5 MPSYSTEMS-M-011/02 (Purge Operator)
3. Intended Uses
3.1. Why the Purge Works
3.1.1. Without the Purge
•Coolant and chips run through the machine and go into the “dirty side” of
the machine tank.
•Coolant flows from dirty side to clean side through a screen, which
collects chips and debris.
•As the screen gets blocked, coolant can no longer flow into the clean
side, starving the pumps.
•The loss of coolant can cause poor part finish, increase tooling wear, out
of tolerance parts, and alarming out in the middle of a part cycle. In some
cases, there is no alarm for loss of flood coolant, which could allow the
problem to cause more and more damage until it is found and resolved.
•To resolve the issue properly, the machine must be shut down, the tank
drained and removed from under the machine, chips removed, and
screens cleaned. Everything then must be put back together; the tank
moved back into place, hoses reconnected, pumps plugged back in, tank
refilled with coolant, and then the machine can be turned on and run
again, repeating the cycle.
3.1.2. With the Purge
•Coolant comes out of the tool or nozzle, falls down with chips, (goes
through chip conveyor), and goes into a collection funnel in the “dirty side”
of the tank.
•The Purge system pulls in coolant and chips from the funnel at a rate
faster than is being provided. This creates a difference in fluid level
between the inside and the outside of the funnel, pushing chips towards
the Purge collection dip tube.
•The fluid with chips is pumped through a set of filters that are selected
based on material and cutting process, and can be easily changed to
meet the needs of different part programs in the future.
•The chips are collected in the filter bags and the coolant flows back to the
clean side of the tank.
•The volume of fluid coming in to the clean side of the tank exceeds the
volume being pumped out, again, creating a fluid height difference,
pushing all debris in the tank towards the Purge collection dip tube and
away from the pumps, while also providing the pumps with more than
enough coolant so they never pull in air.
•When the Purge filters are dirty, the Purge will alarm out but will not stop
the machine tool. The Purge can then be shut down to quickly and easily
replace the filters, which results in more coolant up time.