Thermal growth during machining processes is inevitable yet a challenge operators and production managers face. Heat generated during the machining process may cause effect on both the workpiece and tool and as a result on the finished product.
Moreover, fluctuation of the ambient temperature in the workshop especially in facilities that are not environmentally controlled can contribute to this issue and could possibly increase the number of manual adjustments that operators need to perform throughout the day.
Since many years, machine tool manufacturer has developed various solutions to control thermal levels developed during processing.
One aspect that may not always be so clear when talking about solutions to tackle heat development is the effect of air extraction, where an oil mist separator that continuously extracts air from the machine tool can reduce thermal growth and stabilize temperature. However, oil mist separators work very differently and where the amount of air extraction can vary over time depending on the technology used for cleaning air from oil mist.
A good illustration is at our customer Heemskerk, when replacing their mechanical filters for oil mist extraction to 3nine oil mist separators, they could notice a significant lower temperature of 10° but most of all, a more constant temperature over time.
A plausible explanation had to do with the mechanical filter they were using prior 3nine’s disc stack technology. Running on Nakamura Tome CNC lathe, operating 24/7 the filter became saturated in a fast pace which in turn causes pressure drop fall. The pressure drop fall will inevitably cause a degradation of air extraction and as a result of that, temperature will start to rise. As 3nines technology continuously separates particles out from air and as small as 1µm, the end filter we use to capture only the finest particles will last has for a very long. Therefore, extraction remain constant, and lifetime and temperature will be stable over time.