Coolant Monitoring & Recycling

Coolant Monitoring & Recycling Products Explored

When it comes to managing a machines coolant system which is an essential part of the maintenance and also the health and safety of machine operatives

Consequently, without good coolant monitoring and filtration equipment, you do risk dealing with rancid coolant, tramp oil contamination, and costly downtime.

Then, in combination with a well maintained coolant management plan, as you know, this really helps to ensure that your workplace safety remains at a high standard, all while you keep the shop floor producing components efficiently here.

As a result, today, there really are some great filtration technologies available designed for metalworking coolants that separate metal swarf, and skim off residual tramp oil deposits, to name just a few.

These solutions revolve around your coolant recycling system and help keep the coolant’s longevity lasting much longer, while cutting down hazardous waste and improving your cost savings across machining operations all at the same time as they do so.

But how do you choose the right one for your needs?
Well, we have put together this handy guide to help you work out which products are right for you, and if you are still not sure, our friendly customer service team is then on hand to help you as well.

So, What are Coolant Monitoring Systems?

Definition: Coolant Monitoring & Coolant Recycling Products are specialised equipment and systems that are used to maintain, test, and extend the life of metalworking fluids in industrial metal work machining facilities.

These products will then help you monitor your key parameters like pH, concentration, and contamination levels, giving you the optimal coolant performance you can get as a direct result.

The coolant recycling systems then filter and remove impurities, allowing the reuse of fluids, reducing your waste disposal, and cutting your operational costs at the same time.

They do so by improving your coolant quality while improving your machining efficiency, while at the same time, extending your equipment's lifespan as well.

Understanding Metalworking Coolants

First things first, though, what are metalworking coolants, and what do you need to be aware of when it comes to these?

Metalworking fluids, for instance, come in many types – from water-based coolants to synthetic and semi-synthetic oils.

As a result, the first thing to get right is choosing the right Machine Coolant for your application because if you get this wrong, this will affect your tool life, sump life, and the overall health of your machining processes as well.

Coolant filtration equipment then plays a key part in, lubricating, separating metal swarf from the coolant.

Good condition coolant will directly impact tool life while also helping to prevent skin irritation for machine operators as well - making it a win-win.

Why Do You Need to Monitor and Recycle Coolants?

Old coolants and used coolants, if not managed well, will become very hazardous waste.

As a result, recycling here will significantly lower your environmental impact by reducing the need for disposal and cutting down the usage of contaminated fluid as well.

Cost Savings and Operational Efficiency

A proper coolant recycling system setup can also give you huge cost savings as well.

They do so by extending the life of the coolant, allowing businesses like yours to reduce unnecessary tool degradation, all while you keep your machining operations smooth and efficient as you do so as well.

Key Considerations For Coolant Monitoring

When it comes to coolant monitoring, there are several key things to consider, including for instance:

pH Level Monitoring

Monitoring the pH is really a key area as it prevents bacterial growth and rancid odour from building up in your coolant, which can then lead to health risks if bacteria is allowed to build up.

Concentration and Contamination Check

Controlling coolant concentration levels is also another key area that helps prevent bacteria building up and contaminating the coolant, all while providing you with the best machining conditions possible.

Here, using testing equipment like a handheld refractometer really does make this really easy for you as this product indicates the mixture levels between the coolant and water – An ideal mix is around 6% concentration, depending on the workpiece materials being machined.

Temperature and Viscosity Factors

Another reason coolant goes off prematurely is when it gets too warm especially during the summer months, this encourages bacteria to grow much faster, This is where coolant chiller units are used. These help maintaining the best condition for cutting fluids.

Sensors and Digital Monitoring

Modern CNC machinery has constant oil loss lubrication systems on all slideways, this is required to keep ball screws well lubricated during machining operations. The downside to this is the waste or tramp oil as it’s otherwise know then drips into the coolant and becomes contaminated, this oil then floats in a layer on top of the coolant preventing it from breathing, which is a perfect environment for bacteria to breed. Oil skimmers work very well in these situations as they syphon off the tramp oil into a tin all while the machine can be kept running without halting production.

How Does Coolant Recycling Work?

Coolant recycling works in a number of ways, which can consist of, for example:

Filtration Methods

Filtration systems remove metal chips and residual tramp oil deposits, keeping your coolant clean and extending the life of the coolant.

This then improves your coolant performance, reduces maintenance frequency, and extends the coolant pumps lifespan by ensuring a cleaner system as a direct result.

Separation Technologies

Techniques like the removal of floating tramp oil, using a skimmer which separate contaminants from the coolant, can also improve the pumps life and help prevent rancid odour issues in the working environment from building up as well.

