Metalworking Fluids: Engineered Liquid Precision

High-performance cleaners, lubricants, coolants and fluids protect your workpieces and extend the life of metalworking machinery. These products simplify machine processes and maintenance with environmentally responsible formulas that don’t sacrifice quality or efficiency.

Environmentally Friendly, Water-resistant Chuck Grease

Dillon Manufacturing, Inc.’s (Springfield, OH) HPG500 premium boundary lubricant for chucks and jaws is now available in convenient kit form. Each kit contains two tubes of this water resistant, environmentally friendly grease that prevents metal-to-metal contact under high load and slow speed conditions, along with a grease adaptor, and a grease gun. This premium, high-performance NLDI Grade 2, lubricating grease has exceptional mechanical stability, very high load carrying capacity, and excellent water and moisture resistance, making it ideal for a wide range of applications from high-end manual chucks to power chucks. Its unique formulation gives it outstanding rust and corrosion resistance, even in the presence of a synthetic and oil-based coolant. With a water washout rating of less than 3% it is one of the most water-resistant products available. Dillon HPG500 handles high loads and provides long term corrosion protection under the most hostile conditions. Essential for the safe operation, and maintaining maximum gripping pressure of chucks, HPG500 is also available in 14 oz. tubes, which can be purchased individually, or in cases of 10 or 50 each.

There are no heavy metals or other environmentally undesirable materials such as compounds containing antimony, barium, lead, chlorine, phenols, or phosphorus used, so the formulation is environmentally friendly. This lithium-free formula does not react negatively when contacting the water contained in water-based coolants – as opposed to lubricants with lithium which cause lithium build-up on the internal workings of the chuck.

HPG500 can be used in bearings, bushings, slides, pivots, tracks, etc., — all important engineering components of manual and power chucks. It is recommended wherever high lubricity, EP (Extreme Pressure) properties, mechanical stability, rust and corrosion protection, water washout protection, and good oxidation stability are required. It is also safe to use in machine centers that require EPI grease.

www.dillonmfg.com 

Clean and Brighten Aluminum and Stainless Steel

Madison Chemical Co. (Madison, IN) introduces ALUMA-SHINE 1028, a mildly acidic cleaner designed specifically for aluminum alloys, especially bright and decorative surfaces. Ideal for use on 5000- and 6000-series aluminum, this formula also works well on stainless steel, and copper to provide both cleaning and a gleaming finish without brushing or drying/buffing. At normal use conditions (3%-to-10% dilution), most galvanize and galvanneal blends can be easily cleaned without aggressively attacking the zinc, though spot-testing is recommended.

Particularly valuable for industries that need to maintain aesthetic qualities of shiny or decorative surfaces, it is effective in hard or soft water with excellent detergency and rinsing properties. This versatile and potent solution removes plasma smoke residue, weld marks, light oxidation, water stains, and discoloration from previous processing to provide a shining surface without the aggressive etching or streaking often caused by harsher acids. ALUMA-SHINE 1028 features a unique blend of surfactants to minimize yellowing, whitening, and over-etching while reducing the effort required to achieve a polished finish. It is ideal for cleaning welds, aluminum tread plate, and other difficult to clean aluminum and stainless-steel surfaces.

ALUMA-SHINE 1028 simplifies the cleaning process to save time, improve operational efficiency, and enhance safety as no manual brushing is required. Unlike many acid cleaners, it leaves behind no streaks or residues, eliminating the need for time-consuming buffing and drying, and further streamlining the cleaning process. Companies have the flexibility to use it with spray, foam, or immersion methods, at various concentrations and temperatures, to adapt it to their specific needs. Versatile application methods make it easier to target surface imperfections such as grain boundaries, inclusions, or micro cracks, where residue can settle and be difficult to remove.

www.madchem.com 

Engineered Fluids Seamless Replace 3M Novec Fluids

MircoCare LLC (New Britain, CT), a global leader in critical cleaning and coating solutions, has added a new addition to its precision cleaning line: MicroCare Engineered Fluids. Designed as exact replacements for 3M Novec 7100, 7200, and 7300 fluids, these advanced cleaning solutions ensure manufacturers can keep their high-quality cleaning and coating processes without disruption.

