While most turning, grinding, and milling machines are designed for safety, they are not failproof. CNC machine fires cause significant loss to life, limb, and property every year. These fires could result from excessive heat, tool failure, programming mistakes, a drop in oil level, and any other anomaly. When left unchecked, such fires can spread quickly and envelope other equipment or even the entire facility. In contrast, the timely detection of fires and suppressing them right at the start can protect the equipment, building, and lives.
When we think of fire protection, sprinklers, mass notification systems, and air sampling smoke detectors come to mind. An additional layer of fire protection at the machine level is a supplemental fire suppression system that is an automatic mechanism that can ensure the extinguishing, controlling, and prevention of the spread of fire. And why do you need it? Here’s why:
油基冷却剂：必要的邪恶
Ironically, oil-based coolants are the leading cause of fires during the operation of CNC machines. It so happens that CNC machines use oil-based coolants or metalworking fluid to increase tool life, reduce friction, cut down cycle time, and improve surface finish. However, these fluids are highly flammable with a low flashpoint of nearly 400° F, and in cases where the coolant is unable to dissipate heat evenly or gets struck with a random, stray spark, it results in a fire! The problem is compounded by the fact that even if the coolant is not necessarily in active use, the active oil-based charged oil vapors are present in the environment and waiting to start a flash fire in a spark! Such fires demand quick response as they can engulf an entire铣床in a matter of a few minutes. And so, the installation of supplemental fire suppression becomes even more vital.
洒水器可能还不够
国家消防协会（NFPA）制定机器商店安装架空喷头以包含火灾。虽然这些在抑制火灾方面非常有效，但它们具有普遍的方法，并且无法保护各个机器甚至整个建筑物。在大多数情况下，也发现即使在喷水灭火系统被激活之前，CNC机器也完全消失！
因此，一旦事情已经失控，即使是最好的喷水灭火系统也会无法妥善抛出这种火灾。与此同时，无论从咆哮的火灾何处剩下的东西都会在洒水喷头的排出产生的抵押水损伤中丢失。简而言之，这将是一个丢失的情况，为你无论是灭火是否出来。结果，洒水系统必须补充有效的补充灭火系统让他们更有效（和较少有害）。
Chemical Fires Need Special Extinguishing Agents
细金属芯片，例如钛，铝等的金属，如果足够热，可以燃烧。它经常发生在冷却剂油（具有涉及的金属的一半的闪点）着火并增加温度以到达金属碎片的闪光点。由此产生的火灾造成严重的危险，可以阻碍加工动作并将整个研讨会造成风险。
这种火灾被归类为D类火灾，并且更严重和损害。它们在极高的温度下燃烧，并对水和某些化学品剧烈反应。如果您依靠喷水灭火系统放下这次火灾，那么您只会失望，因为它们恶化了这种情况！
While such fires are statistically less common as metals are harder to ignite, you only need one to blow up and cause damage, death, and destruction.
Supplemental Fire Suppression for CNC Machines: How They Work
现代铣床come equipped with various on-machine fire suppression systems. Once triggered by detecting a fire, they release a stream of safe and effective fire extinguishing agents, such as foam, dry chemicals, CO2, or water. Some fire suppression systems also contain agents like3MTMNovecTM1230和FM-200TMthat are most effective against machine fires. Such chemicals are known to be “clean agents” as they do not leave behind any residue, can be cleaned up easily, are electrically non-conductive, non-toxic, non-corrosive, and eco-friendly, and will not damage your machines.
These fire suppression agents are quickly dispersed as gas within the CNC machine and virtually cover all areas within it. The quick response and the effectiveness of the extinguishing agent also protect the electronic components and circuitry present within the machine. Plus, the gaseous nature of the suppressant allows it to cover even the hard-to-reach spots.
With such a failsafe mechanism in place, you will no longer have to rely on the wits of the machine operator to save your equipment and are protected if running lights out!
Should You Install Supplemental Fire Suppression In Your CNC Machine?
Your answer to this question should be a resounding yes by now.It is found that more than 40% of businesses that are shut down due to a significant fire never really manage to reopen. And even if they do, about 25% of these fail within the first two years as they cannot recover from the aftermath of the fire. As such, prevention is the best possible cure in these settings.
关于作者：Peter Jacobs
Peter Jacobs.is the Senior Director of Marketing at数控硕士学位。他是我积极参与n manufacturing processes and regularly contributes his insights for various blogs in CNC machining, 3D printing, rapid tooling, injection molding, metal casting, and manufacturing in general.