We have seen a spurt in the incidents of fire in a CNC/EDM machine. No doubt, technology has evolved over time, and manufacturers globally have been addressing the fire risk in their machines! But few situations.
Fire in a CNC/EDM machine can occur instantly and without warning. A hot metal chip, a tool crash, or even a spark of static electricity can ignite the petroleum-based cutting oils used in many of these machines. Oil-based machine fires produce high heat and dense black smoke which makes it difficult to control using handheld fire extinguishers.
A machine fire has the potential to quickly spread through mist collectors and along electrical lines and ducting to the building's structure with catastrophic results. Even when an automatic sprinkler system activates, the cost of water damage often far exceeds the cost of the fire damage; and indirect expenses, such as business interruption, downtime, and lost customers can be many times as costly.'
Solution
Firetrace is an automatic fire detection and suppression system for micro environments. Firetrace deploys a patented and UL approved
pneumatic detection tube within the hazard area to be protected. In case of a fire, the tube bursts at its hottest point, there by activating the system and discharging the extinguishing gas directly on the fire, thru strategically placed nozzles within the compartment to be protected.
(Continued on next page)