Ressourceneffiziente Oberflächenkonditionierung durch den Einsatz einer kryogenen Minimalmengenschmierung

The strength within the workpiece surface layer has a significant influence on the performance of technical components. To increase strength, time-consuming and cost-intensive processes are therefore carried out downstream of machining. Motivated by the need to shorten the process chain, a cryogenic turning process was developed at the FBK that integrates hardening into the shaping machining process. Building on this, the potential of cryogenic minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) for surface conditioning is being investigated in the new SFB 926 transfer project funded by the German Research Foundation. The additional advantageous lubrication properties of MQL can improve surface quality and minimize heat generation, which enables a reduction in cryogenic mass flows and thus a more resource-efficient and economical application.

The cryogenic MQL strategies are being developed in close cooperation with Fuchs Schmierstoffe GmbH, as a manufacturer of suitable MQL oils, and Knoll Maschinenbau GmbH, as a plant manufacturer for cryogenic MQL systems. The cooling and lubricating effect of the cryogenic MQL system is initially investigated in tribological analogy tests. The cryogenic MQL strategies developed are then used in turning with the aim of improving the surface morphology while at the same time using fewer resources.