This then improves your workplace safety while it minimises coolant spoilage and lowers the costs associated with frequent fluid replacements and disposal costs, making it a win-win situation.

This then helps to reduce your hazardous waste disposal fees and maximises your coolant reuse, which can then get you some nice long-term savings as a result.

Popular Types of Coolant Recycling Equipment

When it comes to the products that make up this type of equipment, here you have a lot to choose from, including, for instance:

Woggard Coolant Saver Kit

Some CNC machines automatically remove the swarf from the machine and into a skip by using a swarf conveyor belt system, these systems work great but a lot of coolant is then lost due to the coolant being attached to the swarf, The Woggard Coolant Saver Kit then helps prevent this coolant that would otherwise go to waste by sucking out the coolant from the skip and pumping it back into the machine, recycling the coolant back into the machines sump tank.

This is especially ideal for CNC machining centres, as it increases your coolant life while also reducing your disposal costs and supports environmental sustainability all in one.

Cotton Filter

The Cotton Filter is then perfect for filtering fine swarf from coolants, extending the coolant pumps life expectancy.

This then makes a great choice for machine shops looking to improve coolant clarity while maintaining your precision machine and reducing down time maintenance as well.

Emulsions Care Case

The Emulsions Care Case then offers you a portable solution for monitoring and managing your coolant emulsions.

This will be used by your maintenance teams and helps you get consistent coolant properties while reducing microbial contamination and improving your cutting performance all at the same time.

Filter Panel

A Filter Panel is then used in centralised coolant systems to remove debris and tramp oils efficiently.

These are then perfect for large-scale production, as they maintain system cleanliness while also prolonging the machine's life and improving your productivity by minimising breakdowns as well.

Filter Roll

A Filter Roll then gives you continuous filtration for your coolant system by automatically feeding new filter paper as needed.

This is then ideal for high-volume operations, as it improves your filtration efficiency while making sure that you get stable fluid conditions as well.

Handheld Refractometer

A Handheld Refractometer then gives you quick and accurate concentration readings of coolant mixtures.

These can then be used during routine checks, as they help maintain the best coolant performance while also helping to prevent corrosion and improve both your tool and machine life in the process.

Long Disposable Filter Bag

Long disposable filter bags are then designed to provide more high-capacity filtration of coolant systems.

As a result, these are very common in industrial plants, as they capture large volumes of contaminants, simplify your maintenance, and support a cleaner, more efficient production environment as a direct result.

Long Filter Bag

A Long Filter Bag is then a reusable solution for collecting solids from coolant streams.

These filter bags are then ideal for medium- to heavy-duty machining operations, as they reduce your equipment wear, minimise your fluid contamination, and help lower your operational costs as well.

Nitrate Testing Aid Strip

Nitrate Testing Aid Strips are then ideal for checking your nitrate levels in coolants to prevent degradation from occurring.

These are also ideal for use during regular inspections to help you maintain your coolant chemistry, protect your machines from corrosion, and help keep your workplace safe as well.

Nitrite - Indicator Stick

The Nitrite Indicator Stick then detects nitrite levels that can cause coolant instability.

These are then ideal for shop floor use, as they help you to easily identify early signs of fluid breakdown, while they can help you maintain your fluid health and improve your machine efficiency as well.

Short Disposable Filter Bag

Short Disposable Filter Bags then offer you a compact filtration solution for sump and coolant systems.

These are then suitable for low-to-medium volume operations, as they simplify your coolant cleaning tasks while also improving your system reliability and, at the same time, helping you to reduce your fluid replacement frequency too.

Short Filter Bag

The Short Filter Bag is then ideal if you need a durable, reusable option for trapping contaminants.

Consequently, these are ideal for smaller machine shops, as they help to promote cleaner coolant systems overall while also extending the life of your cutting tools and decreasing your machine downtime as well.

Vacuum

A Coolant Vacuum then extracts used coolant, swarf, and debris from sumps efficiently.

As a result, this is perfect for maintenance crews, as it speeds up tank cleaning, minimises machine downtime, and helps maintain a healthier working environment, too.

Viscose Filter Roll

The Viscose Filter Roll then offers you fine filtration, especially for delicate coolant systems.

Used in precision manufacturing especially, it helps to capture micron-sized particles while supporting cleaner cuts and improving your overall product quality - all while extending your coolant service life as well.

pH Indicator Stick

Lastly, you also have Nitrate Indicator Sticks, which allow quick on-site testing of coolant acidity or alkalinity.

Here, these are ideal for regular monitoring as these sticks prevent microbial growth while maintaining coolant stability and support the best machining conditions for maximum efficiency from your tools as well.

