That time I ran a 316 stainless job with a broken coolant line

Last Tuesday, I started a batch of 50 parts on our old Haas VF2. About part 15, I noticed the finish looked rough and the insert was smoking. The coolant line to the tool had snapped at the fitting, so it was just dribbling. I shut it down, replaced the line with a spare from our kit, and ran the rest perfect. Has anyone else had a coolant failure mid-run and caught it before wrecking a tool?

3 comments

3 Comments

nora_dixon1mo ago

Yeah, that sound change is a dead giveaway. I started putting a cheap wireless doorbell near my machines, the chime goes off if the coolant pump noise stops for more than a few seconds. Saved my butt last month.

the_anthony1mo ago

Used to think the machine could just run on its own. Then I had a line pop off during a deep pocket in some 4140. The sound went from a smooth hum to this awful screech before I even saw smoke. Completely trashed a brand new endmill. Now I do a quick walk-by every ten minutes, no matter what. That little habit costs me nothing compared to a wrecked tool. How do you guys remind yourselves to check in?

lucaslee1mo ago

Man, I used to just let the machine run and walk away for a bit. A coolant line blew on a long aluminum job once and I wrecked three tools before I noticed the sound was wrong. Now I check on things way more often, even if it feels like babysitting. Catching that smoke early saves so much headache and money.