Big.Mike Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 That is quick!! I'm in the process of getting my bridgeport up and running. I don't have a lubrication system set up yet, so I tried using an air blast to keep the swarf clear of the tool. It worked well, but emptied my 300L tank way too quick, and stank! Luke Stank? Have you got water in your compressor? You only need a fine jet of air to blow away the swarf, the setups I've seen use a 0.75-1 mm diameter hole @ 8 bar . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Yup, using too much air. Pauls pond aerator only gives a gently blast of air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Stank? Have you got water in your compressor? I use a couple of fridge compressors to generate most of my compressed air. they run pretty warm, and taint the air with a hot oil smell. The tank and pipework are regularly drained of condensation. I had the pressure down low, but I was using the flexi-hose components etc I have ready for liquid coolant. I might add a restrictor and try again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big.Mike Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 I had the pressure down low, but I was using the flexi-hose components etc I have ready for liquid coolant. Ah, you run the risk of making your coolant into an aerosol, that'll get the legionnaires into your lungs nice and quick... I would say you need to run it through a different pipe too the coolant... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Sorry, I should have explained better, no coolant's been through the system yet. I've got the nozzles, but have not built the rest of the system, no pump, pipework etc. I just hooked the air line up as a test when I had a go at doing a few test cuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big.Mike Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Sorry, I should have explained better, no coolant's been through the system yet. I've got the nozzles, but have not built the rest of the system, no pump, pipework etc. I just hooked the air line up as a test when I had a go at doing a few test cuts. Phew. I had an interesting experience in our milling machine at work once. I was using a Venturi effect vacuum generator (amazing bit of kit if you ever get the chance to play) to hold down a workpiece. It worked a treat, only problem was the coolant in the machine came on by mistake and turned into a fine aerosol. It took an hour for the mist to settle and I left it another hour to be sure. I like to run our Haas coolant with a strong 10%~15% concentrate rather than the normal 7%, for two reasons... 1. We only use it occasionally for prototypes 2. We run plastic through it more often than not. I like to kill the bugs in the coolant with a high concentrate and it stops the table from rusting up. The plastic breeds more nasties as it tends to bunch up in the bottom of the reservoir. The guy from Castrol suggested we do this... I also run an aerator (just like a fish tank) in the bottom as it kills the anaerobic bacteria which are particularly nasty if they get in you! (Which reminds me I haven't checked it's still running!) A UV lamp is another good addition, but we can't have that where people are exposed to it in a work place apparently. I hate coolant, at one of the companies I used to work at we had a hobbing machine that caught a skin bacteria, it spread from machine to machine infecting workers using it. It was horrible. Mind you they were using some cheap a*se coolant and at a stupidly low concentration so I'm not surprised. Cheers, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Since the machine will get used pretty rarely in the grand scheme of things, I had planned to not use the machine sump, and use a seperate sealable container. This discussion in this thread is making me consider whether that will be possible with spillage etc. If it's not, I will make it so that I can empty the sump after use and pump the coolant back in to to a sealable container, to try and keep the bug issue to a minimum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 We just clean the tanks out every couple of years, not had any issues with any skin complaints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big.Mike Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 We just clean the tanks out every couple of years, not had any issues with any skin complaints. What coolant and concentration are you using? Also it's different if you use the machines daily as the pumps aerate the coolant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big.Mike Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Since the machine will get used pretty rarely in the grand scheme of things, I had planned to not use the machine sump, and use a seperate sealable container. This discussion in this thread is making me consider whether that will be possible with spillage etc. If it's not, I will make it so that I can empty the sump after use and pump the coolant back in to to a sealable container, to try and keep the bug issue to a minimum. Just keep the coolant dilution low (depending on the type of coolant) or simply run dry. I've said previously you only need air for most stuff and that's for clearing swarf... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 What coolant and concentration are you using? Also it's different if you use the machines daily as the pumps aerate the coolant. Hysol excel I think it is, I dunno how strong we use it, my lathe has a very weak mix in it due to the amount of water I boil out of it on a hard days work. Good point on it getting aerated/moved around every day.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 We use Breamar at work, average 5%.....I also boil the water out, average 50l a day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big.Mike Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 We use Breamar at work, average 5%.....I also boil the water out, average 50l a day! Do you have some kind of special system to keep it topped up (I say special system, I mean ballcock ) to keep it topped up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B reg 90 Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Legionares: Check system PH weekly. If it devaiates (can't remeber which way, but I can get the proceedure from work), change coolant Check concentration and top up water/coolant to stay within recomended guidlines weekly. 6 Monthly change out coolant. Flush machine with system cleaner (that 's what is say's on the tub), then reflii with freash coolant. I also get samples taken from the machines every 12 months and send then for testing for legonala bacteria. Problem solved. I've never had an issue with deramtitis, legionella bing found in samples etc. Just need to do the same with my machines at home now.................. Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Do you have some kind of special system to keep it topped up yup......me and a 25l barrel! Average usage typically now falling....I've spent 2 days on another machine, and I've got 2 days on my favourite machine to come...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 yup......me and a 25l barrel! Average usage typically now falling....I've spent 2 days on another machine, and I've got 2 days on my favourite machine to come...... i'm on the 2nd of 2 weeks off... The coolant in my lathe will be like treacle when i go back on back monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big.Mike Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Just need to do the same with my machines at home now... Machines? Sounds like fun... yup......me and a 25l barrel! I had this 'til I put my back out, now I have a hosepipe! Very posh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B reg 90 Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Machines? Sounds like fun... Running machines: An old triumph colchester round head lathe (Worn) A nice bridgeport 2HP varispeed head. Not working: Beaver VRPB knee mill with a faulty Anilam CNC I'm needing a garage extention...... Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRecklessEngineer Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Interesting reading this thread. I'm campaigning for getting some lathe coolant for the machine at work. No one really uses it but me - and when I do it's normally worked quite hard. I've knackered a few tools by being a bit slow with the squeezy bottle and a bit ambitious with the cut size. Given that it's used about 12 times/year, how often should the coolant be changed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big.Mike Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Interesting reading this thread. I'm campaigning for getting some lathe coolant for the machine at work. No one really uses it but me - and when I do it's normally worked quite hard. I've knackered a few tools by being a bit slow with the squeezy bottle and a bit ambitious with the cut size. Given that it's used about 12 times/year, how often should the coolant be changed? A lathes coolant tank is much smaller than a mill, you don't really need as much as you really are only cooling 1 tooth in a very small contact area. In this case you could probably get away with a 25 litre drum and just bin it after each use? You could get some better tools and go more gently Cheers, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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