Ineffective cooling maintenance practices can rob machining shops of valuable savings that can be had by utilizing efficient pumps that receive regular maintenance. While individual savings on cooling equipment for machine shops can vary, depending on a variety of factors, the overall concurrence among Machinists is that an effective cooling maintenance program can reduce cooling costs by up to 80% when compared to ineffective, dated, and aging equipment that tend to be far from the efficiency standards of today's coolant filtration technology.

Coolant filtration systems are the most efficient and easiest way to improve the quality of the coolant systems already in place and reduces the volume of coolant purchased per year and the amount of coolant that must be disposed of and paid to be removed. The idea of going green is not only ecologically friendlier, but transfers to wallet friendly as well, with the reduction of costs incurred by having to drain and replace coolant every two months. With proper filters and pumps in place these replacements can be extended to only having to be performed every 6 months, and in some cases only once a year.

The savings of an excellent coolant filtration system is not only felt with reduction of coolant costs but by the raised level of production as well. Production hold ups based on coolant maintenance can be frustrating to machine shops as well when every machine needs to be utilized and the countless production hours lost in maintenance and repair of failed coolant systems can be the difference in getting ahead of the competition or falling behind the pack. Production is key and coolant filtration is the easiest and fastest way to see positive monetary results.

Dirty coolant can result in reduced quality of output, shortened tool life, and poor surface finish, as well as a variety of environmental issues, ranging from odor to contact dermatitis can be suffered. The conservative estimate of tool cost from augmented wear can reach ten percent of total tool cost. So coolant filtration ends up being a matter of dollars and sense. The sense to understand the cost directly corresponds with the level of coolant filtration.

To keep your shop running strongly and efficiently consider upgrading the level of your filtration system and watch as quality and value soar, while lost productivity and excessive draining and refilling of coolant decreases.

A couple of good companies to look for in this area is US Centrifuge and    PRAB/Monlan.

When recovering metal cutting fluids and recycling oils from a machining environment, filters are essential to both save you money and save the environment. The benefits of filtering your used coolant can be summarized as follows:

• saves money
• increases tool life
• increases productivity due to less maintenance

If you are in the machining business and cutting ferrous materials a magnetic coolant filtration system will be your best pick.  Some magnetic filters can remove as much as 99% of the debris from the coolant.

It is best to use stages and actually remove the magnetic particles first, then filter the remainder through a fiber media.  Some systems can also detect pressure drops in coolant delivery and alert you to the need to change the filter.  Others can index a new filter into the stream automatically as needed. In this way a fresh layer of filter is exposed and clean coolant runs continuously to the machine.

Another type of filtration for your coolant is the centrifuge.  A centrifuge filter system has many advantages over the other types.  By using the forces of gravity, this filter system can separate large quantities of metal debris from your liquid coolants.  Again this system will almost always be paired will a final stage using a media filter to remove the fine particles that can cause wear on tools.   Centrifuge systems that may be worth looking at can be found at US Centrifuge.  This company is a leader in this type of filter.  Another good company is PRAB/Monlan.