“Our MicroCare Engineered Fluids provide manufacturers with trusted alternatives to 3M Novec products, ensuring seamless transitions while maintaining precision and reliability,” said Vince Libercci, national sales manager at MicroCare. “We’re proud to support operational efficiency with dependable, innovative solutions.”

With 3M Novec Specialty Fluids set to be dropped by the end of 2025, MicroCare offers not only the MicroCare Engineered Fluids but also its more advanced line of Tergo High-Performance Fluids. These fluids feature future-ready formulas that meet emerging regulatory requirements without sacrificing cleaning quality or production efficiencies.

www.microcare.com 

All-Purpose Lubricant Cleans, Prevents Rust/Corrosion

The L.S. Starrett Co. (Athol, MA) offers M1® Industrial Quality All-Purpose Lubricant, ideal in a wide range of applications including metal equipment such as rollers, racks, conveyors, chains and virtually any metal components found in highly corrosive environments such as marine, construction and more. M1 is not soluble in water, so it gets under moisture to lift it away from the surface to be protected. M1 protects metal against rust and corrosion damage by providing a molecular shield that locks to the metal. The lubricant can be used to protect working surfaces of machinery, in dip tanks to protect production parts in process, or apply on tools when stored.

Starrett M1 dries and will not attract dirt, dust or other contaminants as other leading lubricants do. M1 produces a micro-thin, airtight coating/film that simultaneously dries as it protects, avoiding dirt, grime, etc., that other “wet” lubricants actually attract. The can will spray upside down in awkward places without losing propellant power.

M1 is free of silicone, making it an excellent lubricant to stand up to extreme temperatures for year-round use. Its deep-down penetration works quickly to free frozen nuts, bolts and metal parts. It gets under caked-on dirt to clean the metal and remove the dirt. It is excellent for removing grease, tar, and grime from metal parts and painted surfaces, cleaning and polishing for lasting protection.

Starrett M1 has instant lubrication properties that spread into those hard-to-reach metal parts to stop squeaking and sticking. And it prevents short circuits in high moisture environments, halting electrical leakage from wet ignition wires.

www.starrett.com/m1 

New Through-Spindle Coolant Kit

Tormach Inc. (Madison, WI), a US-based manufacturer of CNC machines and industrial robotics, offers a new accessory for its popular 1500MX CNC Mill. (The company also launched a mist collector accessory at the same time.) The TSC Kit improves machining operations by delivering coolant directly through the 1500MX’s spindle to enhance tool life and performance during deep drilling and milling. By keeping tools clear of chips and other debris, this method helps maintain a clean bore and reduces chip buildup to significantly enhance machining precision and efficiency.

“The Through-Spindle Coolant Kit will allow our customers to produce higher-quality parts at a faster rate than ever before,” said Tom Zelickman, product manager for Tormach. “By ensuring that coolant reaches the cutting tools exactly where it’s needed, the kit not only extends the life of the tools but also enhances the consistency and accuracy of every cut. This is an invaluable addition for machine shops looking to push their production capabilities to new heights and achieve superior machining results.”

The user-installable system integrates seamlessly with customers’ existing 1500MX mills and comes with all the necessary components to easily add this capability to their machines. Powered by a 3 hp, 220V single-phase motor, the TSC Kit delivers a maximum outlet pressure of 435 PSI (30 BAR) and a flow rate of 7.9 GPM (20 L/Min) for optimal coolant distribution. And while every 1500MX comes with a TSC standard, a Flood Coolant Kit (PN 51567) is required to operate the TSC Kit.

www.tormach.com

Smart Technologies and High-performance Lubricants

Zeller+Gmelin’s (Eislingen, Germany) ZG Fluid-Check Pro, developed jointly with HYDAC, is an intelligent fluid management system that enables automated monitoring and control of cooling lubricants. “With our smart cooling lubricant monitoring, manufacturing companies can increase their operational efficiency and minimize production downtimes,” explained Thorsten Wechmann, strategic business unit manager at Zeller+Gmelin. The system measures parameters such as concentration, pH value and temperature in real time and automatically ensures efficient lubricant monitoring.

By integrating ZG Fluid-Check Pro into existing manufacturing processes, Zeller+Gmelin is making an important contribution to the implementation of the smart factory. The system not only optimizes the service life of cooling lubricants but also reduces the use of resources and the environmental impact.

www.zeller-gmelin.com

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