Thread: One shot lube systems for Mills and Lathes

Hi Mark,

Yes, I'm definately interested, I've got a lubrication system for the mill on my list of stuff to do.

Regards
Ray

Hi Mark,
I have been looking around for a little over 2 months now for some one shot oilers for the mill and the shapers. It will save the time consuming job of running around to all the oilers.
I contacted a US based company that was on ebay, they were $59 US dollars for the aluminum case ones and could fit 2 in a flat rate box for $52 US dollars.

I looked on the site were you bought your face mill and they had a batch of 20 plastic container ones for around $800 AU delivered and as you know money kept and only paid after they are delivered.

I then got a price on a electronic automatic one from Ningbo fuze precision machinery co, ltd which was $73 US EXW+F Ningbo or Shanghai port.

The larger lathes come with one on the front of the saddle and feed off the saddle gear lube. I have not taken the saddle apart to see if this can be done to this size lathe but it is not a priority because it's pretty easy to oil.

I was thinking of the 20 plastic base ones but would prefer the aluminum case ones then selling them on ebay because it's not something you see at all in Aus.

For tubing and fittings a lot of people are using push in air fittings and I know they can be bought cheap from overseas because I have looked into it.

Dave

I have sent an email to the supplier I mentioned - and another one I have found since posting. This second company advertises a manual pull down lever pump that can be shipped with either a steel body/tank or a plastic one. Attached is a picture of both.

As you can see the pump can have multiple hose connections - anywhere from 1 to 8 hoses can be connected. Throw in a couple of multiple T-blocks with metering ends and you have a system. Might not be as pretty as one with lots of distributor blocks - but it would be cheaper and less head scratching - everything comes from the pump.

Its another option anyway. Will post here when I receive pricing, availability, Minimum Order Qauntity, etc.

Below is the aluminum type I am after it was $55 US on ebay not $59 US.
The other photo is of the plastic container one they are $757.10 US for 20 posted. Here is the link
Wholesale-SH lubrication pump

Dave

The first guys I contacted have the same pump you are looking for, plus the other one you showed. Attached is an image of the one you are after. I prefer the metal bodied pump in the picture I attached - multiple outlets would give me options - mounting, hose routing, etc. Will post when I hear more.

Hi Mark,
One thing to remember with multiple ports is the amount of hoses coming out can get in the way and get messy. The usual setup is to run one to the knee spit into 2 and one (usually braided to stop chafing) to the saddle split into what ever is needed depending on the machine.
From what I have read, the proper way to use a one shot oiler is to lift or push the handle when ever it comes to the end of it's travel. That means you always have to keep an eye on it and if you finish a job half way through a pump it will continue to pump when you walk away.

With the automatic one, they pump every so many minutes and when turned off they stop.

This is why I was thinking about going with an automatic system and also going this way you don't have to worry about keeping the pump pumped up, which is why I am putting an oiling system on to save the hassle. I know there double the price, but for a the set and forget type system, it's something to think about. Most have alarms to tell you when it's low in oil.
Also I have been gathering parts for the last 2 years to convert my machine over to CNC like Ray is doing, and I think being cnc it would be a lot better having an auto one. Some programs run for hours, and an auto oiler would keep it lubed constantly.

Dave

Originally Posted by Dave J

.... I think being cnc it would be a lot better having an auto one. Some programs run for hours, and an auto oiler would keep it lubed constantly.

Dave

My thoughts exactly, the idea is to be able to set up a job, and aside from having to do manual tool changes every so often, the ability to run unattended for long programs, makes automatic lubrication almost essential. The other thing that is on my mind is that the table will be moving faster than when operated manually so lubrication becomes a bit more important.

Regards
Ray

No tool changer on the drawing board Ray?
I have a few ideas, but at the moment thats all they are,lol
I think it will be another necessity for cnc

Dave

i'd be interested!

Something to keep in mind when setting one of these up if you are going to use a couple of manifolds with multiple pipes all being fed from one discharge port on the pump.

If one (or more) of the pipes has a higher resistance (to flow) at the discharge point, the oil will go out the other pipes and the pipe with the higher resistance will hardly have any flow at all. The resistance could be caused by a number of factors. ie size of the hole in the end of the pipe, the size of the oil way in the machine etc.

When I had the table and saddle off my mill (to fix the one shot oil system and replace the leadscrew nut) it took quite a bit of fiddling around to get the oil system pumping similar amounts into every point.
One way around this would be to use the pump with the multiple discharge ports and run a seperate line for each oil point.

When I was on the tools in the power gen industry there used to be an auto greasing system under the turbines using manifolds. Occasionally one of the pipes would fracture and all the grease would go out the fractured pipe. The other pipes on that manifold would have no grease movement at all. If the fractured pipe wasn't found in a reasonable time, the heat would bake the grease solid in the other pipes. The only remedy then was to replace the pipes. Eventually we installed an extra couple of auto grease units with multiple discharge ports and ran a seperate pipe from the unit to every grease point. That way when a pipe fractured, the others still worked.

bollie7

I will get prices for some auto auto systems as well. They offer 3 different sized reservoirs - 1, 2 and 3L - with options of different controllers and discharge rates. Level switches are available on some models. All run on 240VAC. 20W power consumption or less. I will try and get more info on the controllers and post here.

Originally Posted by Dave J

From what I have read, the proper way to use a one shot oiler is to lift or push the handle when ever it comes to the end of it's travel. That means you always have to keep an eye on it and if you finish a job half way through a pump it will continue to pump when you walk away.
Dave

This maybe how the plastic ones work Dave, but the one on my mill is just like the aluminum one you posted a link to. I have it apart now and I think it pumps as you push the handle down. I could be wrong but my inverter has just arrived (I checked postage on one in the UK going for $60.50AU.. came back as £58.00. which is strange I normally find postage from the UK much cheaper than from USA)

I agree the bollie7 about the problem of one oil passage blocking(not sure I agree that a multiple discharge ports will fix the problem. Multiple pumps would.) The both "oil groves" on the X ways were full on dried "stuff" as were most of the grooves on the Y ways. So you could have pumped the handle as much as you like, only the Z and nuts would have been getting oil.
Stuart

Hi Stuart
I found the Bijur instructions on this type of pump. I was wrong in saying the pressure gets left in the pump ,as it states returning the lever to the top relieves the system.
http://www.bijurdelimon.com/fileadmi...L6P_Eng_v8.pdf

Lots of info on all different pumps on the site as well
Bijur Delimon Automatic Lubrication Systems : Pumps

Dave

Hmmm interesting Dave, I'll have to have another look at my pump, maybe I'm missing something or maybe my pump is a cheap knock off of the real thing?
Although today I don't care coz my inverter is here and I now have a mill instead of a 1.5 ton paper weight
Thanks for the link.
Stuart