MQL improves machining learning experience
Overview
Allan Hancock College’s Machining and Manufacturing program prepares students for careers in the industrial sector, including CNC programming,
CNC operation, manual milling, and lathe work.
Traditionally the college’s CNC machines used flood coolant. Flood coolant drenches the tooling and workpiece, reducing friction and removing metal chips from the cutting zone. However, flood coolant creates a recurring mess of grime and residue requiring longer clean-up, reducing valuable class time, and a difficult recycling process for waste material.
Solution
Searching for a better alternative, John Gerrity, M.S. Assistant Professor of the Machine Technology program reached out to Unist to learn more about the benefits of minimum quantity lubrication (MQL). MQL systems apply a very fine amount of high-quality lubrication to the tooling, prolonging tool life without creating a mess. By outfitting their manual mills, lathes and CNCs with 25 Unist Coolubricator Jr’s, Gerrity was able to drastically reduce the use of flood coolant. Instead, the program now uses Unist’s Coolube®, an environmentally friendly, lubrication.
Results
One year after installation, Gerrity is ecstatic with the benefits MQL provided the program. Not only have Unist MQL systems withstood “student use & abuse”, but classroom clean-up is now 10 minutes, a 78% improvement from before. Clean waste chips are easily recycled at the end of the semester. Additionally, Gerrity says: “The students can see what is happening as they test their programming. This greatly improves learning and avoids crashes (most of the time). This is opposed to completely obscured operations when running with flood coolant”.