ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Cutting fluid

Have you ever heard of cutting fluid? It helps machines work better when they are cutting or shaping materials like metal.

Imagine you are playing with Play-Doh and you want to make a little sculpture. When you squeeze and shape the Play-Doh, it gets sticky and might not keep its shape very well. Now imagine you had some oil or water to put on the Play-Doh while you were squeezing and shaping it. The oil or water would make the Play-Doh easier to work with and it would keep its shape better.

In the same way, cutting fluid is like oil or water that is put on machines when they are cutting metal. When the machine is cutting, it gets very hot and can wear down quickly. But if there is cutting fluid helping it cool down and work better, then it will last longer and do a better job.

Cutting fluid can also protect the metal that is being cut. When the machine is cutting, little metal chips are flying around and they can be dangerous. Cutting fluid helps keep those chips from sticking to the metal or getting in the machine where they might cause a problem.

So cutting fluid is like a helper for machines that are cutting and shaping metal. It keeps the machine working well and helps things go smoothly.