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Had a weird finish issue on a 6061 part after switching to a new coolant brand
I mean, I was running a job on our Haas VF2, just some simple pockets and a facing op. Switched from our usual stuff to this new 'Eco-Cut' coolant they gave us a free sample of. After about three hours of cutting, the parts came out with this almost frosted look on the finished surfaces, like a really fine texture. The tool was fine, feeds and speeds were the same as always. I think the new coolant just wasn't lubricating enough for the aluminum, maybe it's more for steel? Has anyone else run into a finish problem that turned out to be the coolant and not the toolpath?
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wadew518d ago
Oh man, my buddy had the exact same thing happen with a free coolant sample. His 6061 parts got that weird, almost chalky finish right after he switched. He went back to his old brand and the problem vanished, so it was totally the coolant.
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lilyp378d ago
Free samples can be a real trap sometimes. Makes you wonder if they're just clearing out old stock that didn't sell.
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That "frosted look" just sounds like a cosmetic thing. If the part is still in spec and the tool isn't wearing out faster, it's probably fine. Wade's buddy might have had a bad batch, but one weird finish from a free sample isn't a huge red flag. Coolant matters, but people act like switching brands will wreck your whole shop. Just run a test piece next time before committing a whole job to it.
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