All good answers.
sm,
We usually ask that you provide answers in your own words.
A
WAY is that part of a machine that slides against another part, and is usually flat or "V-" shaped, and may be mounted vertically or horizontally.
A typical example of a WAY is a woodsplitter. The hydraulic ram pushes a head that is mounted on a slide or WAY, The way guides the ram in a linear motion.
WAY's lubricants are a subclassification of oils listed under Machine Tool lubricants that includes Spindles, etc.
WAY lubricants have ISO viscosities ranging from ISO 32 to ISO 220, and may even include 00 greases (there are some exceptions as usual). Some machine tools automatically feed the WAY lube to the surfaces, while other WAY lubes have to be applied manually with a swab or spatula.
A WAY lubricant must posess these two main qualities:
1. Reduce or eliminate "Stick-Slip,"
1. Have "Tackiness."
Now everyone knows that tackiness provides lubricant adhesion to metal surfaces so it is not slung off or scraped off.
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=21;t=000030
The
tribology part:
Stick-Slip is the "jerky" motion that results from parts sticking, then slipping or sliding. It takes more energy to get a surface moving than it takes to keep it moving. This erratic motion will cause errors, defects, and rejected work.
The
chemistry part:
WAY oils need rust inhibitors to protect ferrous parts, a stick-slip friction modifier (for reasons stated above), Extreme Pressure and Anti-Wear additives, oxidation inhibitors, and of course, a tackiness additive. Due to cost and likely contamination of the WAY lube, the WAY lube is usually mineral oils with the proper additives.
sm has provided one such PDS spec and here is another from Schaeffer Oil:
http://www.schaefferoil.com/data/160.htm
[ March 13, 2004, 09:03 PM: Message edited by: MolaKule ]
