CAD & Machining Services Case Study
How CAD & Machining Services reduced coolant top-offs by nearly 89% while improving cleanliness, corrosion control, and machining consistency
By converting to Liquitech 2850 from Thomas Oil Company, CAD & Machining Services reduced coolant consumption, eliminated rust issues, improved system cleanliness, and lowered projected annual operating costs by approximately $5,000.
Quick Facts
Problem
Frequent coolant top-offs, rust, grease buildup, biological growth, and inconsistent part finish were creating daily operational distractions.
Resolution
A 4-week in-production trial of Liquitech 2850 reduced coolant top-offs by nearly 89%, eliminated surface rust and contamination issues, and improved overall coolant system stability.
About CAD & Machining Services
CAD & Machining Services is a precision job shop based in Whiteland, Indiana, serving customers across a range of machining applications.
The shop operates CNC mills, CNC lathes, a drop saw, and a wet grinder while machining materials including steel, copper, and brass. Its most demanding applications include A2 tool steel and stainless steel, both of which place heavy demands on coolant performance, corrosion control, and machining consistency.
Like many busy job shops, CAD & Machining Services needed a coolant system that could support production without requiring constant operator attention.
The Challenge
The Solution
Challenge
Frequent coolant top-offs: Coolant required constant attention, with the shop using approximately three 5-gallon buckets per week before the trial.
Solution
Liquitech 2850 improved coolant stability, reducing top-off requirements to approximately one 5-gallon bucket by Week 3.
Challenge
Rust and part-quality concerns: Surface rust was forming on precision tables, and operators were seeing inconsistent part finish, including discoloration.
Solution
Rust and discoloration were eliminated during the trial, helping improve part consistency and post-machining condition.
Challenge
Dirty coolant systems: Grease buildup, biological growth, and “green slime” were contributing to poor machine cleanliness and increased maintenance burden.
Solution
Thomas Oil supported the trial with sump cleaning, fluid management, waste service, and monitoring, helping eliminate grease formation and biological growth while improving shop cleanliness.
Challenge
Limited visibility into tool performance: Tool life was not formally tracked, making coolant-related performance improvements difficult to quantify.
Solution
Operators reported a perceived improvement in tool life, especially when machining difficult materials such as A2 and stainless steel.
The Results
CAD & Machining Services saw measurable improvements during the Liquitech 2850 trial, including a significant reduction in coolant usage, cleaner systems, better corrosion control, and improved operating conditions.
By Week 3, coolant top-off requirements dropped from approximately three 5-gallon buckets per week to one, representing an estimated 88.9% reduction in coolant consumption.
Surface rust issues were eliminated during the trial period. Grease emulsions previously forming in machine troughs disappeared, and biological growth was no longer present. Operators also reported improved part consistency and more stable machining performance.
Financially, the transition to Liquitech 2850 is projected to deliver approximately $5,000 in annual savings, based on current usage patterns of 6–7 drums per year and reductions in coolant consumption, freight, handling, and associated operating costs.
Most importantly, coolant management shifted from a high-maintenance daily task to a more stable, low-touch system.
No more babysitting coolant systems.
“We don’t have time to babysit coolant.”
— Shop Manager
Liquitech 2850
Built for cleaner systems, longer coolant life, and more consistent machining performance
Liquitech 2850 helped CAD & Machining Services improve coolant efficiency, reduce operator intervention, eliminate rust and contamination issues, and create a cleaner operating environment.