5 VFD Myths You Need to Watch Out For
February 16, 2023
Many industrial tools and equipment depend heavily on bearings. Bearing failure cannot be prevented. However, bearing failure effects on business operations can be lessened. The secret is knowing what goes wrong with a bearing and how to stop it from failing too soon.
What Common Reasons for Bearing Failure Exist?
There are numerous causes of bearing failure. Among the most typical are:
Improper Lubrication: Inadequate lubrication is the leading cause of bearing failures. Lubrication failure may result if:
- You use the wrong lubricant.
- You don't use enough lubricant.
- High temperatures caused the bearing lubricant to degrade.
Corrosion & Contamination: In bearing assemblies, contaminants like dirt, sand, water, and chemical substances can lead to various problems. For instance, they might deteriorate the lubrication, corrode, or erode the bearing surfaces. This will result in an early failure.
Some bearings, but not all, can tolerate little misalignment between the shaft and bearing housing. Bent shafts, contaminated parts, incorrectly positioned shafts, and locking nuts are common causes of misalignment. These problems may result in excessive vibration production and unequal load distribution, which could further speed up failure.
Bearing Fatigue: The term "fatigue" (also known as "spalling") describes the fracturing of bearing surfaces and the consequent breaking off of material fragments. Fatigue will eventually result in failure as it spreads.
How Can I Prevent Early Bearing Failure?
It is simpler for industry professionals to put suitable measures in place to avoid the cause(s) when they know why bearing failure happens. One can take the following actions to prevent early failure:
Selecting the Right Bearing
The bearing needs to be the machine's appropriate size and load capability.
Installing the Bearing Properly
Use the right tools when you install a bearing, and be sure the bearing is placed according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
After bearing installation, it is crucial to ensure proper positioning and alignment of all the parts.
A wealth of information is available on preventing contamination and proper lubrication practices, but the installation could be the potential root cause of premature mounted bearing failure.
Installation issues result due to a lack of training or proper tools and very often result in the bearing coming loose on the shaft. When this situation goes unobserved, the bearing is doomed to early failure and will frequently cause additional damage to the machine shaft and other components.
Here is a simple trick for maintenance personnel. At the time of installation, make two brightly colored match- marks on the inner race of the bearing and the shaft using enamel paint. These match marks should be between 90 and 180 degrees apart.
When the machine is in an off state, the maintenance staff can quickly observe any mounted bearings where the match mark on the bearing has begun to move away from the match mark on the shaft. This process will quickly show where a problem is beginning and give the maintenance staff plenty of time to correct it.
Lubricating the Bearing According to Manufacturer's Guidelines
The bearing will function and perform as intended for the duration of its service life if you follow the manufacturer's lubrication recommendations. It's crucial to use the proper lubricant and apply the perfect amount.
For immediate assistance, please contact your Motion Automation Intelligence Specialist today.