In aerospace and defense machining, surface finish isn’t about aesthetics—it’s about performance, reliability, and certification. For superalloys like Nickel 718 (also known by its tradename Inconel® 718), achieving the right surface finish can mean the difference between a component that passes inspection and one that gets scrapped.

Achieving an acceptable Inconel® 718 surface finish is one of the most challenging tasks in aerospace machining, given the alloy’s intrinsic hardness, heat resistance, and tendency to work-harden. This makes surface finish especially challenging to control. That’s where the cutting fluid becomes the hidden differentiator. That’s where Halocarbon MWF can provide a clear advantage.

A recent third-party study conducted by Kratos SRE compared Halocarbon MWF to a leading competitor’s cutting fluid across multiple operations. The results show that MWF consistently delivered smoother surfaces—critical for high-spec aerospace and defense parts.

Bore Finish:  Inside Diameter (I.D.) Turning and Boring

The study measured bore surface roughness at four radial positions, approximately 90° apart from one another.  The surface finish of the bores was measured vertically into the bore.  

The difference was dramatic:

• Halocarbon MWF: As low as 11–12 µin Ra
• Competitive Control Fluid (CCF): As low as 25–26 µin Ra

Halocarbon MWF reduced surface roughness by ~54% creating a bore finish that meets aerospace-grade standards with less tool wear.

Milling Finish:  Flat Surfaces

On milled flat surfaces, surface roughness was measured in two directions (0° and 90°).  Surface finish, often measured in terms of surface roughness (Ra values), is a critical parameter in aerospace machining.  Again, MWF outperformed the competitive control fluid:

• Halocarbon MWF: Average 10.3 µin Ra
• Competitive Control Fluid (CCF): Average 13.5 µin Ra

Halocarbon MWF reduced surface roughness by ~24% on milled flat surfaces.

Smoother flat surfaces mean less downstream polishing, fewer reworks, and improved consistency in critical part interfaces.  Only one end-mill was required to complete this process when using Halocarbon MWF cutting fluid.  Two end-mills were required to complete this process when using the competitive control fluid.  This equates to extended tool life without compromising surface finish.

Surface Finish of Flat Surface: Measured in 2 dimensions. 0o is represented by the red arrow, going along the horizontal surface of the flat surface.  90o is represented by the red X, going into the plane of the picture.

Visual Evidence of Surface Quality:

Beyond numbers, the photographs tell the story. Parts machined with Halocarbon MWF exhibited visibly smoother walls and edges, while competitor-machined parts showed tool marks, roughness, and in some cases gouges from insert failure.

Halocarbon MWF:  Finished machined test articles that utilized Halocarbon MWF showed significantly better surface finish.

Competitive Fluid: Finished machined test articles that utilized Competitive Control Fluid (CCF) showed signs of tool marks, roughness, and significant defects that would lead to part rejection.

Why Surface Finish Matters in Aerospace:

In applications like turbine blades, jet engine components, or missile housings, surface finish is directly linked to:

✔ Fatigue resistance and longer component life
✔ Tighter dimensional tolerances and fit-up
✔ Reduced risk of stress concentrators and microcracks
✔ Higher first-pass yield and fewer rejected parts

By delivering smoother finishes in nickel 718, Halocarbon MWF doesn’t just improve machining—it safeguards performance downstream.

See the Results for Yourself

Halocarbon MWF consistently delivered better surface finish compared to a leading competitive control fluid in independent testing. For aerospace and defense engineers, this means higher quality, reduced rework, and lower total machining cost.