Cutting fluid (metalworking fluid, coolant) is a liquid used in metalworking operations for reducing friction between the work piece and the tool and for removal of the heat generated by the friction.
METAL WORKING OPERATIONS
cutting (metalworking) fluids are involved in the following metalworking operations :
-Cutting (separation of metal from a work piece in the form of chips), ex : milling, turning, boring, drilling, broaching, threading, sawang.
-Abrading (rubbing away the surface by friction), ex : grinding, polishing, lapping.
- metal forming (changing the shape of a work piece by a pressure), ex : rolling, forging, extrusion, drawing, deep drawing, stamping.
BENEFITS OF METALWORKING FLUIDS (COOLANTS)
lubrication and cooling effects provided by cutting fluids. result in the following benefits of metalworking :
- better surface finish
cutting fluids lubricate the workpiece-tool metal to metal contact zone preventing tool galling and seizure, which assures good surface finish. Additives in lubricating oils enhance the lubricating effect of the fluids.
-Longer tool life
temperature of a tool properly cooled by a cutting fluids doesn't exceed the critical value, beyond which the tool hardness drops and its wear rate increases.
-narrower tolerances of the work piece size
Cutting fluids provide both : decreasing the amount of heat generated in the workpiece-tool contact zone due to reduction of the friction (lubricating effect) and removing the heat (cooling effect). Thus cutting fluid stabilizes the workpiece temperature providing better control of its geometry. Cutting fluids reduce the tool wear and prevent formation of built-up edges, which also results in more precise processing.
-Lower enery consumption
Reduced friction provided by a metal working fluid results in decreased work of the operation (cutting, abrading, or forming).
-Cleaner cutting zone
Cutting fluids remove the chips and fines formed in cutting (abrading) operations keeping the cutting zone clean and preventing the surface damage.
-Better corrosion protection
cutting fluids may contain Corrosion inhibitors. Such fluids form a protection film on the work piece surface, machine parts, and chips.
