Introduction to CFEST

Cutting Fluid Evaluation Software Testbed (CFEST) is one of the software testbeds being developed by the Machine Tool-Agile Manufacturing Institute (MT-AMRI). The purpose for developing this software is to provide an analytical cutting fluid evaluation tool. Users access the software interface over the Internet through a PC, MAC, or workst ation using a browser such as Netscape or Navigator. The users fills out forms in the user interface to input information regarding cutting fluid type, application method, machining parameters and site specific factors and sends out a request for running the software testbed. After running CFEST, the users get output in the form of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) text and/or graphs. The output gives quantitative information regarding the cutting fluid's process performance, environmental impact, health and safety hazard scoring, and the costs for procurement as well as for treatment.

CFEST is a distributed yet integrated software testbed. It consists of process performance modules residing at MTU, a fluid disposal impacts module residing at UIUC, and a health and safety hazards evaluation module at UCB. A Data Transfer Mechanism (DTM) developed at UIUC is used to transfer data over the Internet between different modules residing at different geographical locations.

Although the modules of CFEST reside at different geographical locations, all the modules are linked seamlessly. Module interaction is transparent to the users. The users access the comprehensive software testbed through a single Universal Resource Locator (URL) address, and the output results from the different modules are brought together by the program manager in a comprehensive way before presentation to the user.

CFEST uses experimentally measured fluid thermophysical properties (stored in a cutting fluid database) along with analytical models to predict the performance as well as the environmental impact and health hazards associated with a given application. The data base used for quantitative computation of cutting fluid performance is modular and easily expandable. The fluid data are from different sources, including experimentally measured data, MSDS and other vendor provided information, and other sources such as NIOSH, OSHA, etc. The types of fluid data include thermophysical properties, chemical composition, cost data, pollutant loading and health hazards.

There are four modules in CFEST at present. Two of them are turning with fluid application method of flood and jet respectively. Cylinder boring module can evaluate the temperature distribution in boring with and without cutting fluid. Tapping module can provide comparison of tapping torques and axial forces with and without cutting fluid.

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