Everything You Need To Know About Cutting Fluids

Nov 27th 2019

Cutting fluids play a vital role in any industry that utilizes metalworking or machinery. Yes, they’re available in different varieties, but be careful before making the purchase.

What Are Cutting Fluids?

Sometimes, people erroneously refer to them as coolants. The metalworking fluids are responsible for reducing heat and friction during machinery and machinery use.

Metal cutting involves a lot of friction that generates a lot of energy. The energy is converted to heat that can damage your tools or metal if not adequately addressed.

It’s at this point that cutting fluids or metalworking fluids come to play. The metalworking fluids play four main functions that include lubrication, cooling, corrosion control, and chip removal.

Using cutting fluids like aeroshell grease extends the life of your tool and machine. Applying cutting fluids is dependent on several factors:


  • The speed of your cutting machine

  • The type of material that you’re using

  • The kind of metal cutting that you’re doing

  • These factors play a vital role in determining the right cutting fluids for your machinery. But to make it easier, distributors answer the question on what are cutting fluids in three categories. These categories consist of:


    • Carbon and tool steels

    • Titanium, stainless steel, and high-temp alloys

    • Cast iron, aluminum, and nonferrous materials

    • What are Cutting Fluids and Their Application?

      Cutting fluids should have excellent lubricating and cooling effects. But that's not enough; you need to apply the liquid to machining surface for it to work. How do you do this?

      Well, there are three methods of applying cutting fluids. They include the following:

      a) Flooding

      In this method, you supply your workpiece and method tool with a high volume of liquid cutting fluids.

      b) Mist application

      For mist application, you mix cutting fluids with a gas. Apply the mixture to your tools and workpiece. In simple terms, this procedure combines jet and flooding applications.

      c) Jet application

      Here, the cutting fluid can either be a gas or liquid. It’s then applied to tool and workpiece at high pressure.

      What are Cutting Fluids and their Classification?

      The classification is dependent on how the application will be conducted. In the process, one of these types of cutting fluids may be used.

      1. Synthetics

      It’s an oil-free cutting liquid that consists of polymers, organic, and inorganic materials. Because they don’t have oil, their shelf-life is exceptionally longer than other options.

      Ferrous materials and high-speed machines can use a synthetic cutting fluid. The only drawback is that they stain any nonferrous material.

      2. Semi synthetics

      The cutting fluid is used for lubrication, corrosion resistance, and tolerance against contamination. The liquid works on both ferrous and nonferrous materials.

      3. Soluble

      It’s a type of oil that contains emulsifiers allowing it to disperse when it comes to contact with water. The liquid offers lubrication to different applications. However, it works best for nonferrous materials.

      4. Straight Oils

      The non-emulsifiable oils play a vital role in machining operations where it functions in its undiluted form. The composition of straight oils is base minerals. In most cases, they contain polar lubricants like fats, vegetable oils, and esters.

      The liquid might also have pressure additives like chlorine, phosphorous, and sulfur. Yes, straight oils have poor cooling characteristics, but they’re the best lubricants out there.

      What are Cutting Fluids and Their Functions?

      As you know, cutting fluid is a type of lubricant and coolant designed for metalworking processes like stamping and machining.

      The Primary Functions of Cutting Fluids Are:


      • Cooling the workpiece at high cutting speeds

      • Lubrication at low cutting speeds

      • Removing chips from cutting zones

      • The secondary Functions Are:


        • Protects the machined surface from corrosion

        • Cooling the hot surface to enable part handling.

        • The Process Effects of Cutting Fluids in Machining Are:


          • Ease of Swarf and chip handling

          • Give a better surface finish in several applications

          • A longer lifespan to your tools

          • Reduces thermal damage or deformation of your workpiece.

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