An often overlooked variable of grinding precision tools is maintaining your grinding oils. This is important because coolants minimize friction and eliminate excessive heat at the point of contact between the wheel and the tool. During the machining process, grinding oils are contaminated by metal debris, dirt and decomposition stemming from extreme heat exposure. When coolants are not thoroughly filtered, it is necessary to change them often.

Optimally filtered coolants, however, have two main positive effects on the production of cutting tools: They improve grinding economy, and they enable tool manufacturers to produce high-quality products.

According to Steffen Strobel of Vomat, a manufacturer of fine filtration systems, the requirements for high-quality tools are constantly on the rise and, therefore, tools must be ground with much more precision. To achieve this, manufacturers are investing in modern machinery and climate-controlled production facilities. Given this kind of expenditure, there is no room for cheap compromises when it comes to coolant filtration, he says. The coolant must have a high degree of purity since coarse particles can interfere with the grinding process and prevent the manufacture of tight-tolerance tools.

To improve grinding oil maintenance, Vomat offers its FA series of fine filtration systems. The series is designed to provide full flow (non-bypass) filtration of clean oil, which is tailored to the needs of the production machines. The filter cartridges are automatically cleaned with 100 percent separation of clean and dirty oil. The filters’ capacity, combined with the on-demand backwash cycle, are designed to increase service life of the metal coolant. This not only prevents loss of tool quality, but also saves money on metal coolants, the company says. Coolants don’t have to be changed as often either.