Bearings are an important component in modern machinery. Their main function is to support rotating parts of the machinery, reduce friction coefficients during their motion, and ensure their rotational accuracy.
As manufacturing technology advances, there is an increasing demand for bearings. However, problems such as premature damage and short service life have become more apparent.
Today, I want to share with you some methods and techniques for extending the service life of bearings.
How to improve the service life of bearings?
The number of rotations or hours that a bearing can withstand before the occurrence of spalling under a certain load is known as the bearing life.
Within this life, the bearing should experience only initial fatigue damage on any of its bearing raceways or rolling elements.
However, in practical use, it can be observed that bearings with the same appearance and operating conditions have significantly different service lives.
What causes this? Here are a few points that I have summarized:
1. Incorrect installation (about 16%)
1）Excessive force during installation, and hitting the bearing with a hammer causes the greatest damage and deformation.
2）Deviation in installation or failure to install the bearing correctly may result in too little bearing clearance. The inner and outer rings are not in the same rotational center, resulting in eccentricity.
Recommendation: Use appropriate or professional bearing installation tools, and use specialized equipment to check after installation.
2. Contamination (about 14%)
Contamination can also cause premature bearing failure, which refers to the entry of sand, dust, metal chips, etc., into the bearing.
The main reasons include:
1）Opening the bearing packaging too early before use, causing contamination;
2）The installation environment is not clean, causing contamination;
3）The working environment of the bearing is not clean, and the working medium is contaminated, etc.
Recommendation: Do not open the bearing packaging before use if possible; maintain a clean installation environment, and clean the bearing before use; enhance the sealing device of the bearing.
3. Poor lubrication (about 50%)
According to research, poor lubrication is one of the main causes of premature bearing failure, which includes:
1）Failure to timely add lubricants or lubricating oil;
2）Lubricants or lubricating oil not added properly;
3）Improper selection of lubricants or lubricating oil;
4）Incorrect lubrication method, etc.
Recommendation: Select the correct lubricant or lubricating oil, and use the appropriate lubrication method.
4. Fatigue (about 34%)
Fatigue failure is a common way for bearings to fail. The reasons for fatigue failure may include:
1）Bearings operating under long-term overload;
2）Failure to perform timely maintenance;
3）Improper maintenance;
4）Equipment aging, etc.
Recommendation: Select the appropriate type of bearing and regularly replace fatigued bearings in a timely manner.
