5 ADVANTAGES OF HAVING THE RIGHT CUTTING FLUID

Metal tools and machines face rapid wear and tear due to overheating and friction. This is where cutting fluids come in. Cutting fluid helps in the cutting, drilling, milling, and turning of metal, ensuring that the machine tools are not damaged due to long spells of friction and overheating. If cutting fluid is not used, the quality of the product will be adversely affected.

That said, the primary function of a cutting fluid is to act as a coolant, bringing down the temperature of the metal piece being worked upon. The cutting fluid not only helps provide an "excellent finish" to the product getting the cutting fuel treatment, but it also provides excellent "dimensional control".

Water, the First cutting fluid 

Water was the original cutting fluid used across various mechanical industries. However, manufacturers soon realised that despite being an excellent cooling agent, the water did a poor job of lubricating and was worse at preventing friction during the cutting process. As a result, various innovations took place, ultimately resulting in a mixture of emulsifiers, oil, and water, known as cutting oil. Today’s cutting fluids come fortified with certain chemicals, bringing with them a plethora of advantages that water as a cutting fluid does not possess.

The five advantages of the right cutting fluid

Assuming everything works at optimum levels, there’s a need for cutting fluid. The right cutting oil will have the quality to protect the machine and the metal cutting tool from wear and tear even when working at high speeds. That said, there are plenty of cutting fluids available in the market. Here are a few advantages of selecting the right cutting fluid:

1. Low energy costs

The cooling feature of the cutting fluid and its lubrication effect is essential in lowering energy costs. The right cutting fluid increases the lifespan of the tools and machines by reducing wear and tear, which positively affects energy costs. Keeping corrosion within permissible limits saves energy and therefore, lowers energy costs. Fewer machine parts and tool replacements are also due to the right cutting fluid. It is also cost-effective.

2. Prevents rust and corrosion 

Cutting fluids protect metals like stainless steel, carbon steel, cast, and wrought iron from corrosion. High temperature, moisture, and oxygen create the perfect environment for corrosion. However, cutting fluids having a pH level greater than nine which help prevent corrosion in ferrous metals. Non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, bronze, and brass will call for a different pH level.

The right cutting fluid’s cooling effect removes heat and prevents corrosion. The soluble cutting oil acts as grease to ensure a well-oiled machining process. The cutting fluid also prevents bacteria from thriving in the machine, especially in the accumulated cutting oil. These bacteria contaminate the cutting fluid and render it unfit for use.

3. Clears metal chips and debris

Metal chips are the remains of the machining process. This debris needs to be flushed out, and the chip-removal process should keep up with chip formation to avoid machine breakdowns. Too much tramp oil and metal cuttings are problematic. They get accumulated in the machine and contaminate the cutting fluid. The old cutting fluid in the machine should be extracted and cleared. Bacterial proliferation in the cutting fluid is a major problem. Cutting oil flushes out metal chips to the ‘sump’ from where they can be removed regularly using ‘mobile sump suckers’ or even manually. 

4. Reduces metal to metal contact

The right cutting fluid reduces metal-to-metal contact, which keeps friction to a minimum. A layer of fluid comes in between the tool and the metal workpiece to minimise the damage caused by friction. Soluble cutting fluids act as a cushion and guarantee the smooth surface quality, thus reducing the wear and tear of the tool.

5. Limits residue formation

Another advantage of cutting fluids is that they limit residue formation, which happens to be a natural event of the machining process. All cutting fluids leave a residue. The trick is to get hold of the right cutting oil, which doesn’t create too much of the wrong residue. The less harmful residue left behind is the liquid residue. The hard and grimy residue causes "slip-stick” problems that hamper the machine's working. 

Conclusion 

The bottom line is to get hold of the right kind of cutting fluid, which differs from metal to metal. Ferrous metals will require a different metal cutting fluid, while non-ferrous metals will ask for another.Castrol makes one of the best cutting fluids in the market, delivering efficiency and prolonging the life of the machinery. Most of all, Castrol comes with a reputation of being genuinely efficient and cost-effective. Their Technical services team helps you choose the optimum cutting fluid for your need.