Blog
Articles, guides, and news on industrial and automotive lubrication
The types of oil analysis fall into three families: physical and chemical, contamination and wear. See what each test measures, its standard and which analysis to order for hydraulic, gearbox, compressor and engine oil.
Cutting fluid cools, lubricates, carries the chip away and protects against corrosion. Which job matters most depends on cutting speed: in grinding, cooling; in tapping, lubrication.
Water or brine for plain carbon steel of simple shape; oil for alloy steel and for parts with holes, threads or sharp corners. Water removes heat 3 to 4 times more intensely and still boils below 300 °C, where martensite forms.
To buy lubricant directly from the manufacturer, send the specification (standard and grade, or the name of your current oil), the machine and the monthly consumption. On the first order, compare the datasheet with the manual; on each delivery, check that the label's batch matches the lab report.
ISO VG is the viscosity grade of an industrial oil under ISO 3448: the number is the mean viscosity at 40 °C, in cSt, with a 10% tolerance on each side. An ISO VG 68 runs from 61.2 to 74.8 cSt.
The difference is in the base oil: mineral comes from petroleum refining and mixes varied molecules; synthetic uses more uniform molecules, which withstand more heat and cold; semi-synthetic blends the two, with at least 10% synthetic by mass (ANP).
Soluble oil for machining is a concentrated cutting fluid that, mixed with water, forms an emulsion that cools, lubricates and protects the part from rust. See what it is made of, how to mix it with the oil onto the water and how to measure concentration with a refractometer.
How to choose air compressor oil: what it does in piston and screw compressors, ISO VG grade, ISO 6743-3 classes, mineral or synthetic base, oil-free units and used-oil analysis.
68 hydraulic oil is almost 50% thicker than 46 at 40 °C and reaches the same thickness at a temperature 8 to 10 °C higher. See at what working temperature each one stays in the pump's optimal range.
