Coolant Delivery Solutions to Solve Your Production Headaches Did you ever feel that the coolant system on your machine tools was added as an afterthought? Do you constantly have to improvise and modify nozzles just to get coolant to the tool tip? Are you afraid to run your machines unattended in case a coolant nozzle vibrates out of position and starts a “tool meltdown”? Does coolant seem to be spraying everywhere except where it’s supposed to be spraying? Do you constantly stop production to adjust coolant lines? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you’re certainly not alone. It seems that almost every manufacturer faces these problems on a regular basis. Most CNC machine tools have a coolant delivery system designed to handle a limited range of applications. In the real world however, your setups can be extremely varied and are only limited by your imagination, so you need lots of options for getting coolant to the cutting edge. No single nozzle will work well for all applications. That’s why we’ve engineered a wide range of coolant nozzle products to fit your machines. They are designed to meet the varied needs of manufacturers just like you. If you don’t see something in this catalog that will work for you, call us and we’ll work with you to solve your problem! Choosing the Right Nozzle Coolant performs several functions in the machining process, including lubrication, heat dissipation, corrosion prevention, chip control and dust suppression. Properly applied, it can help you achieve better tool life, higher production rates, better finishes and improved accuracy. Improperly applied, it can actually be detrimental to the machining process. The nozzle plays a critical role in the proper application of coolant. It must accurately direct an adequate flow with sufficient velocity directly at the tool/workpiece interface, and must resist vibration, swarf and inertial forces that could knock it out of alignment. All QPM nozzles are easy to aim, yet are rigid and compact to ensure reliable production. The type of nozzle you choose will depend on your application and the type of coolant ports on your machine. Select the type of nozzle that fits your machine’s coolant ports and that is rated for your operating pressure. If you are not sure what pressure your coolant pump produces, it is often helpful to “tee in” a pressure gage near the pump outlet. Most people are surprised to find their pump puts out far less pressure than they thought. Orifice Diameter Choose an orifice size that matches your pump’s capacity. If the orifice is too big, the pressure will drop off with a resultant drop in coolant velocity. If too small, an inadequate amount of coolant will reach the tooltip. To calculate the average coolant exit velocity (important in some grinding operations where it is often desirable to match or exceed the peripheral velocity of the wheel), refer to the formula on page 3. Choose an orifice size that produces sufficient backpressure to achieve the desired velocity. Refer to the table below for information regarding flow rates of various orifice sizes at different pressures. Table 1. Typical Nozzle Performance Data FLOW RATE (US gal./min.) 5 10 20 30 40 60 80 100 150 200 300 500 1000 1500 psi psi psi psi psi psi psi psi psi psi psi psi psi psi .040 .07 .10 .14 .17 .20 .26 .31 .35 .41 .46 .61 .88 1.2 1.4 .062 .19 .25 .37 .44 .51 .62 .73 .80 1.0 1.2 1.5 2.1 3.0 3.8 .086 .36 .51 .72 .85 1.0 1.2 1.5 1.7 2.0 2.3 2.8 3.7 5.2 6.3 .110 .64 .90 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.2 2.5 3.1 3.6 4.1 5.2 6.5 8.9 10.9 .160 1.4 2.0 2.8 3.5 4.0 4.8 5.6 6.2 7.6 9.1 10.8 14.0 19.8 24.3 .220 2.5 3.7 5.2 6.7 7.8 9.3 10.6 11.8 14.4 16.5 19.6 25.2 35.5 43.5 Note: Flow Rates are based on water at 68ºF (20ºC). Actual results will vary with fluid type, extension length and aiming angle. ORIFICE DIAMETER (inches) 2