So, I know this module is now unsupported/orphan status but I’m trying to give MQL a go for aluminum. The secondary tube for mist/air looks to be about 5mm in diameter. My MQL setup is a plastic tube inside of loc-line that has a proper tip (looks like the same thing as the xsTech Pro MQL).
Any suggestions on how to get that mounted to the Smartcool so that it can do all that it’s supposed to?
I guess that it was designed for a Fogbuster brand, which is a narrow tube but I’ve already got a functional DIY MQL that was $100 in bits and bobs aside from it ending in a narrow tip.
Converting the 1/4” NPT output of that MQL to a narrow tip that mounts to the Smartcool doesn’t give the same output (atomization is messed up).
You could make a new hub that fits your nozzle. Or I suppose modify the existing hub and bolt on a bracket of some sort, though that would offset your stream a bit.
Thanks for the suggestions. I was fishing to see if someone had an alternative to that, as that was what I am working on.
I guess I don’t understand what alternatives there might be? If you’re saying you need the larger nozzle diameter, there really isn’t any option other than modifying or replacing the existing hub.
Not sure my hand tubing bender could pull this off, though…
Might be worth 3d printing a prototype to see what it does. My suspicion is all the direction changes will cause the mist to collect in the high pressure corners and leave you with a less than ideal output.
Good feedback and thanks for the sanity checks and dialogue. Continuing to log the engineering thoughts here for anyone else in the future trying to make this work with what they may have on hand…
- No 3D printer (yet) and there need to be a pair of threaded fittings on both ends which I guess would be model/print to thread form diameter and form after printing. One is a 1/8 pipe non-tapered
and the other is 1/4 NPT
- Should not be an issue with the “mixing manifold” in this Chinesium MQL. The atomization is at the nozzle tip since the liquid tube goes all the to the tip and mixes with the air right at that point…which is why I couldn’t use it with the existing tube size in the Smartcool for MQL (it would fit in the larger recess but then I lose flood coolant)
I think proceeding with milling the new hub may be the best option for most folks on here given it’s probably tougher to form that tube and then you need a welder (TIG/aluminum in my case). So, I need to deal with my lack of work holding for that small circle for Op2. No soft jaws material on hand ($200 bucks for a stick of 1x2 from metal dist) and no 3D printer (also ~$200 for a cheap one but that’s probably an exercise in futility)…
