What is the difference between Flood Coolant and MQL?

Reference › Glossary › Flood Coolant vs MQL

Comparison

Flood Coolant vs MQL

What's the difference?

Two approaches to keeping the cut cool and lubricated — a lot of fluid, or almost none.

Flood Coolant

A continuous stream cools, lubricates and flushes chips. Standard, versatile, best for heat and chip control in tough materials — but messy and costly to maintain.

MQL (near-dry)

A fine oil mist gives lubrication with minimal fluid — cleaner, cheaper, drier chips. Great in aluminum and some cast iron where flushing heavy chips isn't the priority.

Bottom line

Tough materials and heavy chip loads → flood (or high-pressure). Aluminum and clean, dry operations → MQL. The trend is toward MQL where the material allows it, for cost and cleanliness.

Full definitions

Flood Coolant

Coolant & Chips

MQL

Minimum Quantity Lubrication

Through-Spindle Coolant

TSC

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