I have been using the fog buster since I got my mill and decided to use flood to see how it works out. I am amazed at the difference in finish I am getting! I got a coolant ring from LMD-NC.com and a 1/4 HP pump. I’m thrilled with the volume, and the pressure washes the chips right down the drain! Here are a couple of videos of it in action.
This is beast mode! Can you link the pump you bought and is a direct drop in replacement? Is the 1100MX tank and OEM pump the same as the 1100M that’s what I have. I think it is right?
I’ve thought of upgrading to. The OEM pump does the job but is not great!
I was designing a timed/intermittent air blast to midigate the lack of blast pressure from the OEM pump and to make sure the chips don’t pile up. Seeing this reminds me that may not be necessary.
It is a beast and the more I use it the more I like it! I got the pump off of Amazon, it comes from Taiwan with some stiff shipping but the shipping+price are still pretty reasonable. Amazon.com
It was a drop in replacement for me, I don’t tknow the specs of your tank but it if you take a few measurments I can compare them for you. Someone who knows may chime in as well. I just ordered a USB I/O board for the air blast on this coolant ring but I think it will be just as handy to clean the coolant off as it is to move the few chips that are left up there on the part.
I highly recomend the pump and this coolant ring, the other thing that surprised me was the differene between using 1/2" hard tubing vs 5/8" ID tubing with this arrangement. The coolant volume and pressure was less than half with the hard tubing vs the 5/8 hose.
NICE, I think Ive seen this pump someone else was using on the Tormach Facebook group, he created washdown bars.
WHAT air blast! Ive seen the ring, but I did not know it had an air blast too. Now im sold! Definitely on my upgrade list. I just looked on Paul’s site to check it out says it requires a modification to the ATC but dose not really show pics, what dose that entail?
As said, I have been working on an upgrade to my air blast that I currently have. Its on a sylonid and can hit it manually any time i want. OR run it continuously. My new upgrade will be automatically timed and triggered by the mist M code. But now I would love to see this LMD air blast in action, do you have a video of just the air blasting a chip pile?
No modifications were required to my machine (1100MX) for the coolant ring, I think some machines require increasing the opening on the door of the ATC to create some clearance for the ring during a tool change. Email Paul about that.
From their website:
"Works with 770mx , 770m/m+ , 770 series 3*, 1100mx, 1100m/m+, 1100 Series 3*
440*
I don’t have the air blast working yet, waiting on the IO card. But there really are not any chips to blow away as the coolant moves them out very efficiently. I will likely be using it to blow the coolant off at the end of of a cycle. If I am dry cutting something the air blast bay also come in handy!
Did you replace all tubing to 5/8 for this upgrade, from pump to spindle head? I keep thinking about this and it’s an upgrade I want to do at some point. I wonder If the pump was a 1/2 HP would that give added volume to add wash down bars? What do you think? Or would it just lead to too much volume loss and depleting the coolant to fast?
Also saw this post on FB and saw u posted here as well, after doing the upgrade do you agree with these guys who are saying they felt no need to upgrade the pump after they re-plummed?
FB plumping upgrade.
I just ran a shot of 5/8" tubing from the pump right up the back of the machine and in through the opening in the top of the enclosure. There isn’t enough room in the energy chain for the larger tubing. I’m not sure about the wash down bar question, I think you really run out of coolant not pressure in that situation because of the size of the tank. I am very pleased that most of the chips (80%ish) are getting washed right down any way with all of this flow. I am adding a separate washdown pump instead with a spray nozzle. It won’t rob the coolant from the operations as it will be used when the other pump is off.
As far as upgrading the the plumbing only you can test that easy enough, don’t worry about routing the hose permanently for the test just hook it up and see what happens, I have my doubts but it all depends on how much flow you’re looking for.
Is there much benefit to having a washdown system without a chip auger? If you have to empty the chip pan manually anyway, it doesn’t take significantly more effort to wipe chips from the few large flat surfaces that the washdown system would otherwise keep clean.
I think there is. It’s probably a matter of personal preference though.
I have a hacky wash down on my 770M and I’m never going back.
