What role does cutting fluid play in gear machining?

Gear processing refers to the process of machining raw materials into gears through processes such as cutting, grinding, rolling, and forging. During the gear processing, cutting fluids are widely used in cutting operations, serving multiple functions such as cooling, lubrication, cleaning, rust prevention, and chip removal. Below, we will detail the role of cutting fluids in the gear processing process. Firstly, cutting fluids play a cooling role in gear processing. During the gear processing, due to the high-speed load cutting action, a large amount of frictional heat is generated, causing the temperature of the tool, workpiece, and fixture to rise. If not cooled in time, it can lead to deformation of parts or accelerated tool wear. The cooling performance of cutting fluids effectively reduces the working temperature by absorbing and carrying away frictional heat, slowing down thermal deformation of the tool and workpiece, and improving the precision and quality of the cutting process. Secondly, cutting fluids serve a lubrication role in gear processing. During the gear processing, friction occurs between the tool and the workpiece. Without the presence of a lubricant, the friction coefficient increases, leading to greater mechanical energy loss and reduced cutting efficiency. Cutting fluids effectively reduce the contact friction between the tool and the workpiece surface, lower the friction coefficient, and decrease wear and heat generation, thereby reducing the tool wear rate and extending tool life. Thirdly, cutting fluids play a cleaning role in gear processing. During the gear processing, impurities such as metal chips, oil sludge, and sand particles are generated. If not removed in time, they can affect the quality and effectiveness of the cutting. Cutting fluids have good cleaning properties, quickly washing the cutting area and carrying away metal chips and impurities, keeping the cutting area clean and preventing clogging and accumulation. Fourthly, cutting fluids serve a rust prevention role in gear processing. Due to their lubricating and cooling properties, cutting fluids can protect the surfaces of tools and workpieces, preventing oxidation and corrosion, thus extending the service life of tools and workpieces and improving processing quality. This is especially important for materials that are prone to rust, such as low-carbon steel and stainless steel. Using cutting fluids during processing can effectively prevent the formation of oxides on the material surface, reducing adverse processing phenomena caused by the accumulation of oxidation products. Finally, cutting fluids play a chip removal role in gear processing. In the gear cutting process, chips are an unavoidable byproduct. If chips are not removed from the processing area in time, they can clog the gaps between the tool and the workpiece, affecting the cutting effect. Cutting fluids can wash away the chips, keeping the processing area clean, reducing frictional resistance during the cutting process, and improving processing efficiency and quality. The content of this article is sourced from the internet. If there are any issues, please contact me for deletion!

cutting fluid, processing, gear, cutting, tool, workpiece