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High Speed Op Prompts Change to Synthetic Fluid
01 Sep 2002
Birmingham-based PDP Engineering operates twelve fixed-head and two new sliding-head CNC machines and employs sixty people. The company discovered that its new tools and machines were designed for high speed operation, but its cutting fluid wasn't.
Running the two new sliding-head CNC machines with a conventional chlorine-free mineral oil caused problems from the start: overheating significantly reduced tool life, generated a lot of smoke, and even caused a fire in one of the machines. Realising that the coolant was limiting machine performance and productivity, the company called in Castrol.
PDP works mainly with low alloy and mild steel, and occasionally with cast iron, aluminium and stainless steel, producing specialised components for customers including MG Rover, BMW, Land-Rover, and Borg-Warner.
Castrol recommended a highperformance synthetic fluid, Carecut ES2, to improve machine performance, and Carelube 68 slide oil which, unlike conventional slide oils doesn't contaminate the sump as a tramp oil.
The changeover has certainly transformed the performance of the new CNC machines. Tools and machines are now able to work at optimum speeds, tool life has tripled on drilling operations and coolant consumption has reduced by 50% - more than covering the difference in cost of the Carecut and promising considerable long-term savings.
There are further savings on the machines' bag filters, which are now lasting three months compared to one week with the previous coolant. A further benefit is the much longer sump life for the coolant, which could reduce a six-monthly cleaning operation to an annual one.
www.castrol.com
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