What to do with your metalworking fluid during longer production stops?
The machines may not be running, but chemistry and microbiology continue to be active in your water-miscible metalworking fluid. The fluid doesn’t circulate anymore and there’s no supply with fresh emulsion. All this can lead to severe problems such as bad smell, corrosion of machine parts and splitting of the emulsion. You therefore need to decide whether you maintain your coolant during the production stop or whether it’s a good opportunity to dispose your old coolant, clean your machines and get them ready for future production.
Two options – maintain or dispose
Water-miscible metalworking fluids cannot be left on their own. They need to be monitored and maintained regularly to ensure the stability of the emulsion. Cutting and grinding oils do not need any specific precautions. However, the production stop may be a good opportunity to clean the machines and change to a new oil.
The following points help you decide whether to keep or dispose your metalworking fluid:
- Current conditions of the fluid
- Age of the fluid
- Volume of the fluid
- Expected duration of the production stop
- Available employees
Please contact your Blaser representative to discuss which option is best for you.
Equipment and methods in our microbiology laboratory
It is crucial that you check and maintain the vital parameters of your coolant during production stops. For detailed instructions, see download section below or our online video tutorials.
The most important measures are:
- Concentration: Keep at minimum 8%. This will ensure sufficient pH buffer to keep the emulsion stable.
- pH value: Make sure it remains within the recommended range.
- Circulation: Let the emulsion circulate in the tank for minimum 30 minutes per day.
- Skimmer: Keep it running. If you don’t have a skimmer, periodically remove tramp oil manually.
- Chip conveyor: Run it daily before starting the circulation. This will remove the chips and microchips that settle at the bottom of the tank.
Machine cleaning – water-miscible metalworking fluids
If you decide that the production stop is a good opportunity to dispose the old coolant, then proper cleaning of your machines is crucial to avoid contamination of the fresh emulsion. Watch the video for step-by-step instructions for cleaning and re-filling your machines. In the download section below, you can also find a PDF with all steps explained in detail.
Machine cleaning – neat oils
Although cutting and grinding oils do not need specific precautions, a production stop may be a good opportunity to clean the machines and change to a new oil – something you may have wanted to do for a while but never had the time to get round to it. Also with neat oils, proper cleaning of your machines is crucial to avoid any contamination of the new oil. Watch the video for step-by-step instructions. In the download section below, you can also find a PDF with all steps explained in detail.
We are here for you
Contact your Blaser representative for questions and support. We will help you find the solution that is best for you.
