High Pressure Coolant

[davek11]

We are looking at a new VTL with a 36" chuck. High pressure coolant is offered as a high priced (I believe) option. Is anyone out there using a lathe with high pressure coolant? What are the advantages/disadvantages. Is there something that makes it worth the initial investment. Most of our work is low to medium carbon steel forgings with a hardness of 250 to 350 brinell. We use carbide inserts with rough cuts of .300" per side and finish cuts of .015" per side. I'd appreciate your opinion. Thanks

[glenthemann]

wow totally wrong forum bud!

But anyway, at my shop we use high pressure to break up chips, thats all it is for. HP Coolant is not meant for cooling as you may think, but rather to bust up chips.

Sometimes you just find an insert, speeds and feeds that work brilliantly, has amazing life and leaves great finishes, but the chip it makes is less than ideal. High pressure allows you to keep the same tooling and make the chip the way you want it. Also in some materials in general the chip just does not like to bust up, a few come to mind for me and im sure a few will come to mind for you.

If you've ever dealt with the nighmare of chipwrap marring your beautiful finishes, then high pressure is an option you could look into. Although for the work you say you're doing I dont think it would be worth while for its cost, but ultimately that is your decision.

[rhundl]

We just upgraded our coolant pressure on two machines and got a 1000psi unit for a third machine. I think it is the best investment you can make for tool life. 90% of the parts we run get drilled and most of them are drilled from 4x-10x diam. Its a must for us. Costly, yes, but you will make the money back in the higher rpms, feeds and tool life you can achieve