That moment my coolant pump seized mid-cycle on a big aluminum plate job

I was running a 3/4 inch end mill on a Haas VF2, making a deep pocket, and the pump just stopped with a loud hum. I hit the feed hold, shut the machine down, and found the impeller was totally bound up with chips and gunk. What's your go-to method for keeping coolant pumps clear on long jobs, besides just checking the filter?

3 comments

3 Comments

hill.hugo2mo ago

Man, that's the worst sound to hear. I've been there with a pump full of that fine aluminum paste. I ended up adding a second cheap mesh filter bag right at the pump intake, the kind you get from the hardware store. It catches the super fine stuff the main filter misses. You have to rinse it out every few hours on a long run, but it's better than a seized pump.

skyler_kim2mo ago

Wait, you're adding more stuff to clean instead of fixing the real problem? That aluminum paste means your main filter isn't doing its job right. I'd look at upgrading your primary filter media first, not adding another chore with a bag you gotta babysit. Constantly stopping to rinse sounds like a band-aid fix that just slows everything down.

jana_henderson521mo ago

Feel your pain man, that grinding sound is enough to make your stomach drop every time.