How to Choose the Right Coolant Monitoring System

When it comes to choosing the right coolant monitoring system for you, here you really need to think about your shop floor’s size, the type of metalworking coolants you need to use, and the frequency of machining operations.

You should also consider how often your fluid concentration needs checking to avoid contaminated fluid build-up as well.

Common Problems in Coolant Management

Common problems in coolant management that you also need to be aware of and factor into the equipment you choose can also consist of the following:

Bacterial Contamination

Bacterial growth, for example, leads to health risks, rancid odour, and old coolant problems, making regular fluid monitoring the best defence for you here.

Foaming Issues

Too much foam can also reduce your fluid effectiveness and cause unnecessary tool degradation during CNC machining and other industrial applications as well.

Corrosion Risks

Incorrect coolant concentration or poor fluid control may cause corrosion, damaging machine parts and shortening tool life unnecessarily.

What is tramp oil, and why is it bad?

Tramp oil is unwanted oil that sneaks into your coolant from machine lubricants or hydraulic oils.

It then floats on the coolant surface, helping to promote bacterial growth and causing a rancid odour to build up.

Tramp oil can then also lower coolant life dramatically and create health hazards for your machine operators, so proper removal of free-floating oils is really key to getting the best practices in your coolant maintenance here.

How does coolant recycling save money?

Coolant recycling systems extend the life of the coolant, meaning you buy less coolant and have fewer disposal costs.

Plus, by maintaining the recommended coolant concentration, you avoid unnecessary tool degradation and increase your tool life as well - which in turn can also lead to further cost savings in the long term across your machining processes.

What are the signs of contaminated fluid?

Signs of contaminated fluid here include a strong rancid odour, thickened fluid, unusual foam, and visible metal chips floating in the coolant system itself.

As a result, contaminated fluid can easily cause skin irritation and health risks, as well as premature tool failure and poor working environment conditions on the shop floor as well.

How often should the coolant be recycled?

This really does depend on your machining processes and coolant system design.

For example, in busy industrial applications, recycling here may need to happen weekly or even daily, whereas in less busy settings, it could happen every few weeks.

Overall, proper fluid monitoring, focusing on fluid levels and coolant life, will really help you set the best recycling schedule for your needs - giving you maximum cost savings and environmental compliance as well in the process.

So Is Coolant Monitoring & Recycling Equipment Right For You?

In today’s world, every machine shop should really take on good coolant monitoring and recycling as a standard part of their fluid-management strategy.

Not only does it bring great cost savings, but it also gives you a safer and healthier working environment for employees.

Then, by following best practices, using high-quality monitoring tools, and committing to proper maintenance, you really can enjoy a longer coolant life, with fewer health risks and a much greener manufacturing process to you as well.

Contact Customer Support

If you are still not sure about which is the correct Coolant Monitoring & Recycling Equipment for you, or you need help, then for further information please contact our team, and we will be happy to help you understand which ones are perfect for you and your team. We can also help you with a number of other products including drill bits from Jobber Length Drills, Taper Shank Drills to the right Twist drill set as well, or even End mills with varying number of flutes and lots more - our team is here to help you.

Standard Delivery Options

We have also extended our delivery service and ordering hours to offer you free next-working-day delivery with immediate despatch, making your shipping experience even easier.

Place your order online by 7 p.m. and choose the delivery charge that suits you - including next-day dispatch - to ensure you get a timely, UK mainland hassle-free delivery of your products.

Standard free UK delivery is also available for all products ordered within the specified time, with free shipping and a good returns policy for certain items as well.

Who Is MSC Industrial Supply Co.?

Here at MSC Industrial Supply Co., we are a leading supplier of industrial machine tools, equipment, and maintenance supplies across the United Kingdom. As a result, we can offer trade accounts, a vast selection of new and great-value products from tool sets to metalworking cutting tools and lots more, with free next-day delivery on eligible orders as well.

Our extensive range includes everything from hand tools and power tools to specialised hole-making equipment like blacksmith drill bits, core drills, and machine reamers, to name just a few.

As a result, we can provide you with a comprehensive selection of products, including:

• Blacksmith Drill Bits
• Countersink Drill Bits
• Step Drill Bits
• Masonry Drill Bits
• Hand Tools
• Indexable Insert Drills
• Cutting Tools
• Abrasives
• Power Tools
• Reamer Tools
• Safety Equipment
• Centre Drill Bits

As a result, we serve a wide range of industries, from manufacturing and engineering to maintenance and beyond. Consequently, our commitment to providing quality products and exceptional customer service makes us a trusted partner for all your industrial needs.

With our knowledgeable customer support team and technical assistance available Mon-Fri, we ensure you have the support you need to succeed.