Experience with Unist or Trico oil/air systems ?

[davereagan]

I run a VMC and would like to connect a Unist or Trico system that uses vegetable oil for face milling, near dry milling with coated carbide endmills and possibly tapping. It's between $450 and $600 for a system, so I'd like to get it right the first time. I have an extra M code relay I can use for turning the system on and off. I've seen Haas machines using a hollow rod Bimba type cylinder that extends a few inches when activated, right up to the cutter. I'd like to hear people's experiences with these systems. I've heard of some pretty impressive results and it's always cleaner than flood coolant. I don't have coolant through, so drilling will always be with flood coolant. Any alternatives to the $70-80/gallon I see for the vegetable based cutting oil would be cool too. Also, tapping applications in detail would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

Dave

[marcinito]

For what is worth, Im in process of replacing Trico misters to Unist.
I found Unist being much much better mister.

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

I've had nothing but good results from the Unist system. You can use these systems with rotary union adapters (George Whalley?) In fact, that's how I started using those systems.

IMHO, it's the pressurized air that does the work. The oil provides the lubrication and you really need very little of that. The Vegetable oils stand up well to heat. Think of "PAM" in a frying pan or Castor oil in racing engines, both are veggie oil.

Dick Z