16.11.2022

Green tools protect resources

Minimum quantity lubrication with MAPAL

With the advent of machining with minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) nearly 30 years ago, the appeal of this technology was its potential cost savings. Today, protecting resources, energy efficiency and an improved carbon footprint take centre stage. The use of MQL is particularly appealing for new manufacturing lines, such as for e-mobility.

#Technology #Reaming&FineBoring #Milling #Drilling #Productos
The picture shows a group of tools from MAPAL that are designed for minimum quantity lubrication.
  • The picture shows a group of tools from MAPAL that are designed for minimum quantity lubrication.
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  • The diagram breaks down the cost blocks of machining production.
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  • The picture shows a MAPAL fine boring tool for machining stator bores of electric motors, which has been designed for MQL machining.
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    Fine boring tool for machining the stator bore with complex cooling channel guide optimised for MQL machining. © MAPAL 

To successfully implement MQL, all parts must be coordinated in the production process. The machine, MQL system, medium, workpiece material, clamping fixture, process sequence, extractor system, tool and clamping technology form one unit. MAPAL offers almost all its tools in versions for MQL too. The Aalen-based manufacturer marks tools and clamping tools suitable for this resource-saving use with a green label.

In these “green tools”, the MQL connections and cooling channels are modified in such a way that the MQL medium is transported to the cutting and guide elements of the tools in a constant and flow-oriented manner. The outlets are closer to the cutting point and have steeper outlet angles than in tools for wet machining. To assist with chip removal, chip spaces in tools suitable for MQL are twisted, polished and made larger where necessary.
 

Less lubricant means lower energy consumption

By definition, an MQL process occurs when the total oil consumption of all tools used in a machining process, calculated to the process hour, is no more than 50 ml/h. Individual processing steps can be achieved with much smaller quantities. This means, for instance, that a solid carbide drill requires an oil quantity of just 0.002 ml for a bore. Examples from mass series production show that the consistent use of MQL technology can reduce consumption of fluids containing oil by up to 98 percent. The pollution from cooling lubricants during manufacturing is thus also reduced, with the corresponding positive effects on the air and the working environment. In particular, fatty alcohols and synthetic esters are widely used as MQL oil. Both are classified as non-hazardous to water so that the environmental regulations for these oils are lower than for the normal water-miscible cooling lubricants.
The diagram breaks down the cost blocks of machining production.
Machining operations with minimum quantity lubrication is a notable lever for protecting resources in production.   © MAPAL

When using conventional cooling lubrication technology in a machining centre, its components high pressure, low pressure, return pump and high-pressure filter account for around 50 percent of all energy consumption in total. Even if the use of MQL technology increases use of compressed air, there is still potential for energy savings of up to 40 percent overall – a major improvement of the carbon footprint in production. Resource efficiency also includes demonstrably longer tool lives for tools used in MQL, particularly in machining aluminium. This is proven in particular by the avoidance of the thermoshock effect which occurs in wet machining.

MAPAL is currently noticing higher demand for processes with minimum quantity lubrication, particularly from countries in Asia. Here, protecting resources is a positive argument from the outset. No longer needing to process chips, but being able to continue processing them without cleaning procedure also makes workflows easier.

In Germany, automotive manufacturers have been pushing the switch to MQL for some years now. However, a complete switch hasn’t been achieved. First of all, in some areas, there are commercial reasons for continuing to operate existing machines, cooling pumps and processing facilities. There may also be established processes which are being continued.

However, when new manufacturing lines are being set up, MQL comes into play from the beginning. This applies in particular to electric mobility. The industry has a keen interest in also producing parts for eco-friendly vehicles in the most resource-efficient way possible, with low carbon emissions. MAPAL now also enables the use of MQL for complex precision tools which were initially not yet designed for this purpose.
 

Tools for e-mobility

Das Bild zeigt ein MAPAL Feinbohrwerkzeug für die Bearbeitung von Statorbohrungen von E-Motoren, das für die MMS-Bearbeitung ausgelegt wurde.
Feinbohrwerkzeug für die Bearbeitung der Statorbohrung mit komplexer, für die MMS-Bearbeitung optimierter Kühlkanalführung.   © MAPAL

Ein Beispiel ist das Werkzeug für die Bearbeitung der Statorbohrung eines Elektromotors. Sein großer Bearbeitungsdurchmesser bedingt eine komplexe Kühlkanalführung im Werkzeug und einen an die Wirkstelle anpassbaren Anströmwinkel des MMS-Mediums. MAPAL konnte die entsprechende Kühlkanalführung im Werkzeug unter anderem mithilfe der additiven Fertigung realisieren. Der 3D-Druck und angepasste Übergabeelemente innerhalb des Werkzeuges macht eine gleichbleibend gute Versorgung aller Schneid- und Führungselemente mit MMS möglich. Weil mit sehr geringen Ölmengen und großen Längen-Durchmesserverhältnissen gearbeitet wird, sind Abdichtungen der Übergabestellen, sowie versackungsfreie und strömungsoptimierte Kühlkanäle im Grundkörper besonders wichtig. Die additive Fertigung, die auch für andere MMS-Werkzeuge eingesetzt wird, ermöglicht zudem angepasste Durchmesser für die Druckluft, was sich mit einem niedrigeren Luftmengenverbrauch ebenfalls günstig auf die Energiebilanz auswirkt.

Die MMS-Technologie wird laufend weiterentwickelt. Neue, qualitativ hochwertige Gerätegenerationen der MMS-Systemhersteller in Kombination mit hochwertigen Medien gewährleisten immer feinere Aerosole beziehungsweise Öl-Luft-Gemische. Darüber hinaus wird die Abstimmung zwischen MMS-System und den einzelnen Werkzeugen optimiert, um für jede Anwendung eine genau dosierte, bedarfsgerechte Ölmenge zur Verfügung stellen zu können. So liefert die Zerspanung mit Minimalmengenschmierung einen noch größeren Beitrag zur Nachhaltigkeit in fertigenden Unternehmen.
 

Kathrin Rehor, PR Project Manager bei MAPAL

Kontakt

Kathrin Rehor Public Relations Kathrin.Rehor@mapal.com Tel.: +49 7361 585 3342

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