Coolant to a lathe and/or mill

[skotl]

I bought a couple of these goose necks a wee while back, along with a submersible pump and 5L of suds.
But I've done nothing with them.

I can see that I could create a closed loop with the suds in the lathe bed, the pump in the bed and so forth.
Is there a better way to approach this, especially given that I have a mill which I know I'm not cooling enough.
Is there received wisdom around presenting coolant to both lathe and mill at the flick of a valve?

 

[Dieselman 63]

Make a sump? Mine hangs off the tray, the pump goes in the hole. It's a 3ph pump but I've done the cap bridging trick on it to make it run on 1ph. I guess I'll just have a switch next to my VFD to turn the coolant on. That's my envisaged setup anyway. You could easily put a splitter on the pipe coming off the pump. My lathe actually has a screw valve on the coolant nozzle so you wouldn't lose pressure if you used one machine at a time.

 

[frank horton]

skoti,
like ur idea but do worry about a blown pipe, well not blown really but they do unclip if u knock em......of couse not only the feed needs coupling but also the drains/return lines......spose if the machines are back to back u can cobble/engineer something to do the job but I would think about two seperate systems.......
have used a central heating pump with good effect in the past and they are around, prob almost free for a used 1.........
buying a new suds pump system is stupidly dear.......
on my first Myford lathe I used a gravity feed system with the drain connected to a catch tank..used a strainer to refill the upper tank..worked great but was not doing production work tho.....
also just to add, I run my suds pump on my lathe at least 1'nce a week to keep everything mixed.......my piont is, on the odd time when I switched the lathe on to use it .....suds every where, cos the spout was wide open and pointing onto the try BUT when I moved the saddle to get the tool upto the job the bloody thing pxxxsed fluid on the floor.....that.s cos the spout is mounted to the saddle on mine and the spout went over the edge of the back-splash.....dooooooh.....
now remember ur wanting to run 2 machines off the same pump.......can u remember to point the spouts safeley.........
I hate messy floors, even after cleaning with saw dust the floor always atracts dirt and dust after sud'c cock-up.....
be glad when I get to build my new shop, will be able to mop the floor........
good luck Frank

 

[gaz1]

the cooling system isnt your problem its the collection system afterwards so heres a few ideas for you



for a cnc flood system


optimas reference to his container is a good reference

 

[GW8IZR]

I'm all for a professional setup but for home use I only need coolant for a few minutes every so often and can't be bothered with the mess so I have a gallon container with a pipe attached, convenient hooks near the lathe/mill & drill and let gravity do its stuff. If a drain blocks or I get distracted I only have a small amount of spill to clean up.

 

[Parm]

As said before TS collection that's the problem, not the application. Can't rememeber if your lathe and mill has a suds tray?

 

[GW8IZR]

As said before TS collection that's the problem, not the application. Can't rememeber if your lathe and mill has a suds tray?

The suds tray on my mill is no more than an inch lip so it doesn't get in the way, sandwiched between the stand/cupboard and the mill base. Just a hole and a catch can. Works fine.

I did put a splash back behind it to stop the spray from the tool.

 

[Parm]

The suds tray on my mill is no more than an inch lip so it doesn't get in the way, sandwiched between the stand/cupboard and the mill base. Just a hole and a catch can. Works fine.

I did put a splash back behind it to stop the spray from the tool.

I haven't got a mill, and the lathe doesn't have a tray, so catching coolant becomes a bit of an issue. I just apply from one one those squeeze bottles found in a science lab. But I haven't done anything yet that requires the job to be flooded.

It makes one hell of a mess

 

[GW8IZR]

I haven't got a mill, and the lathe doesn't have a tray, so catching coolant becomes a bit of an issue. I just apply from one one those squeeze bottles found in a science lab. But I haven't done anything yet that requires the job to be flooded.

It makes one hell of a mess

Yes it does, thats one reason I don't use too much of the stuff ;-) like you I use a fairy liquid type of bottle with oil in it most often.

I don't let the coolant drop onto the lathe suds tray normally as I have an old ice cream tub under the chuck.

 

[Hood]

Flood coolant will always make a mess on a manual lathe. Even with a full chuck guard you will get it being thrown all over the place. Only way is to have a full enclosure as per CNC lathes.
The wee Conect 121 CNC had a half enclosure that slid along and it worked reasonably well and my Churchill 290 is similar.
As for coolant trays, easy enough to make and fit under the bed between it and the stand/cabinet.

 

[MCKDAVID]

spent many happy hours as an apprentice mopping up the bottom of a lathe... probably spent as much time cleaning it out as cutting time to be honest. Would I bother now for home type use, no...

unless you're in a production environment or have a really heavy cutting session planned regularly, I wouldn't bother. It's one of things that you think you must have, need etc, but you"ll know if really need it, or have the work coming in to justify it, other than that it's just a really nice to have, but no where near essential.

As above, the alternative is coolant in a pot & brush.. probably more than enough for hobby type use.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I use these on the odd occasion I feel the need to use coolant, work perfectly and as cheap as chips

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5pcs-25...d=361638848322&_trksid=p2385738.c100677.m4598

 

[daleyd]

I use these on the odd occasion I feel the need to use coolant, work perfectly and as cheap as chips

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5pcs-250ml-Tattoo-Diffuser-Green-Soap-Water-Wash-Squeeze-Bottle-Lab-Non-Spray/291983655050?_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=1&asc=20160908110712&meid=2dac0205948548638dc0de8178baf073&pid=100677&rk=3&rkt=30&sd=361638848322&_trksid=p2385738.c100677.m4598

I was working in a new laboratory being built in Edinburgh last week and saw a few lying around, thought they might not miss one or 2 but then I saw some stuff with bio hazard warning labels on so thought better of it

On a serious note they use those a lot in the printing industry for applying solvent and they work great

 

[MCKDAVID]

Just make sure they're suitable for oil.

I got a few of those squeeze type bottles from the missus, used for distilled water or similar. I wasn't sure how long they'd last with oil etc, but gave it a go...two failed within a week, the last one is still going strong. The bottom of them just softened (dissolved) to a point of failure.

No need to overthink it or spend out on it. Any old soup / bean can, with a cheap paint brush in it works fine, I cut the brushes bristles short (about half), so no risk of it getting trapped / dragged in if I'm not watching what I'm doing.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I'm missing my suds setup on my lathe. Been back and forward on replacing it and decided not to. For the amount of use it will get I'll spend more time cleaning than I will cutting metal. Got a few goosenecked bottles and I'll be doing as above as and when required.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I got a few of those squeeze type bottles from the missus, used for distilled water or similar. I wasn't sure how long they'd last with oil etc, but gave it a go...two failed within a week, the last one is still going strong. The bottom of them just softened (dissolved) to a point of failure.

Mine have been fine using soluble cutting oil

....or spend out on it. Any old soup / bean can, with a cheap paint brush in it works fine....

Typed like a true Scot.

 

[MCKDAVID]

aye that too, although I prefer to call it a medical condition, on account of my short arms, (and deep pockets)