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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    35

    Slideway Oils

    Hi...I have just received my cnc machine and it has an oil reservoir on the gantry for oiling the ball screws and everything else during operation..what lubricant can i use in this?
    can I use air compressor oil or sewing machine or do i have to get something like shell tonna or mobil vactra 2?

    I am located in Adelaide SA and finding it hard to get something for it at the moment also a bit unsure as to what is most suitable.

    Any help or advice appreciated.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Posts
    684

    Re: Slideway Oils

    I would just use hydraulic oil. Thats all I've ever used on my manual machines. In fact I've always purchased it from Hare and Forbes who sell it for Slideway oil for all of their machines.

    But you could try looking in the manual for an oil grade and see if you can find it. (But hydraulic oil you can get anywhere)
    Rod Webster
    www.vehiclemods.net.au

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Posts
    362

    Re: Slideway Oils

    I'm using the 3-In-One Multi-Purpose oil from Bunnings (it's way cheaper than buying same from other places) and it does a good job. I found the oil distribution system (brass distribution blocks with thumb wheel adjustments) was not tuned very well from the factory as delivered and does not include the ball nut/shaft so I do this manually.

    What machine did you get? Pictures please :-)


    Cheers ,

    HarryE.
    ===

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Posts
    684

    Re: Slideway Oils

    But thats about 5x dearer than Hydraulic oil from Hare and Forbes (ISO 46 grade)

    https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/O002
    Rod Webster
    www.vehiclemods.net.au

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    3110

    Re: Slideway Oils

    vactra 2 would be perfect... you want something that lubs as well as a bit sticky ( won't run off surfaces)
    hydraulic oil has wrong additives... so is not ideal.. but it'll do a passable job
    ...so any slideway oil about iso32 viscosity... up to iso46 depending on how severe your machining is.... iso68 would be good for vertical face being a little thicker ( stickier ), or a manual machine.

    some of the higher end machines actually grease the leadscrew & nut. The lubrication is normally entrapped within the bearing block wipers or nut so that is retained where it is actually needed. It also minimises tramp oil in your coolant tank.
    You do not want globs of oil/grease where swarf would stick and create issues.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    432

    Re: Slideway Oils

    I use a 75/80 manual trans oil with lithium based grease mixed to make a light weight grease ,and use a small grease/oil gun those little spring loaded pumpers .Why ask the negative Nancies it's cheap ,you can make it any constancy you want and it wont put a strain on your linear rails ball screws ect .but for machine oil yes hydraulic in lathe mill and so on ,high stress corrosion inhibitors high temp all the goodies youl ever need .

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    35

    Re: Slideway Oils

    Thanks for the replies...I put sewing machine oil in and probably over pumped it a bit as I encountered quite a few leaks here and there which have now calmed down...but I think it maybe a little too thin and I will need to change this....I have a little bit of grinding on part of the x axis at the moment sounds like creaking...think i need too look at some grease to put into there.
    I also find the sewing machine oil washes the grease of a bit and makes the rails a little grindy.
    Attached is a pic of the machine and a quick cut out i did with a 3mm end mill

    I am keen to use the vactra but it only comes in 20L drum here.

  8. #8
    ericks Guest

    Re: Slideway Oils

    Nice machine....good to see someone else from Adelaide here!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    35

    Re: Slideway Oils

    Great another Adelaidian ....Im pretty new to the cnc world so would be good to have some local knowledge where to get things here.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Posts
    362

    Re: Slideway Oils

    dragon_sa,

    Thanks for the photo. What brand is the machine? What controls does it have/use? Just curious; to compare others equipment...

    I agree, sewing machine oil is too thin, that's why I've used the 3-in-1 - sticks to the rails well but as others point out it's more expensive.

