Metalworking fluids have a lot of work to do.
Depending on the application, the right cutting fluid can help control heat, provide the lubricity the operation requires, protect against corrosion, support the desired surface finish, and keep the machining process running efficiently.
But selecting the right product is only part of the equation.
Concentration changes. Water quality varies. Tramp oil and contaminants enter the system. Production conditions change. And a fluid that performs well during machining can create problems if it isn’t compatible with what happens to the part next.
That’s why Comet Supply looks beyond the product.
We help manufacturers select, manage, troubleshoot, and, when necessary, customize metalworking fluids around the way their operation actually works.
There’s no universal “best” cutting fluid.
There is a best choice for what you’re trying to do.
When a customer comes to us looking for a cutting oil or CNC coolant, we start by learning about the application. What machine are you running? What material are you machining? Are you drilling, milling, tapping, grinding, or performing another operation? What does the equipment manufacturer specify? What product are you using today, and what problems are you trying to solve?
The material itself is especially important. Steel, stainless, aluminum, brass, cast iron, plastics, and other materials can place very different demands on a metalworking fluid.
We also want to understand the operating conditions. High-speed machining may create different cooling requirements than a heavy-duty operation where lubricity and extreme-pressure performance are more important.
The goal isn’t to sell you whichever product happens to be on the shelf.
It’s to understand what you’re doing well enough to recommend the product that belongs in the machine.
The job doesn’t necessarily end when the tool leaves the part.
Will the part be painted? Welded? Plated? Galvanized? Cleaned? Stored? Shipped?
Those next steps can influence which metalworking fluid makes sense upstream.
For example, a water-based cutting fluid may be advantageous when a part needs to be cleaned before painting because it can be easier to remove. Other applications may benefit from an oil-based product when heavier-duty machining or additional corrosion protection is required.
That’s why we don’t evaluate machining in isolation. We look at where the part has been, what happens while it’s in the machine, and where it needs to go next.
Comet Supply provides metalworking fluids for a wide range of machining and metal-forming operations, including straight cutting oils and water-based soluble, semi-synthetic, and synthetic fluids.
Each has its place.
Straight cutting oils can be well suited to heavier-duty and extreme-pressure operations where lubricity is especially important. Oil-based products can also provide advantages when immediate corrosion protection is a significant concern.
Water-based metalworking fluids can provide the cooling needed for higher-speed machining while offering easier cleanup for applications with additional finishing steps.
Within the water-based category, soluble oils, semi-synthetics, and synthetics provide additional options depending on the material, machining operation, maintenance requirements, and desired performance. Synthetics, for example, can offer advantages in applications where bacterial growth and odor are particular maintenance concerns.
Not sure which category fits your operation?
Tell us what you’re machining and how you’re machining it. We’ll help you work through the options.
You can put the right CNC coolant in the machine and still get poor results if the system isn’t managed properly.
Water evaporates from water-based coolants over time, particularly in machining operations that generate significant heat. As water leaves the system, the coolant becomes more concentrated. If that concentration gets too high, the fluid can become gummy and begin sticking to tools and parts. If the concentration moves outside its intended range, the additive package may not perform the way it was designed to perform.
That’s why concentration shouldn’t be left to guesswork.
Monitoring with a refractometer can help determine whether the coolant remains within the appropriate concentration range and whether adjustments are needed.
And concentration is only one part of coolant management.
Metalworking coolant doesn’t operate in a controlled laboratory environment.
Oil from other parts of the machine can find its way into the sump. Water can introduce minerals and other variables. Contaminants can affect pH. High-speed, high-pressure operations can contribute to foaming. Bacteria can develop. And the fluid itself changes as it remains in service.
Comet helps customers understand and manage factors such as:
Sometimes the solution involves adjusting the concentration. Sometimes the machine needs to be cleaned. Sometimes water quality is contributing to the problem. And sometimes the fluid really does need to change.
The important part is knowing the difference.
Poor surface finish. Rust. Corrosion. Foam. Odor. Gummy residue. Short fluid life.
Those symptoms tell you something is wrong. They don’t necessarily tell you what is wrong.
In fact, concentration problems are among the issues Comet encounters most frequently when customers are having trouble with cutting fluids, machine coolants, and other metalworking fluids.
Instead of immediately replacing the product, we work through the system.
That troubleshooting process matters because another drum of coolant won’t solve a problem caused by the way the system is being managed.
Most metalworking applications don’t require a product developed from scratch.
Comet has established cutting oils, coolants, and other metalworking fluids that perform across a wide range of applications. We start there.
But manufacturing doesn’t always fit neatly into an existing formula.
A customer may need additional corrosion protection. A cutting fluid may be foaming under particular operating conditions. A product may leave a film that interferes with painting. A demanding operation may require different lubricity or extreme-pressure characteristics.
That’s where Comet’s formulation and blending capabilities give us another option.
Rather than starting over, we can often take a proven formulation and adjust its additive package or other performance characteristics around the specific application.
The goal isn’t to make a custom product simply for the sake of calling it custom.
It’s to solve the problem.
Comet manufactures and supplies metalworking fluids, machine coolants, and supporting products for a broad range of industrial applications.
Our product capabilities include:
Comet product families include ComCut, ClearCut, ProCut, ProCool, ProDraw, ProGuard, ProMist, ProClean, ProWeld, and other application-specific formulations. We also supply metalworking fluids from Spartan Chemical’s Industrial Products Group (IPG), including MAXIM VHP, Cutter EXP HW, SYNSPAR GP, and SemiSPAR HD for a range of machining, cutting, and grinding applications.
Need something outside the standard product line? Our custom chemical blending capabilities allow us to modify established formulations when the application requires something different.
One of the biggest misconceptions about metalworking fluids is that once the coolant is in the machine, the job is done.
It isn’t.
Even an excellent product needs to be mixed, monitored, and maintained correctly if you expect it to perform consistently.
That’s why Comet’s support can extend beyond selecting and supplying the fluid. We help customers understand how to manage their coolant systems and give their teams the tools and knowledge to do it properly.
That can include troubleshooting, testing and coolant-management guidance as well as on-site and in-house training on products, fluid handling, and proper fluid-management practices.
We’re not interested in simply dropping off a drum and disappearing.
We want to help you get the performance you bought it for.
If you’re looking for a cutting oil, cutting fluid, CNC coolant, or another metalworking fluid, tell us about the application.
Tell us what you’re machining. Tell us what machine you’re running. Tell us what you’re using today. And if something isn’t working, tell us what you’re seeing.
You don’t need to diagnose the problem before you call.
That’s what the questions are for.
Contact Comet Supply today to discuss your metalworking fluid needs, troubleshoot a coolant problem, find the right product for your machining operation, or schedule on-site or in-house training for your team.
