What is everyone using for Flood Coolant Filters?

[SpeedsCustom]

Hey everyone,

I'm running a Taig CNC and have a pretty nice set-up. I still have so much work to do around the mill. I need too build an enclosure (Although, I have a half system now), I need too organize all my wiring, get new vise, relocate Spindle switch etc...

But what does everyone use for Filters on your flood system? I have a nice flood system I designed, I have my tank, pump on top and it sucks the coolant through a garden hose, up my lines into my machine. When it drains back, I have this tin can that is stuff with 4 inches of Humidifier filters, which I thought would be great! I thought nothing would get through it, but stuff does. I mean, it keeps big chips out, but my tank has lots of chips. I'm pretty sure only a bit gets back into the pump, after I cleaned the pump a few weeks ago, I only noticed a very small amount of chips in the pump, very little and no damage too anything and this was after like 2 months of use.


Also, My tin can is pretty small and the coolant splashes all over the place, i'm constantly wiping it off the top of my tank, the can won't hold much chips because once the top gets covered, no coolant goes through and it splashes more. I'm looking too design a better system, less cleaning, less chips in tank without buying anything more then 50.00

I went too my hardware store and saw these really heavy duty Scotch pads, I have read they were not good, they have been tried etc. But when I held them up too the light, I could see the light, so i'm assuming water could probably go through, and it would catch most of it.







I would love to throw around ideas, I will have more pics. I have lots too show.

[Rodm1954]

I tried the scotch pads and they do not let enough fluid through so the container just backs up.
The problem seems to be a fine filter does not let enough coolant through and a course filter is not good enough - sort of stuck between a rock and hard place.
I found you need a couple of chip catchers and I use fywire and then a setting compartment for the fines.
What ever you decide on make sure it is easy to get to and clean out. You are less inclinded to empty the chips if it is a hassle to do.
By the way nice machine you have.

[Stepper Monkey]

I use a five-gallon bucket on the floor, with a stand inside raising the pump up near the top of the bucket where the liquid is clear. With the pump mounted in a small fine screen mesh cylinder and up near the surface of the coolant, it allows a lot of room for stuff to settle out, and keeps the pump high enough not to suck solids and to keep the fine screen from clogging up. It does require keeping several gallons of coolant mixed up at a time, but in a relatively sealed system like that it lasts forever and its really cheap anyway. When I haven't used it for a few days and it really gets settled out, I clean it by simply pouring off the clear stuff into another bucket temporarily, then tossing out the sludge at the bottom. You can reuse it almost forever that way.

[SpeedsCustom]

Thanks for posting guys. Yea, I heard about those scotch pads being too good that it gets backed. Stinks, because there so cheap, it would be great. I still can't believe the stuff I use allows chips too go through. It's about 1 inch thick store bought and is a maze of tangle, it looks great, but the fine pieces get through. I will think of something. I will! I will.

If others have pictures or more ideas, I would like too keep this thread open and running. It would be great.

Stepper, that is a good idea with your system, but I don't use that many gallons of water for my coolant and don't want too.


I think if, I run the coolant everyday, just too keep it going, sludge will be ok.



-Jason

[fretsman]

Jason, have you tried coffee filters? I just did a little experiment for you and it seemed to stream through quick enough. Not sure how long it would last but they're pretty cheap!

Just a thought, my friend-

[SpeedsCustom]

Fretsman, yea thats been on mind, When I first started thinking of what too do. I heard of people using Socks, Coffee filters etc...(On this forum) I'll see.


Thanks,


-Jason

[HelicopterJohn]

I have a HAAS TM-1P tool room mill and this is the filtration system I used on it. I realize that this may not be applicable to your situation but may give you an idea as the larger filter was available in different sizes.

The large filter is available at Lowes or Home Depot. The smaller strainer filter is available WW Graingers.

Hope this was of some help.

John

[automizer]

At work I use bascily the same as HelicopterJohn but its after the pump and I have looked at lots of stuff for my home machine for before the pump, like right out of the machine and the only thing I have found that might work is a series of settling tanks along the way and build them out of like deep fryer baskets so you can just pull them out simple to empty no buying things every month

[SpeedsCustom]

It's actually not even a huge deal about messing my pump up, because i'm pretty sure only a little bit gets in there. It's just a question of not having too get chips into the tank mainly for, yes ok, protection of my pump but also because I want a design that will leave me with a clean TANK. I think right now it's more of the messing and overflow i'm getting, more chips are on top of the tank then anything with coolant constantly pouring over. I just need a larger bucket and more humidifier filters, thanks for sharing the info. Surpluscenter has some great stuff though i feel could be used for filtration.



-Jason

[ImanCarrot]

I use the stuff that goes into air cabinet filters- looks like scotch pads, but much thicker and not as close woven. Stops al the chips and lets the coolant through (I also suspect that it aerates the coolant a little which is a bonus to keep bacteria down.

[SpeedsCustom]

Do you have a link too what you use? Thanks for sharing:

-Jason

[Wolfmarsh]

Dont know if you have given this a though, we use these for pool skimmers to ease maintenance. Go to wal-mart and buy the 13 cent stockings in the little round plastic containers that are the size of small jawbreakers.

the stockings are pretty durable, have small enough holes to catch pollen, yet dont slow the pool pumps down any, maybe itll work here?

I can take a pic of exactly what im talking about if you want.