Fuchs coolant for titanium machining

The new "super liners" from Boeing and Airbus use 20 per cent more titanium than previous models especially for areas such as landing gear equipment, wing spars and engine pylons. Its effective machining could be the difference between success and failure for many subcontractors. Recent advances in machine tool and tooling technology have made the goal of high metal removal rates (MRR) with longer tool life possible. As a result, manufacturers can now produce high-quality titanium components with shorter cycle times, increased tool life, and higher machine shop productivity by utilising high-flow, high pressure through spindle coolant delivery systems to aid productivity. However, maximum efficiency can only be achieved if the coolant technology is matched to meet the operating criteria of titanium machining and FUCHS has used its global research team to develop the ECOCOOL S 761 range of products to achieve these aims. Richard Rogers, industrial product manager at Fuchs Lubricants UK says: "New coolant delivery systems for high speed machining of titanium creates new and complex demands on the metalworking fluid in terms of lubricity, cooling, tool protection and dissipation of fine chip particles. The FUCHS ECOCOOL S 761 range has been designed to meet these demands." The ECOCOOL S 761 B is now approved by Boeing against its BAC 5008 specification and at one aerospace customer, monthly tool breakages were down from 259, with conventional technology, to 83 with ECOCOOL S 761 B. This equated to a monthly tooling cost saving of over £15,000. These savings were attributed to the superior lubricity and foam control of the ECOCOOL S 761 B over the incumbent cutting fluid.