TIL my coolant was too weak and ruining my part finish
I was running aluminum parts and the surface finish kept coming out rough, which was really frustrating. Every time I used the same program, the results were all over the place. I checked the tool for wear and double-checked my speeds and feeds, but nothing seemed off. It hit me that I had topped up the coolant tank with just water a few days back. So I grabbed a refractometer and tested the mix, and sure enough, it was way too thin. After adjusting it to the right concentration, the finishes came out perfect and consistent. That moment made me see how easy it is to overlook simple maintenance stuff. Now I make it a habit to check coolant levels before any important run. Honestly, such a small fix saved me a ton of rework, lmao.