seals & Bearings 10
tips for proper
Bearing maintenance
What do clocks, skateboards and industrial machinery have in common? They all rely on bearings to maintain their smooth rotational movements. However, to achieve reliability, they must be maintained and handled correctly. This will ensure a long bearing service life, preventing many common issues that can result in bearing failure and costly downtime. In this article, Chris Johnson, managing director at specialist bearing supplier, SMB Bearings, explains ten top tips for optimal bearing care.
1 Handle and STore CorreCTly
to avoid contaminants including moisture, dust or dirt entering the bearing, they should be handled and stored correctly. firstly, bearings should be stored horizontally in their original packaging in a clean, dry and room temperature environment. When bearings are unnecessarily handled, for example, if their wrappings are prematurely removed, this can expose them to corrosion or contaminants. Bearings are delicate components and should be treated with care. as such, components that have been dropped shouldn’t be used as this could lead to premature failure.
2 USe SpeCIalIST ToolS
additionally, appropriate equipment should be used when handling bearings. tools that are not specialised for use during the bearing mounting and dismounting process can cause unnecessary damage, denting and wear. Bearing pullers or induction heaters for example, are designed specifically for bearings.
3
CHeCk THe BearIng HoUSIng and SHafT
inspect the physical condition of the housing and shaft prior to mounting the bearing. Use a soft cloth to wipe the surfaces clean, before familiarising yourself with the correct mounting method.
4 MoUnT CorreCTly
you should use the correct method when mounting your bearings and this varies depending on the type of bearing and type of fit. radial ball bearing rings can be mounted with a variety of fits from sliding fits to tight press fits, depending on the type of load, the speed and vibration levels. applying pressure to the wrong ring when fitting can result in damage to the rolling elements. equally, excessively loose or excessively tight fits, a poor finish on the bearing seats or out of round shafts or housings should also be avoided.
5 geT yoUr lUBrICaTIon rIgHT
one of the leading causes of bearing failure is lubrication failure. this encompasses using the incorrect lubricant, as well as using too much or too little lubrication. the correct lubricant is chosen by considering the environmental conditions, temperature, speed and load. a bearing specialist will be able to advise on a suitable lubrication match and can control bearing lubrication to within a few milligrams. so, if you require a low, normal or high grease fill, you will be safe in the knowledge that your lubrication will not cause problems later down the line.
42 may 2021 | factory&HanDlingsolUtions
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58
