Try MQL before you buy

Bielomatik is able to provide a test rig, allowing users to judge for themselves the environmental and cost savings to be made, while latest MQL technology makes retrofitting easier. It is estimated that on large scale production sites, cooling lubricant can make up nearly 20 per cent of the total manufacturing cost, says Bielomatik. The cost of purchasing, maintaining and disposing of cutting fluids is a significant factor when evaluating a machine's operating costs. With MQL manufacturing costs can be reduced by up to 15 per cent, without detriment to the quality of the finished component, the company says. A typical 'wet' machine may use 10 to 10,000 litres/hour of lubricant, depending on application, and while much is recycled, due to natural wastage in the form of spray into the atmosphere and adherence to swarf, overall losses can amount to between 3 and 15 litres/hour. With Bielomatik MQL systems, oil consumption can drop significantly, to between 100 and 150 millilitres/hour. Apart from reducing the amount of lubricant used, any machine shop that switches to MQL benefits from much easier disposal of metal cuttings, since they are virtually oil-free and machine performance is enhanced, particularly production time. Another important feature that allows near-dry machining is the elimination of coolant carryover in component pockets, aiding faster processing times between operations. Recognition of the financial and environmental benefits of MQL systems mean that nowadays new machine builds often come complete with MQL technology, although it has invariably been more difficult and more costly to add to 'older' machines. The latest Single Channel MQL system from Bielomatik overcomes most of the difficulties, enabling existing machining operations to benefit from MQL.