Accu Lube

Benefits of Accu-Lube Micro LubricationThe Accu-Lube lubricating system was developed at the Boeing Company in 1981 as a method for applying highly efficient lubricants at a constant low flow rate in milling aluminum. A combination of positive displacement pumps and metered air flow was developed and proved to be very effective. Frank Gaunt, the Boeing engineer in charge of the project, gained permission from Boeing to patent the technology and left to form the Accu-Lube Corporation. As he worked to commercialize the product, it quickly became apparent that the system was particularly well suited to sawing and milling applications where the lubricant could be applied to the tool just prior to the cut and re-applied as the tool or blade rotated-interrupted cut applications.

In 1987 ITW (Illinois Tool Works) acquired Accu-Lube and continued to refine the equipment by developing new pump technology that allowed air and lubricant to flow thru the interior of the pump, new enclosures that allowed easy access for service, various nozzles developed for application such as circular sawing, band sawing and high speed machining on gantry mills. Lubricants were developed that lowered the cost per gallon to users and others were developed that improved lubrication qualities and allowed the system to be used for larger diameter sawing, deep milling and drilling and tapping operations.

In 2005, Markingpendepot.com began selling Accu-Lube parts online. Customers are able to identify and purchasing parts to repair equipment. Online parts availability gave users the ability to quickly and accurately identify parts, order them online, and get equipment back in operation.

Primary Benefits-Accu-Lube, when used for interrupted cut type machining, eliminates flood coolants and the disposal issues associated with them. A typical saw using one drum per month of soluble flood lubricants (over 1,000 gallons after dilution) could reduce their total usage to just two gallons of Accu-Lube lubricant. Based on the lubricant savings of $500 per machine users could justify the purchase of the system and the lubricant at $65 per gallon. Additional benefits found were: elimination of waste from soluble oils, dry chips, clean-up of the work environment and elimination of slippery floors around machinery, and reduction of skin dermatitis from exposure to flood lubricants.The system was found to offer exceptional benefits the primary aluminum industry when applied to large diameter circular blades sawing aluminum ingots. Not only did Accu-Lube eliminate the flood coolants but it was found the LB 5000 and LB 6000 lubricants eliminated a cleaning step in the manufacturing process because they flashed off during the heat treat operation without staining where the flood coolants previously used required a cleaning step or users would risk the polymerization of the lubricant residue and staining of the aluminum work piece. The development quickly spread throughout the aluminum industry worldwide.