Causes & Solutions of Large Amount of Foam in Cutting Fluid

According to Wikipedia, cutting fluid is a type of coolant and lubricant designed specifically for metalworking processes. Depending on context and on which type of cutting fluid is being considered, it may be referred to as cutting fluid, cutting oil, cutting compound, coolant, or lubricant.

Generally speaking, cutting fluid can reduce friction and heat, improve cutting performance of workpiece by permeating abrasive grains on grinding wheels. However, when cutting fluid is working, large amount of foam may occur, which will have an influence on the quality and machining precision. Besides that, coolant will lead to damage in machine tools, cutting tools, and workpiece. Therefore, it is important to figure out corresponding causes and solutions.

Seven causes

1. Soft water and water with alkali will increase emulsion foam.

2. Easily sealed fluid circulator may result in liquid foam.

3. Too fast speed of cutting fluid leaves limited time for bubble to overflow. Accumulated bubble forms large amount of foam.

4. The volume of cutting fluid bath is too small that there is less time for cutting fluid still standing.

5. Poor layout of return pipe and fluid bath.

6. Too many right angles or too straight angle of cutting fluid's nozzle.

7. Accidental foam resulting from external influence, such as contamination and impurities.

Five solutions

1. Connect pipelines in series in integrated cooling system to lower pressure on pipelines close to cooling box.

2. Make sure the liquid level is not too low, check its height and add cutting liquid without delay.

3. Control the speed of cutting liquid.

4. Avoid too many right angles in water channel.

5. Avoid too straight angle of cutting fluid's nozzle when using cutting fluid.