Thread: adding a coolant tank

Hi all,
I have recently purchased a Hafco AL-320G lathe and Im looking to add a coolant tank and pump.
I have a few ideas but was wondering if anyone has done something similiar.

G'day.
My mate bought a single phase coolant tank and pump from OZMESTORE1 on ebay.
He got the local cuts & bends to bend up a catch tray and splash back.
Where the hole in the tray for the cooland drain is, he placed a flyscreen mesh cover over the hole. Also cut the magnet out of an old speaker and placed it in front of the mesh to grab any swarf.

An on/off switch is mounted beside the lathe power switch.
Works great.

My 3 phase lathe came with coolant tank and pump as standard.

H&F sell coolant tanks and pumps for a few hundred dollars

if all but finished mine, use a water feature pump and a plastic storage container with a lid, the nossle and hose I got from H&F as theirs has a magnetic base.
all up its cost me about $70, id post up some pics but cant seem to figure out how.

Gday Old, & welcome

To attach pics, first edit them on your computer - resize to about 800x600 pixels & compress to under 100k. JPEGs are usually the go.

Down below the text box when posting a reply, click on manage attachments, browse to each file on your computer (up to 5 per post), click upload pics, then when they show as uploaded, close window. Finish writing your post, then click submit post. Voila, your post is up with thumbnails of your images, others can click the images for full size.


Cheers..............Sean

If you are feeling a bit scotish you could do what that had at school.

just above the head stock and to the rear they mounted the fuel tank of an old victa mower invented a hose and nozle arrangement.
the whole thing drained into the splash tray where a hose led to a large metal jug on the floor.
pull on the fuel tap for coolant.

when you run out... pour the jug back into the upper tank thru a filter funnel.

cheap & cheerfull

some pics of the completed job, although I'm thinking of adding a fish tank air pump to circulate the coolant, according to one of the U.S machining forums it will help prevent bactaria and the formation of tramp oil.

one more,

all up this has cost me $90.00 to make including a litre of Soluble oil.

O.K. I know the reason for a coolant tank, to keep the cutting tip cool. My question is do I need a coolant tank for the Carbide tip being used these days?....(also the one's that I use).:confused:

As I have said before the last time I did any metal turning was back in school and we had the older type H.S.S. cutters.

oldhack,
That is a nice set up. Though a suggestion, slip some woven stainless sheathing over the supply tubing. When you start getting those blue chips flying around that plastic tube is going to cop a pizzling

Eric,
Coolant not always used with modern indexable inserts though it can assist in keeping them sharper for longer. The coolant lubricates the cutting edge, cools workpiece (less cool down time for accurate measurements) flushes away chips (especially when boring) and is really a must for drilling and tapping

regards

Den

Hi Oldhack,

I agree with Den wholeheartedly in that is a great set up you have and the idea of the sheathing around the tube is an excellent idea. Although I suppose (depending on your budget) getting a thicker tube (that are used on other machinery) would be the way to go.

I wish all of the lathes I have used over the years, had your idea of a plastic encased system. Then I wouldn't have had to get all the crap i.e. little blue chips, out of the metal coolant tank.

Regards
David

thanx for the feedback re the supply tube may try and run it through some thing a little more robust.

anyone got any thoughts re the air pump for the coolant tank ???

Something more robust, yes but you only have a magnet to secure with and when the coolant throws up the rooster tail as it hits the chuck it is another reason to stand to the right. The easy flex especially with a magnet mount helps,

Aerator no idea but i do know that they stink after a while, the slime on top you don't want to know about!

Regards

Den

Is there anything else that can be used instead of soluble oil, like maybe auto coolant (ethylene glycol)....?

If your coolant has started to stink it has gone and you should replace it the bactaria will damage your machines