Cryogenic Assited Machining, CryoMach

Important results from the project

Flood cooling with emulsion is commonly used in machining, extract heat. However, it has low cooling capacity, leads to chemical waste, and health risks. Cryogenic cooling fluids, liquid nitrogen and carbon dioxide have superior cooling capacities and are eco friendly, but needs further research before industrial implementation. The CryoMach project aims to develop cryogenic technology that can increase tool life, increase production, and eliminate waste disposal. It involves designing a coolant delivery system, optimizing cutting tool design, examining process conditions.

Expected long term effects

ACFloby has come closer to find an industrial solution to the experienced difficulties to machine disc brakes made of silicon carbide reinforced aluminium. Hydro has received valuable knowledge regarding machining performance of advanced aluminium alloys regarding process window and tool wear. Furthermore, both companies has more insights regarding investment cost and operating cost for a transition from the use of regular coolant to the use of liquid nitrogen cooling of their machining operations has also been valuable. This will support efforts in ongoing sustainability work.

Approach and implementation

The project has largely been done in collaboration with the Swedish partners, experiments and demonstrations have been carried out at each party´s facility where it has been favorable. A large part of the project has been to develop an experimental equipment where one can perform machining operations where liquid nitrogen is applied at the cutting zone at 24 bar pressure. Regarding the international corporation, did not occur due to countries that were hit hard by Covid19 shut down for 2 years. That the international cooperation did not take the form of joint experiments was unfortunate.