ALC - Abanaki

Coolant skimmers typically don’t come attached to CNC machines when they are newly bought. This is because nobody wants to admit that the brand-new machine is eventually going to leak oil into the coolant. This looks good on paper, but there is a reason why so many coolant skimmers are bought annually. CNC machines are bound to have at least a small amount of oil leaking into the coolant at some point. The skimmer will remove this oil from the top of the coolant for disposal. Without some type of coolant skimmer, the coolant life will be dramatically decreased. These small coolant skimmers will save you money throughout the operational life of your CNC machine. 

Companies look for effective ways to remove oil from water or coolant to reduce costs and the liability of proper disposal. Another reason for removing the oil is a better work environment. Letting oil remain in the coolant tank allows anaerobic bacteria to grow. Anaerobic bacteria break down the components of coolant, causing it to need changing more frequently. Oil-laden coolant with a high anaerobic bacteria content has two other drawbacks as well. The first drawback is an unpleasant odor caused by the bacteria. The second drawback the smoke generated from the oil-laden coolant coming in contact with the operating cutting tool. One of the easiest ways to remove hydrocarbons from water or coolant is by using an oil skimmer. It is a low maintenance, easy to use tool for removing oil from water or coolant.

It is a common question asked every day by people in all fields of industry. Machine shops, steel mills, industrial manufacturers, and many others are faced with the problem of removing oils from coolants and wastewater on an everyday basis. They are faced with high disposal and maintenance costs. Some manufacturers are charged extreme amounts to have their contaminated water treated properly by their local water treatment facility.

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.

There are over 25,000 plating companies in the USA operating under challenging manufacturing conditions. Facing high temperatures, abrasives, extreme pH and chemicals in parts washers and holding tanks, effective oil skimming seems like a nearly hopeless task.

1. Oil Boss

An Ohio Manufacturer was facing a problem at its multiple machining centers were becoming contaminated with tramp oil. The plant manager was concerned with rising disposal and replacement costs for the five machining centers. With coolant needing to be replaced in the tank every three months, Hahn Manufacturing contacted Abanaki to find a solution to its troublesome coolant costs. After further inspection, it was suggested that Hahn use Abanaki’s Mighty Mini SST Oil Skimmer. This skimmer can remove one to two gallons of medium weight oil per hour. The stainless steel construction enables it to operate in harsh chemicals and heat, while the integrated timer lets it run only when needed. It is designed to reduce water content in the disposed oil. Its compact size allows it to fit almost anywhere.