What Different Cutting Oils Are Made Of?
The phrase, "cutting oils," is both a broad term to describe cutting fluids and a narrow term to describe oils that are specifically used in the machining processes. Lots of other cutting fluids besides oils can be used, but many of them are not so earth-friendly. If you are considering switching to oils, but you want to know what these oils are made of, here is some more information.
Petroleum-Based Mineral Oils
If you envision baby oil, you would be close. Petroleum-based mineral oils for industrial use have the same viscosity, but there color varies widely. From dark, oily black to almost clear, these oils are used primarily as lubricants for the cutting machine. They may be spilled over the material to be cut, or the material may be dipped just prior to cutting. They cannot burn as easily as other cutting oils, but they definitely make materials very slippery when it comes to handling the materials after they have been cut.
Oil Emulsion
An emulsion combines two different materials that would not otherwise mix well and it forces these two materials to mix. Such is the case of a cutting oil emulsion. More often than not, it is oil emulsified in water. The oil part protects the machines, while the water acts as the coolant. Since the oil part of the emulsion coats moving and cutting parts, the parts are also protected from too much exposure to the water in the emulsion. This prevents rust from developing on moving parts.
Completely Synthetic Oils
These types of cutting oils are incredibly difficult to make because you must get the balance of water, HCL, and oil just right. If the amount of water or HCL are off even just a little bit, the cutting oil's projected performance will fail. This is why most manufacturers that need or insist on synthetic cutting oils will only purchase them already mixed so that workers do not accidentally damage the machines by mixing the incorrect amounts.
Vegetable, Plant, or Animal Oils
These cutting oils are far less toxic to the environment and to humans. They must be ready-made or pre-mixed to be used for cutting purposes. Usually, only industries that are trying to go completely green will use these types of cutting oils. Despite their origins, these oils are just as effective for lubricating machinery, preventing fires, and protecting the materials that need to be cut.
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