Barco

The Barco SFL Machine Tool Coolant Union

Barco’s SFL coolant union has been widely used in the automotive and machine tool industry for several years. The unique design using double-row angular contact bearings and silicon carbide seals has been a problem solver in many demanding applications. We have direct replacements for many competitive unions. Barco SFL unions have created many opportunities for documenting customer cost savings by improving the life expectancy and eliminating costly downtime

Recently Barco was asked to review an application at an engine plant in the Detroit area. The customer was using a competitive coolant union that required a special adapter to fit the OEM application. The use of this special adapter was to increase the length of the sleeve portion so it could be removed for service and replacement. The adapter made the union easier to replace but because of the extra length and additional weight, the adapters were breaking due to excessive vibration. The broken adapters were causing damage to the spindles as well as causing the drills to fatigue and break prematurely.

Barco was able to make a special version of the SFL coolant union with an extended sleeve that would eliminate the use of the adapter. The sleeve of the coolant union also eliminated some of the vibration caused by the imperfect design of the adapter. The new design has been approved for use and is currently being tested. The addition of this new coolant union will reduce costly downtime and spindle repairs.

The same facility is also using a new version of an SFL Union. The standard SFL is limited to 8,500 RPM and 1,500-PSI Coolant Pressure. This meets 90% of the existing machine tool applications in today’s engine plants. However some new machines have pushed the operating parameters above the standard. Barco was asked recently to upgrade a coolant union that required operating conditions exceeding our standard SFL.

Barco introduced a new Coolant Union capable of up to 15,000 RPM and 1,500 PSI coolant pressure. The new design created to meet this application is much like the spindle it is attached to. We have utilized a bearing package using spindle quality bearings to limit run-out and allow smooth rotation at high speeds. This new design will allow for many years of trouble free operation.