Minimum Quantity Lubrication is becoming increasingly popular in machining processes, as it is sustainable and environmentally friendly while improving productivity and cutting costs.

SKF has employed Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) for its own manufacturing processes and has also developed a comprehensive portfolio of MQL solutions through its LubriLean range. While SKF has recorded significant benefits from its introduction of MQL, including dramatic reductions in oil consumption and higher productivity of machining, one of its specialized lubrication distributors, HRE Hydraulic S.L. in Spain, commissioned research to quantify the overall savings in total cost of ownership. Tecnalia, a leading research and development company based near Bilbao in Spain, carried out the tests.
Test parameters
The R&D tests were designed to compare the machining performance, the effect of tool cutting force, tool wear and tool temperature under different lubrication conditions and total costs with dry machining (without lubrication), wet machining using a cooling system, and MQL internal and external lubrication.



Confirmed benefits
The use of Digital Super with bypass control and 1 MPa (10 bar) inlet pressure exhibits an aerosol distribution that is more favorable to deep hole-drilling process stability than the previous variants and the competitor’s product. Video recordings provided evidence of a fine, uniform aerosol discharge at the tool, which is required for high machining quality (fig. 7). This facilitates good wetting of the machining zone and thus an improvement in tool life and workpiece quality.
The future of SKF LubriLean
LubriLean has been listed as an SKF BeyondZero product since 2014. The machine tools equipped with an SKF LubriLean system are successfully employed in leading automotive and aerospace factories. Until now MQL was mainly supplied through European and American OEMs. Thanks to the success of MQL in a growing number of applications worldwide, LubriLean products can now be extended to other industries and countries. Where there are environmental problems, MQL can be applied to address these issues while offering an economical and high-quality machining process.
MQL technology and product applications are developing rapidly. However the machining performance is not only dependent on MQL system itself, but also on machine tool, cutting tool, machined material, processing parameters, etc. All the factors have to be aligned and optimized together. Therefore successful applications require strong engineering support and cooperation with other technical partners. This is the starting process for the next phase in the development and growth of MQL.