Mister versus flood versus ??? coolant system

I'm looking for a recommendation on a coolant system for A BP II CNC Knee Mill.
* I don't particularly like the idea of a mister as I don't want to be inhaling the mist.
* The flood type seems like it will be a mess and I have read that it gets all over the shop also. I would be willing to build a short Plexi cage around the table to catch the oil. This strikes me as the best coolant method, especially for CNC setups.
* Just Air. This blows away the chips and it cools the end mill. Although I'm not sure it cools enough
* It would be nice if I could turn it off and on via CNC control.

I would just rather buy some affordable system rather than make my own, although I would consider the DIY approach if there are no low cost options.

Recommendations? :cheers:

I built one of these myself:
http://www.fogbuster.com/Frame.htm

I have a very similar mill. I use a very heavy mist. Its about as good as flood without the mess. And this unit doesn't fog the room. After years of using the inexpensive air misters, I got very sensitive to the fog.

Karl

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Originally Posted by split63

* It would be nice if I could turn it off and on via CNC control.

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Just put a solenoid in your line and use an M code to turn it on/off. I set mine up on M7 M9

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Karl_T

I built one of these myself:
http://www.fogbuster.com/Frame.htm
Karl

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How is this different and do you have any plans?

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.c...84cf2d68dbdd33

http://cnczone.com/forums/attachment...9&d=1142288893

http://cnczone.com/forums/attachment...8&d=1142288616

http://cnczone.com/forums/attachment...7&d=1142288616

Ah, you read my mind posting the image

One thing, this guy mentions how mist cooling is only 90% as effective as flood coolant. Given the minor amount of coolant with this no-fog approach, it must be much less effective also?

I setup a flood system on my BP 1 with a 5 gallon bucket and a $50 coolant pump for a bandsaw. It has worked great for me so far.

Matt

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Originally Posted by keebler303

I setup a flood system on my BP 1 with a 5 gallon bucket and a $50 coolant pump for a bandsaw. It has worked great for me so far.
Matt

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Do you have a picture of your setup? What do you use as a nozzle? Which coolant do you use?

I cannot get a picture until the weekend at the earliest. It is a small 110V pump in the bottom of a 5 gsl bucket. The drain from my table goes into the bucket, through a screen and then recirculates. I have the normal flexy plastic nozzle which is screwed to the side of the head and plumbed to the pump. The coolant I use is the cheap stuff mcmaster sells, not sure the brand, etc.

Matt

Quote:

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Originally Posted by split63

Ah, you read my mind posting the image

One thing, this guy mentions how mist cooling is only 90% as effective as flood coolant. Given the minor amount of coolant with this no-fog approach, it must be much less effective also?

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This no-fog sprayer is better than a mister because it uses more coolant, large droplets. You're certainly not up to the high pressure high volume flood coolant used in enclosed machining centers. But, I really like not have the full enclosure.

Karl

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Originally Posted by Karl_T

Just put a solenoid in your line and use an M code to turn it on/off. I set mine up on M7 M9

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Karl this has caught my interest.

Where do you have the solenoid valve? Does it control both lines?
If it only shuts off the 5 psi air flow, does the coolant continue to flow?

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Originally Posted by Greolt

Where do you have the solenoid valve? Does it control both lines?
If it only shuts off the 5 psi air flow, does the coolant continue to flow?

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Yes, it takes two solenoids with this mister. I put them on the column maybe three feet from the end.

Karl

Thanks for that Karl. I am thinking of a backward step from what you have done.

In my shed I have two mills and a lathe that get used ocasionaly and need coolent even more ocasionaly.
So managing flood coolant is a pain.

What I would like to do is make one small unit like yours using a smalll gas bottle
and moving it to a machine when needed.

So simple, read cheap would be good. One regulator.

I know this is disregarding your improvements but I think it would be quite adequate for my needs.

So do you have info on your first attempt?

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Originally Posted by Greolt

So do you have info on your first attempt?

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Sure, Its exactly the same unit and bottle. I just added a second regulator for the improvement. Should be fine this way, but a little fog will be present. I am very intolerant of the fog.

Karl