Cutting Fluids
Cutting fluid, also called coolant, does three jobs in machining: it carries away heat, reduces friction, and flushes chips and fines out of the cutting zone. Choose and maintain it well and you get better surface finish, longer tool life, and fewer rejects, whether you run one machine or a full plant.
The tricky part is that most cutting fluids look alike on the shelf. What really separates them? What affects machining performance? How do you maintain a fluid, and how do you pick the right one for your material and process?
The articles below are our hands-on know-how on exactly those questions, built from HAI LU JYA HE's cutting fluid experience since 1982. Browse whichever topic fits your situation, and if something is still unclear, just reach out.
Most cutting fluid problems trace back to three controllable variables: concentration, water quality, and contamination. Hold concentration at 6 to 9 percent, pH at 8.5 to 9.2, and water hardness near...
Read moreIn a CNC shop, smoke, sharp odor, and operator skin complaints are red flags of chemical instability in the coolant, not always toxicity. The key control is pH: keep cutting fluid at 8.5 to 9.2 to prevent...
Read moreCutting fluid selection comes down to two families: water-soluble fluids and neat cutting oils. The right choice depends on three factors: workpiece material, machining method, and machine or tank design....
Read moreWhen you machine copper or brass, coolant turning green is usually a normal chemical reaction: copper ions dissolving into the fluid, and in most cases it does not affect machining. The signal to watch...
Read moreChoosing a glass or ceramic grinding fluid is really a process decision, not a product one. Three questions settle it: what you are machining (glass or a technical ceramic), which operation you run (edge...
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