    What will you be making? (Choose not to answer if you like :-)

    I'm In Tasmania so it's also good to know there are a few more Aussies here :-)


    Cheers,

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    35

    Re: Slideway Oils

    Quote Originally Posted by he1957 View Post
    dragon_sa,

    Thanks for the photo. What brand is the machine? What controls does it have/use? Just curious; to compare others equipment...

    I agree, sewing machine oil is too thin, that's why I've used the 3-in-1 - sticks to the rails well but as others point out it's more expensive.

    What will you be making? (Choose not to answer if you like :-)

    I'm In Tasmania so it's also good to know there are a few more Aussies here :-)


    Cheers,
    The brand is Acctek...hand made in china.
    I wouldnt say it is fantastic quality in manufacturing and QA.. but from my tests it will certainly do the job with some tweaking and modifying.

    3kw 24000rpm water cooled spindle
    Taiwan Delta servo motors and drivers
    Taiwan TBI ball screw transmission
    Taiwan Hiwin 20mm linear square rails
    twin 2.2kw motor vacuum table
    1200x2400x200 working area
    ethernet based Mach3 Control system

    MDF and acrylic products and templating...some cabinet work aswell.


  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Posts
    16

    Re: Slideway Oils

    Hiwin lubrication guide is here:- https://www.hiwin.com/pdf/lubricating_instructions.pdf

    In this guide (on page 27), they suggest Mobilgear 630.

    Mobil specs here:- http://www.ulei-mobil.ro/pdf/MobilIn...ries%20pds.pdf

    As you can see Mobilgear 630 is equivalent to an ISO 220 Slideway oil.and this is what I use on my CNC machine.

    On a side note, for my manual machines I use the 220 on the vertical slideways and ALL the leadscrews, then a 68 on the horizontal slideways, IF they have manual individual lube points, but for those fitted with a centralised manual or automatic oiling system, then these are filled with 220.

    Nick.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    35

    Re: Slideway Oils

    Thanks for the useful info Nick, I have the manual centralized oiling system in mine, thinking of changing it to automatic oiling system already...only had the machine just over a week now

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    35

    Re: Slideway Oils

    Quote Originally Posted by nick952 View Post
    Hiwin lubrication guide is here:- https://www.hiwin.com/pdf/lubricating_instructions.pdf

    In this guide (on page 27), they suggest Mobilgear 630.

    Mobil specs here:- http://www.ulei-mobil.ro/pdf/MobilIn...ries%20pds.pdf

    As you can see Mobilgear 630 is equivalent to an ISO 220 Slideway oil.and this is what I use on my CNC machine.

    On a side note, for my manual machines I use the 220 on the vertical slideways and ALL the leadscrews, then a 68 on the horizontal slideways, IF they have manual individual lube points, but for those fitted with a centralised manual or automatic oiling system, then these are filled with 220.

    Nick.
    I got given some mobil vacuoline 537 from work, I looked it up and it appears to be iso 320...would that still be ok for the central oiling system?

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    37

    Re: Slideway Oils

    Just been using ISO46 in gearboxes of my manual stuff. Recon 32 would leak out too easily.


    As mentioned already sewing machine oil can be a bit thin, especially around here in summer. But that's what I have here in quantity to feed 8 sewing machines, so I just make do with it.


    Sure there's better stuff out there, but don't think its doing my gear any harm.
    Just some random canvas guy

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    4252

    Re: Slideway Oils

    Heresy ... most any oil would work.
    I normally use SAE30-40 as I have a 4 L bottle of it. If you want more 'sticky', you could use Chain&Bar oil (chainsaw stuff).
    Speciality oils are all much more expensive.

    Chers
    Roger

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2022
    Posts
    4

    Re: Slideway Oils

    I've been getting terrific results from the 3-in-1 multi-purpose oil I bought from Bunnings, and it's a steal compared to similar products elsewhere. I had to perform this by hand since the factory-supplied oil distribution system (brass blocks with thumb wheels for adjustments) was not well-tuned and did not come with the ball nut and shaft.

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