Machining Coolant System
Mist + Air Coolant System for Vacuum Machining
The machining coolant system is a 20 kg closed-loop mist and compressed-gas assembly that provides tool cooling and chip evacuation during vacuum machining operations. Because the lunar ambient vacuum precludes traditional liquid flood coolant, the unit atomizes microdrop coolant and discharges compressed nitrogen or argon at 5 g/min to clear cutting debris from the workpiece. Drawing 50 W of electrical power, with a 30,000-hour mean time between failures and a 15-year operational lifetime, the hardware utilizes cyclonic recovery to capture and contain spent coolant and gas for closed-loop reprocessing.
Mist + compressed-air coolant system providing chip evacuation and tool cooling during vacuum machining (no flood coolant possible).
Purpose
Mist + compressed-air coolant system providing chip evacuation and tool cooling during vacuum machining (no flood coolant possible).
Context
Child of L2-MFG-MACH within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Compressed gas (N2/Ar) blasts chips clear
- ▸Microdrop coolant mist for tool cooling
- ▸Closed-loop coolant recovery
- ▸Gas from L3-ISR-VOL-STORE
- ▸Minimises coolant consumption
Typical implementations
- ▸Industrial MQL (Minimum Quantity Lubrication) machining
- ▸Aerospace dry machining heritage
- ▸Vacuum-compatible machining
Lunar considerations
- ▸Vacuum prevents traditional flood coolant
- ▸Gas + mist closes coolant loop
- ▸Closed-loop with L3-WMS-PROC for spent coolant
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Mist + compressed-air coolant system providing chip evacuation and tool cooling during vacuum machining (no flood coolant possible). |
| gas consumption g per min | 5 |
Physical
| mass kg | 20 |
| materials | Compressed gas nozzles, Microdrop coolant atomiser, Cyclonic recovery |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 50 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 15 |
| mtbf hours | 30000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Coolant + chip evacuation
Requires
- Compressed gas supply
- Compressor + atomiser (~50 W)
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Machining Coolant System" (L3-MFG-MACH-COOL). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-MFG-MACH-COOL
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.