Dribble to Flood Cooling on a Lathe

Check out the style splash guards used on OmniTurn retrofitted CNC lathes. The design works quite well on manual lathes and is easy to build yourself.

Gunner

"Lenin called them "useful idiots," those people living in liberal democracies who by giving moral and material support to a totalitarian ideology in effect were braiding the rope that would hang them. Why people who enjoyed freedom and prosperity worked passionately to destroy both is a fascinating question, one still with us today. Now the useful idiots can be found in the chorus of appeasement, reflexive anti-Americanism, and sentimental idealism trying to inhibit the necessary responses to another freedom-hating ideology, radical Islam"

Bruce C. Thornton, a professor of Classics at American University of Cal State Fresno

Flood coolant is far superior, as you are finding out.

You can buy a coolant pump for next to nothing, put it in that bucket where the pan drains, and that will give you a complete flood coolant setup.

Then you may realize that you need a chuck shield.

i

I have the pump et al already, and have been hooking everything up. Finished today.

I knew that before, even with the mister. The wall behind gives mute testimony. Even dribble generates far more flying coolant. At least it isn't mist, so I don't need the respirator mask.

Joe Gwinn

I think I recall this from a few years ago, but I'm finding only full enclosures. Have you a URL or two in mind?

Joe Gwinn

Very distant picture unfortunately...they have screwed up their visuals over the years...

Its simply a plate that clamps around the spindle boss...and a hinge with a heat bent piece of acrylic that goes over the top of the chuck. It works quite well.

There are a number of manufactures of clear plastic swing over splash guards out there, but Ive found it just as easy to make my own.

And yes..I use Full Flood cooling whenever the lathe is cutting anything besides brass and plastic. Good old fashion nasty high sulphur cutting oil is in each of my lathes. And I dont every have any problems with burning out inserts bits etc etc.

Gunner

Gunner

"Lenin called them "useful idiots," those people living in liberal democracies who by giving moral and material support to a totalitarian ideology in effect were braiding the rope that would hang them. Why people who enjoyed freedom and prosperity worked passionately to destroy both is a fascinating question, one still with us today. Now the useful idiots can be found in the chorus of appeasement, reflexive anti-Americanism, and sentimental idealism trying to inhibit the necessary responses to another freedom-hating ideology, radical Islam"

Bruce C. Thornton, a professor of Classics at American University of Cal State Fresno

Thanks. I did see that photo, but didn't realize it had a chuck shield.

I've seen these guards, which are intended to satisfy OSHA, don't mention their performance as a splash shield, and cost $200 to $300.

I thought of oil, but didn't like the fire hazard in my basement, so I went to soluble oil. I would guess that oil is less prone to being flung, but makes a bigger mess when it does.

Joe

I bought mine on ebay for much less than that, very well worth the money. It was $45, IIRC.

Much bigger.

i

That's better! What kind?

I was testing parting off with dribble to flood today. Running in reverse with upsidedown 2mm sgih blade under power feed, I was being too stingy and/or missing the little slot with the coolant, and the 1018 steel wadded up and broke the carbide tooth with a bang.

Next time, new tooth and far more coolant, no problem. But blue stuff everywhere.

Joe Gwinn

Sometimes you just have to do it right the first time, and clean up afterwards.

Gunner

"Lenin called them "useful idiots," those people living in liberal democracies who by giving moral and material support to a totalitarian ideology in effect were braiding the rope that would hang them. Why people who enjoyed freedom and prosperity worked passionately to destroy both is a fascinating question, one still with us today. Now the useful idiots can be found in the chorus of appeasement, reflexive anti-Americanism, and sentimental idealism trying to inhibit the necessary responses to another freedom-hating ideology, radical Islam"

Bruce C. Thornton, a professor of Classics at American University of Cal State Fresno

It was a nicely bent acrylic shield with a hinge, I could not possibly do as nice job bending. I can take a picture if you want.

seems like climbing?

I would go faster once you have some sort of a shield.

i

I'll probably make one, but a photo would be appreciated.

Climbing? I'm not sure what you mean, but this is not a mill.

When I looked at the groove left by the dearly departed carbide insert with bright light and magnifier, there was a very obvious circular gouge of increasing galling of the sidewall, growing deeper in a single turn, until it overwhelmed the carbide insert. The wad of gathered 1018 steel was a bit wider than the groove, leaving torn gouges in the sidewalls. The wad was cyclically welding to the sidewalls and tearing loose, until the wad was too big to chew.

Giving it a sufficient flood prevented this cascade of troubles.

That is the plan. I've been running at ~500 rpm. I now understand why modern CNC lathes (now called machining centers) are fully enclosed, with a sliding door in front. Milky coolant everywhere while running, so you cannot see a thing.

Joe Gwinn

This gets old fast on the third time. So, there will be splash shields.

Dribble/flood is still better than mist.

Joe Gwinn

Yes..it is. I installed (28) 400psi secondary pumps in a shop last December. But then..I controlled the output well enough one could stand with the door open and watch the activity. Ya simply gotta do whats best for da makinery.

Gunner

"Lenin called them "useful idiots," those people living in liberal democracies who by giving moral and material support to a totalitarian ideology in effect were braiding the rope that would hang them. Why people who enjoyed freedom and prosperity worked passionately to destroy both is a fascinating question, one still with us today. Now the useful idiots can be found in the chorus of appeasement, reflexive anti-Americanism, and sentimental idealism trying to inhibit the necessary responses to another freedom-hating ideology, radical Islam"

Bruce C. Thornton, a professor of Classics at American University of Cal State Fresno

I will take a picture, I thought that I had one.

Your round part climbed the cutter, was my supposition.

yep

They usually spray coolant at higher pressure too.

i

If you haven't seen it already, you might want to look over Steve Bedair's splash guard for his 9x20. He just heated up some Plexiglas and bent it into shape. See:

May give you a few more DIY ideas.

Any proper CNC lathe has a high-pressure coolant nozzle well-aimed to discourage kibitzing.

Joe Gwinn

Yes. This is my general approach, although I'll probably use metal not wood.

Joe Gwinn

Thanks.

Yes, but the question is Why?

Insufficient lubrication, so a wad of steel grew and welded to the sidewalls of the 2mm groove. The lathe had the oomph to keep on going. Not so the carbide insert. Glad it didn't mangle the blade.

Full enclosure required for sure.

Joe Gwinn

Joe Gwinn, here are the pictures of the chuck shield. Sorry that they are not too good, I struggled with lighting. It was not easy to take a picture of a transparent object on varying, dull dark background.

i