Evaluation of Soluble Oil vs. Semi Synthetic Metal Working Fluids at Toolamation Inc.

              Evaluation of Soluble Oil vs. Semi-Synthetic Metal Working Fluids at Toolamation Inc.
WMRC
Fact Sheet
TN08-091
October 2007
Toolamation Inc. collaborated with technical assistance specialists from the Waste Management and Research Center (WMRC) to evaluate the metal working fluid (MWF) oil removal system and soluble-oil vs. semi-synthetic MWFs.
Background
Toolamation Inc. (http://www.toolamation.com/), founded over 40 years ago by Marlin Bird, is a privately owned and operated Illinois metal working business in Beach Park, IL that employs 40 people. Toolamation provides high-volume automated production broaching and screw machine tooling products. Other services include heat temperature, tumbling/deburring, CNC machining, and EDM services. They specialize in high quality parts fabrication with fast setup and turnaround. Toolamation is ISO 9001 certified.
Toolamation was contacted by WMRC engineers to determine their interest in participating in the Cutting Edge Partnership, a program to assist metal working facilities with MWF related issues, as well as pollution prevention (P2) and energy efficiency (E2) improvements. Marlin Bird was interested in assistance with their soluble-oil MWF.
MWF Evaluation
One Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820 217-333-8940
WMRC is a Division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Toolamation was using a soluble-oil fluid in their Okuma Milling Machine (Figure 1). There were so many tramp oils floating on the MWF in the machine’s sump that the fluid appeared black (Figure 2). Tramp oils are generated as a byproduct during metal working operations, either from machined parts or hydraulic leaks. Tramp oils that accumulate in the MWF act as a nutrient source for bacteria, causing the MWF to degrade and produce offensive odors.
Figure 1
Figure 2