunity to optimize tooling, feeds or speeds. The machine and cutting tools must be able to absorb punishment from processes that are much less refined than can be achieved on longer runs using automated machines. Over the years there has been a continuous evolution in metalworking tool room equipment capabilities, with the exception being coolant-lubricant options.
Equipping manual or CNC-enabled open machining platforms such as knee-mills, bed-mills, drills, tool grinders and lathes with flooded coolant systems leaves the tool room equipment, operators and floors awash. When flooding is not possible or desired, this leaves air-oil or air-only lubricating and cooling options. However these near-dry and dry machining fluid options are very limiting, in particular for hard machining applications and work requiring only dry machining and producing lots of tool heat.
Portable and adaptable dry and near-dry CO2 composite spray machining fluid technology offers the tool room machinist with productivity and machining quality improvements as good as or better than those achieved with high pressure flooded coolants, but without the mess. CO2 composite sprays offer a unique set of cooling and lubricating capabilities to enable machining of harder, more abrasive materials and using more capable and expensive cutting tools. Cutting tools last longer and parts are machined cooler, quicker and cleaner with improved surface finishes. Tool room machines, floors and air stay clean.
David Jackson serves as the Chief Technology Officer for Cool Clean Technologies, Inc, based in Eagan, MN.
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