Problem- Foam Overload

[CORBIN92087]

Hey everyone, We have a HAAS VF2 in our shop and recently I took out the whole coolant resvoir and cleaned it and put in new water/coolant. Now with the machine up and running again we are having problems with foam buildup in the tank and its overflowing onto the floor. Any ideas on how to clean up this mess and get rid of the foam???

[Kurach]

Originally Posted by CORBIN92087 Hey everyone, We have a HAAS VF2 in our shop and recently I took out the whole coolant resvoir and cleaned it and put in new water/coolant. Now with the machine up and running again we are having problems with foam buildup in the tank and its overflowing onto the floor. Any ideas on how to clean up this mess and get rid of the foam???

As far as the foam build up?
Ask the people you get your coolant from and they should be able to hook you up with some Anti-foam to keep the foam down. It's typically expensive but works well and it doesn't take alot, typically about a cup per 50 gal.

As far as the mess, a mop and elbow grease should do the trick. )

Respectfully,
Kurtis

[extanker59]

In the past, using non-synthetic coolants, we only got foaming when the concentration was too high. I assume you checked that first. Could it be left over detergent used to clean the tank?
As Kurtis wrote, the anti-foam stuff worked well but only temporarily- had to reapply every 3 or so days.
Good luck (I hate mopping)
Chris

[Pandinus]

LoL ... that reminds me of my powder coating days at the door plant. Acid hot wash... neutralizing wash... final rinse on the line 8 hrs a day running. We switched neutralizers to be "Eco Friendly" Next thing we knew the place was flooded and the tank was half empty.
We had overflow drainage, but the amount of foam that made it out of the cracks in the lid was astounding. From then on we had to add about half half a gallon of anti-foam a day.
And If you forgot it in the morning, by lunch it was 1/2 inch of water behind the tanks...lol

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

Bein' an old fart from before the EPA and the other fed & state "enforcers", we just dumped a cup or two of kerosene in the tank. Usually it was the grinders that foamed up.

Dick Z