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Mixing Coolant

 

It all depends on the company's size, how many CNC machines are running, the coolant for the amount of coolant used, and how the machines are filled. We will go over the options for mixing coolant properly and provide some maintenance tips to keep your coolant fresh and in the best condition for all of your cutting needs.

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Suppose you are at a shop that mixes the coolant with water by hand in buckets. In that case, a good starting ratio is 15-20:1 for most brands. Still, the best thing to do is learn the ratio from the coolant manufacturer's specifications. A dedicated measuring cup with a mark is suitable for mixing coolant when the machine fills with all-new coolant. A refractometer is a tool that measures the concentration of the coolant. Sometimes, the coolant can get lean and be waterier, causing the machine to rust, and the tools won't cool properly. Adding coolant to the machine is needed.

 

Remember always to add coolant and mix the water together. Sometimes, you add more coolant to the water or less, depending on whether the coolant on the machine is rich with coolant or lean with coolant. Other times, the coolant can be too rich, and the fluid will be thicker and more sticky, which makes it harder to clean off the parts, fixtures, and table. Some factors that change the concentration of the coolant are the amount of heat generated while cutting. The coolant will gain temperature and could steam off some of the water. The time of year can play a role in the concentration of the coolant. Humidity changes the coolant and also if the company has air conditioning.

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Pre-mixers are another option for mixing coolant in CNC machines. There are many styles out there for drums and some for 5-gallon pails. These help to fill the machines with a preset ratio fitting inside the unit. The fitting can be changed to raise and lower the ratios as needed. Ordering coolant by the drum is cheaper per gallon. Getting the coolant into the machine quicker is a couple of the benefits. Still, more space is needed to store the coolant, and the upfront cost is much higher than purchasing the coolant in 5-gallon pails.

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​At any point the coolant gets a bad odor, hydrogen peroxide can be added to neutralize the odor.

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