Cutting Fluid
Cutting fluid is a liquid used to aid cutting or grinding of metal work piece. It serves various purposes. It facilitates removal of debris. Many industrial machining processes submerges the work piece and cutting tool in cutting fluid. The cutting fluid is constantly cycling and filtered to remove debris from the work piece and cutting tool.
Cutting fluid also acts as an important polishing equipment. In mold polishing, cutting fluid acts as the last polishing step. The particles left by the polishing stones in the cutting fluid produce softer scratches that produce better results compared to uncontaminated cutting fluid.
It plays a key role in heat management. Regulating heat is very important to protecting tools. The most expensive diamond tools can graphitize when exposed to temperatures above 600 Celsius. This leaves the cutting edges soft and blunt, rendering the tools unusable. The cutting fluid helps ensure that temperatures stay within safe range. Regulating heat is also important in preventing welding of metal.
Some additives may be added to the cutting fluid to give it special capabilities. An example of additives are metal deactivators that prevent the staining of alloys that contain copper.
There are many kinds of cutting fluids. Using the right kind of fluid for the job is very important. In the past, animal fats were used as cutting fluid. It is where the name honing oil came from. The term honing oil is still used today even when many cutting fluids do not contain any oil.
