Lubricant Slashes Quantities Needed

Lubricant Slashes Quantities Needed Bielomatik MQL system has not only reduced the capital expenditure of new line introduction, but also dramatically cut lubricant use at Albon. A typical 'wet' machine would use up to 10,000 litres/hour, by incorporating MQL, usage has dropped to less than 100 millilitres/hour. MQL produces dry swarf which sells for up to 80% more than 'wet' swarf.Albon Engineering and Manufacturing manufactures steel and cast iron connecting rods for both petrol and diesel engines. Many of the Albon multi-spindle production machines for roughing and finishing operations incorporate the Bielomatik two-channel MQL system whereby a pressurised, small bore ring main delivers oil from a reservoir and a proportionally controlled air supply separately to the bielomatik rotary transmission unit fitted to the rear of the spindle. A 'quick valve' mounted to the rotary transmission controls the exact amount of lubricant required.The oil and air then pass through the integral lance mounted in the centre of the spindle. Separation of the oil and the air is maintained by the two-channel design until the back of the cutting tool, where it mixes in a chamber and produces a fine oil / air mix which is delivered through channels in the tool holder directly to the cutting tool tip. Machine designers and production staff have observed an improvement in the machine surface finish, particularly on large deep boring operations. Also there has been a very significant reduction in tool wear, the cutting life extended by as much as 50%, thus reducing machine downtime and costs.