A specialised lubricant, slideway oils are designed to lubricate tables and slides of machine tools.
Effective lubrication can prevent unwanted issues like stick-slip, facilitating smoother and more precise movements. High-quality slideway oils produced by top brands such as Millers and Morris are specially formulated using a high-quality base oil fortified with a specific additive package to produce a tenacious oil film that can adhere to metal surfaces, minimising friction, wear and damage and protecting against corrosion.
To perform their important functions, slideway oils are developed with distinct properties – and here, we look at their features and the user benefits that they bring.
Features of slideway oil
Lubrication engineers in manufacturers’ labs have an in-depth understanding of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) requirements and recommendations, and the specific role a lubricant performs. As a result, when slideway oil is produced, it is designed with key characteristics to ensure it delivers.
Adhesion
Slideway oils are often engineered to be adhesive. This lets the oil cling to both horizontal and vertical surfaces, stopping it from being washed away by low viscosity cutting fluids that often contain water.
Anti-stick-slip properties
Slideway oil is specifically designed to supply a controlled and consistent level of friction during operation. This frictional characteristic effectively prevents the jerking motion that is commonly called stick-slip.
Coolant separation
With an understanding that many coolants used in machining, like cutting-fluids, have a water base, slideway oils are designed with excellent water separability. This not only extends the lifespan of the oil by avoiding water contamination, but it also preserves the health of the cutting fluid, allowing it to perform its own role more effectively and for longer.
Wear protection
The outstanding lubricity of slideway oils allows them to protect equipment from wear. These specialist oils reduce friction and wear on feed mechanisms, machine tool tables and slideways.
Corrosion and rust protection
Exposed to oxygen and moisture from aqueous coolants and water, machine tables made with iron and iron alloys like steel are at risk of rust and other corrosive forces. As such, slideway oils are engineered to create a protective barrier for metal surfaces to combat corrosion.
Material compatibility
Machine tables and their mechanisms and components are often manufactured with a wide range of different materials. As a result, slideway oils are designed to be fully compatible with steel, cast iron and other composite materials commonly used in machining apparatus.
Benefits of slideway oils
Using high-quality slideway oils offers significant advantages to metalworking and metal manufacturing operations. Benefits range from short to long term and help enterprises maintain their competitive edge.
Improved machine accuracy
Through prevention of stick-slip, slideway oil use enables smoother, more accurate movements. This allows operation to conduct more precise machining on site.
Extended equipment life
Providing correct levels of protection against rust and corrosion and effective lubrication to mitigate friction and wear, slideway oils can prolong the active service life of machinery.
Longer coolant life
Slideway oil’s ability to separate from water-based solution such as cutting fluids mean that coolants remain effective for an extended period, lowering inventory costs and lengthening time between drain intervals.
Reduced operational downtime
Machining equipment served by slideway oil requires less frequent maintenance and their parts and tools last longer, resulting in less mechanical downtime and higher productivity rates.
Better surface finish
The smoother movements supplied by using slideway oils enhance machine performance and boosts output, while also contributing to better surface finish on work pieces.
Lower total cost of ownership
Slideway oils reduce wear and tear on machine parts and protect them against corrosion. This extends the lifespan of equipment and reduces maintenance, repairs, replacement parts protecting a company’s investment and avoiding expensive downtime.
They also ensure other fluids like coolants last longer, and that equipment is functioning smoothly, efficiently reducing energy costs. All these advantages can result in enterprises enjoying lower operation costs overall.
Does your operation require a regular supply of slideway oil?
At Oil Store, we are proud to stock slideway oils from the best brands in the lubrication industry, including Fuchs, Mobil and Petronas. Get in touch with our team of product experts if you require further information before placing your order.
