Minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) for sustainable metal processing
DropsA MMS systems enable precise and environmentally friendly Minimum quantity lubrication for industrial metal processing. By specifically dosing minimal amounts of lubricant, you improve the efficiency, surface quality and service life of your tools - with significantly reduced lubricant consumption.
MaXtreme, MiQuel and other DropsA MMS solutions are ideal for milling, turning, sawing and drilling. With Minimum quantity lubrication Reduced costs for disposal and cleaning – with maximum process reliability and best performance.
Benefit from modern MMS technology for sustainable, clean and high-performance production – developed for the requirements of German industrial companies.
Minimum quantity lubrication from DropsA – your solution for future-oriented manufacturing.
Technical data and selection
Minimum quantity lubrication replaces the coolant emulsion with a very small, precisely metered volume of oil carried to the cutting edge as an aerosol. Order of magnitude: millilitres per hour instead of litres per minute. Chips and workpiece stay almost dry, emulsion disposal disappears, and the chips are recyclable without pre-treatment.
| System | Oil volume | Air pressure | Reservoir | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIP4Tools | 0–30 mm³ per outlet | 5–8 bar | 1 l · 3 l | 1–8 points, machine tool |
| 2C | 5–500 ml/h | – | – | CNC centres, transfer lines, single and multi spindle |
| MaXtreme | up to 220 ml/h | 6 bar · 20 bar (vortex) | 2 l | through-tool cooling, high end |
| GRIP | 0–30 mm³ | 4–6 bar | 0.5 l | portable, single station |
| MLU | 5–100 ml/h | 5–8 bar | – | drilling units in aerospace |
Source: DropsA manufacturer data, retrieved 31 July 2026 – VIP4Tools · 2C · MaXtreme · GRIP · MLU. The figures in the respective datasheet are binding.
The choice is decided at the tool cooling channel
The key difference between the systems is not the oil volume but whether the aerosol is fed through the tool. External supply via nozzles is simple and cheap, but it does not reach the cutting edge when deep drilling. Internal supply through the coolant channel demands an aerosol with very fine droplets, because larger droplets settle in the spindle and clog the channel.
That is why MaXtreme generates its aerosol with a vortex at up to 20 bar, while VIP4Tools and GRIP work on 4 to 8 bar of shop air. If you only lubricate externally you do not need the high-pressure variant; if you lubricate through the tool there is no way round it.
What MQL cannot do
MQL lubricates, it barely cools. For processes whose heat has to leave through the medium — grinding at high removal rates, deep drilling in hard-to-machine materials without internal cooling — emulsion remains the right answer. The decision is made at the process, not at the equipment.