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coolant filter media ideas

cbailey

Plastic
Joined
Jan 4, 2019
hi all
on my machining center the coolant is really starting to stink, upon a bit of googling this is due to bacteria mainly and potentially inferior coolant (we already have some much better coolant ordered)
however apparently if you get lots of chips in your coolant tray they provide a nice home for all that bacteria to breed in, on the machine there is a perforated tray and the holes are around 1/2mm thick and let some of the super small chips through, especially cast iron.
so does anyone use some form of a filter between the machine outlet and their coolant tank, i've been looking online and found sheets that would be ideal for the job, but they are designed for air filtration more than liquid, would they work for me or do I need to look for specialised water filters. I don't want to end up flooding the shop if it won't let the coolant through fast enough.

has anyone done something like this themselves or have any other ideas I can look into for keeping chips out of my coolant tank.

cheers
Connor
 
Muslin cloth is great and cheap. I cover my perforated chip trays with it and it helps keep out the super fine stuff. I also run an aquarium pump with a few air stones in the coolant tank that agitates the coolant. Stay on 24/7 even when the machine isn't running.

This is on McMaster-Carr, which doesn't help you, but I'm sure you can find locally.

McMaster-Carr
 
I have seen some shops put a Tee in there coolant line and run a hose to a filter bag ,,, every month or two you just wash out the filter bag and it seems to catch a "LOT" of the alum fines

I have been using cloth made for air vents on my coolant return and it works great ,,,
 
Muslin cloth is great and cheap. I cover my perforated chip trays with it and it helps keep out the super fine stuff. I also run an aquarium pump with a few air stones in the coolant tank that agitates the coolant. Stay on 24/7 even when the machine isn't running.

This is on McMaster-Carr, which doesn't help you, but I'm sure you can find locally.

McMaster-Carr

Do you know what grade of cheesecloth is good to use? Grainger has grade 10 (coarse) through 90 (fine). Not sure what McMaster sells. Are you using the McMaster stuff?

Edit: seems like old white t-shirt works pretty well. McMaster is grade 90 so they say.
 
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X2 on aquarium pump with airstones. The bacteria is anaerobic, so bubbling air through the coolant, especially when the machine is off, will help reduce bacteria growth and resultant stink. Skim oil of the coolant as much as possible, as that is food for the bacteria.
 








 
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