Machine coolant or cutting fluid contaminated with tramp oil causes major problems. Learn how skimming coolant with tramp oil skimmers helps.
Removing oil from a machine coolant tank will produce benefits, such as cutting down on the amount of smoke generated from the cutting tool. Learn more.
Machine tool coolant fluid contaminated with tramp oil can cause problems. For instance, contamination reduces fluid life and deteriorates the quality of machined parts. As the problem worsens, the tramp oil accelerates bacterial growth, and the cutting fluid eventually produces a rotten-egg odor. Besides the odor, bacteria-contaminated coolant can more serious issues such as dermatitis.
However, there is solution. Oil skimmers remove contamination. They are inexpensive, highly dependable, and typically pay for themselves within a few months. Although designs vary, most use moving media and rely on differences in specific gravity and surface tension between oil, water, and the skimmer medium.
Skimmer media comes in various shapes, and the most common are belts, disks, or tubes. As the medium moves through the cutting fluid, it picks up non-emulsified oil, which subsequently enters a removal section of the skimmer. Wiper blades or pinch rollers remove oil from the medium and routes it into a container for reclamation or disposal.
Selecting the proper style oil skimmer not only controls coolant contamination but also provides a clean, safe work environment. It’s also important to make sure the skimmer motor is robust enough to handle the intended application.
Skimmer motor housings, no matter what type of skimmer, should completely enclose the wiring and be tightly secured. Loose fitting housings with weak fastening may come off unintentionally, exposing wiring and increasing the risk of electrical shock. The housing should also be well ventilated so the motor does not overheat.
Shops also need to check motor specs, making sure the system is rated for continuous service. To shave costs, some manufacturers opt for intermittent-duty motors. Using this type of motor for more than two or three hours a day generally causes overheating.
Additionally, keep in mind that skimmed oil and water inevitably get on the motor shaft. So, it is important that the motor’s seals effectively prevent unwanted fluids from migrating along the shaft and contaminating the bearings.
To learn more about oil skimmers, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400 or visit our website: www.abanaki.com
In this video, you will see how do different sizes Abanaki oil skimmers work with different media types.
The use of an oil skimmer in the machine shop setting holds many benefits. Removing the oil from a machine coolant tank will initiate some esthetic benefits such as cutting down on the amount of smoke generated from the cutting tool coming into contact with oil laden coolant.
When a machine is shut down for the weekend, oil has a chance to come to the surface of the coolant tank. Bacteria that are living in the coolant tank use up the dissolved oxygen in the coolant mix, a process that is sped up by having a layer of oil on the surface. This allows odor causing anaerobic bacteria to thrive, giving off that familiar “rotten egg” smell.
Contrary to popular belief the common types of bacteria found in metalworking fluids do not cause dermatitis. However, if the skin is broken, bacteria that normally inhabit the skin may enter and cause infection. The presence of phosphates and carbonates that increase alkalinity in the coolant, however, can cause dermatitis. These impurities are found in the water being used in the coolant mix.
Separating the oil from the coolant will also help reduce disposal costs. The cost of disposing of oil laden coolant is more expensive than disposing of oil. In fact, in some instances, companies may be able to re-use the oil elsewhere or sell it for recycling. Having oil free coolant can also extend its usefulness and effectiveness, reducing the expense on maintenance and coolant replacement. As the research on the different types of oil skimmers begins, a person will find that there are a variety of skimmers available to them. The most common types are the belt, disk, and tube skimmers. Each type of coolant skimmer has its advantages and disadvantages.
There are also many factors that need to be considered when choosing the correct type of oil skimmer to fit the appropriate application. Factors such as water level fluctuation, water temperature, pH level, the use of rust inhibitors, the amount of oil to be skimmed, quality, and cost, must all be considered when selecting an oil skimmer.
The use of rust inhibitors, high temperatures, and variable pH levels can affect the skimmers ability to pick up oil. Most skimmer manufacturers use a variety of materials for the skimming medium such as plastic, stainless steel, or poly blends to match the solution in which they will be used.
There are a multitude of oil skimmers on the market today. One of the most important things to be considered is the quality of the unit to be purchased. Points of interest should include construction materials, motor design, and the type of warranty that is offered. Is the skimmer housing made of metal or plastic? Is the motor fan-cooled? Does the motor use needle bearings or bronze bearings? How long does the warranty last and what does it cover? Most oil skimmers will perform as advertised, but remember the old adage that “you get what you pay for”.
To learn more about oil skimmers, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400 or visit our website: www.abanaki.com
Abanaki Corporation Oil Skimming Division
17387 Munn Road
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
Phone: (440) 543-7400
Email: skimmers@abanaki.com
Fax: (440) 543-7404
ISO 9001:2015 Certified Company
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Skimming Away Coolant Contamination with Tramp Oil Skimmers | Abanaki
Machine coolant or cutting fluid contaminated with tramp oil causes major problems. Learn how skimming coolant with tramp oil skimmers helps.
Coolant Oil Skimmer With Benefits | Abanaki
Removing oil from a machine coolant tank will produce benefits, such as cutting down on the amount of smoke generated from the cutting tool. Learn more.