Flood Coolant Enclosure

[Mini Beast]

Well, I'm finally getting around to giving Mini Beast his next major upgrade. Cheap and functional are the design goals. This thread will act as a build log, in addition to me asking some questions and advice of our gracious cnc zone members who know way more than me.

I think I'm going to use wood and a base similar to this guy's. Also, I was thinking of using this for the coolant pump and reservoir. I'm still unsure of exactly how I'm going to filter the returning fluid. Also, can someone suggest a good coolant to use? There seems to be so much to choose from.

[coolantman]

EnviroServe Chemcals has some great coolants.

www.enviroservechemicals.com

[SpeedsCustom]

I'm going to post some pics of my enclosure for you, I have one of the best designed filtration systems...I think. I never get chips in the tank.





Enjoy

[Mini Beast]

Thanks for sharing, Speeds. I like your design. It's really simple and looks like it would be easy to clean. What type of coolant do you use?

[mactec54]

Mini Beast

If you are in your home you want to use GreenCut

http://www.greencut.com/

[SpeedsCustom]

Mini beast- I have to be honest, I don't know. I was given a 2 liter bottle of this blue coolant from my GF's father (Machinist...duh), it was given to me about maybe, two years ago? Still have more than half the bottle, love the way smells; I must be a freak lol but it's fantastic, doesn't get all gross and stinky, just has a nice machine coolant smell.

I'll try and find out tomorrow. If your interested in how my coolant system works, just ask, but it's pretty simple to see.

-Jason

[BobWarfield]

Jason, would love to know more. For example, the picture of the coolant chute. At first I thought you had done that to make it easy to clean out the chips, but now I'm wondering if it isn't like a gold sluicer to separate the chips?

Cheers,

BW

[SpeedsCustom]

Bob- Most of the catching is done in the actual enclosure, inside is a hole for the coolant to drop into that angled beam. In the enclosure is one of the humidifier pads with some stock on top to keep it compressed; this catches the bulk of the chips. The key is not to have gravity and coolant force chips through a filter, so instead, the coolant and whatever chips get through they simply slide gently down the beam. The encounter the first filter and finally the last filter where simply coolant just falls out into the oil drain. The oil drain itself has a mesh screen that does catch one or two chips that gets through, but nothing in the tank. Clean up is easy, just need to stick the vacuum cleaner down along side the beam and get those chips.


-Jason

[Mini Beast]

Originally Posted by mactec54 Mini Beast If you are in your home you want to use GreenCut http://www.greencut.com/

Thanks for the suggestion, this stuff sounds pretty good. Lots of good information on their website, but it astounds me they don't leave any clue about how to purchase the stuff. Is it possible to order this stuff?

[mactec54]

Mini Beast
Pm me I have it in stock

[Mini Beast]

Here is the progress so far. This isn't near as fancy as some other enclosures I've seen, but I'm staying with my goals of cheap and functional. So far, it looks like my total cost will end up somewhere in the range of $200-300

1. Heavy wooden frame to be the stand
2. Fiberglass a 2x10 to make it waterproof. This will be the surface I mount the mill on and luckily the only fiberglass work I plan on doing this project. (That stuff is nasty!)
3. A concrete mixing tub that fits perfectly into the frame (yes, I planned it that way ). I cut holes in it for the 2x10 to pass through and for a shower drain to be installed.
4. Lag screws secure the 2x10 and some silicone to keep the tub water tight.
5. Mini Beast fits in there like a glove!

[SpeedsCustom]

Absolutely fantastic idea; however...how is the base supported in that tub? Is it secured tightly or what?

When I first started my enclosure a few years ago, this is what I had. I had the same exact tub mixer on a table, but my drain leaked etc.


-Jason