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Good filtration equals longer fluid life. In the past, the high cost of filtration media and equipment was prohibitive for most machine shops to realize a cost benefit. Now because of the high prices of metalworking fluids and the even higher costs of fluid disposal, all shops should be implementing some type of coolant filtration.

The level of filtration depends on the machining process and the desired level of surface finish. Thus the more critical the surface finish requirements, an equally increased level of fluid filtration is necessary. Filtration as low as 1 micron may be required in order to obtain super finishes less than 10 Ra.

In order for companies to realize the most return out of their machine tools and the increasingly expensive cutting tools they use, they must change their thinking about coolants in general. Metalworking fluids account for around 1 to 2 percent of the total cost of the part being manufactured, but can impact the overall manufacturing costs of the part by as much as 95 percent.

Instead of seeing coolant as a necessary evil, it should be viewed as an asset. Metalworking fluids are a liquid tool and should be treated as such. Taking proper care of them will increase a company’s productivity and profitability.

(Source: Metalworking Fluid Management and Best Practices)