coolant mist systems............suggestions?

[lchris21]

Hello Peeps,

Been playing around with a bench top CNC milling machine for a bit of fun, and am looking into some sort of coolant mist/fog system??

The machine is not capable of fully contained wet system, and the mist type seem quite popular.

Anyone got any experiences with these systems??

Usual google overload on the subject has lead me back here for some practical input. Fogging systems seem to have a poor feedback due to the airbourne droplets going everywhere including your lungs!!! There are some micro droplet systems out there???

I could just stand there with a spray bottle I suppose, but where's the fun in that.

Cheers

Somat like this will be ideal......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=108&v=qxTfmfFuruU

 

[Wallace]

I have a hose pipe attachment that you feed compressed air into as a redneck pressure washer, I'd experiment with something like that or a filter regulator lubricator with the oiler turned up to flood at low flow.

 

[Maker]

Tom Lipton had a video showing off his system, it runs off a small air compressor with a special valve thing he made but the actual outlet was a "Noga Minicool", I don't think they're cheap.

 

[GRUMPY1950]

We used to use mist cool systems on our machines using a large Norgen Mist lubricator, but they were banned due to the oil mist being inhaled by operators, we were told it was cariogenic . It was bad enough as our company had asbestos claim dated by to 1965.

 

[lchris21]

thanks for the input, will look into a micro droplet type rather than misting, think my lungs will be happier

 

[HughF]

I got a couple of the chinese ones off ebay, not tried them yet, but they're very similar to tom lipton's setup.

 

[lchris21]

yeah was looking at them.....they look quite cheap......anyone got a link for tom lipton??

 

[HughF]

you can see him use it in the latest 'toe jack repair' series... Oxtoolco on youtube

 

[Mr shiney]

I have the coolant mist fitted to my lathe and milling machine, works very well. You need to be able to set the flow rate and pressure to get enough flow to draw the coolant through but not so much it blows everywhere. It keeps the piece clean of swarf as well as the lubrication and the cooling effect of the air also helps. I am very pleased.

 

[awemawson]

I used to like the mist coolant system on my Bridgeport Interact when I had it, but I gather that in industry they are only allowed under very controlled circumstances of major extraction. The vapour isn't good to breathe as I understand it.

 

[Parm]

Just to throw my two peneth worth!!

Coolant mist isn't carcinigenic. It's a very very potent respiratory sensitiser capable of casing occupational asthma. No one knows what the causative agent is but it's widely suspected that it's the endotoxins that are contained within. Endotoxins are dead bacteria that thrive in water mixed coolant fluids. The occupational exposure limit for water mixed coolant is 1 mgm averaged over 8 hours ( this is very very low)

Please be very careful when considering coolant mist systems and the potential for exposure via inhalation. In my professional opinion they are not recommeneded without advanced containment and ventilation controls.

Just to put things in context the largest out break of occupation asthma in the western world occured at the now defunct power train plant (mg rover) in Birmingham.

 

[lchris21]

I have the coolant mist fitted to my lathe and milling machine, works very well. You need to be able to set the flow rate and pressure to get enough flow to draw the coolant through but not so much it blows everywhere. It keeps the piece clean of swarf as well as the lubrication and the cooling effect of the air also helps. I am very pleased.

what setup have you got?

 

[Mr shiney]

I have this one. I had to modify it a little to get the flow rate and you have to set the nozzle up so its droplets and not a mist. As others have said, oil inhaled is unhealthy as it can cause lipoid pneumonia which is not treatable. In droplet mode its fine and I have extraction over it as well.

I have it connected to my workshop air supply which I run at about 30psi for this.

 

[HughF]

Same as mine from China

 

[lchris21]

cheers all, was looking for a droplet type so this may be the solution..

 

[Maker]

yeah was looking at them.....they look quite cheap......anyone got a link for tom lipton??

Skip to about 9:25 to see it. The tig torch holder later in the video is good too.