How to maximize bearing life?

Theoretically centrifugal pump service life of rolling bearings is 20,000 to 80,000 hours, however, the actual life depends on many factors - premature bearing failure will lead to high cost of equipment downtime, and sometimes even lead to more serious consequences. NKE (Austria) bearing the company's experts offer some simple but useful tips to optimize bearing performance.
Satisfactory bearing life begins right bearing choice. From the outset, bearing the designer by selecting the correct bearing for different applications to extend bearing life and equipment performance. This process must consider many factors, such as load, stiffness, bearing life prediction, operating environment, and so on.
In principle, all bearings before installing should be kept in their original packaging. They need to stay in a clean, moisture free, relatively constant temperature environment. Rolling should stay away from dust, water and corrosive chemicals. Shake and vibration may never destroy the mechanical properties of the bearing, so the handling and storage process must avoid vibration.

Basically, all bearings must be kept level, because a long time after some heavier bearing placed vertically, may be deformed due to its own weight.
Pre-coated with grease (or sealed) slewing bearing manufacturer requires special care, because the oil after prolonged storage density will change after. So that when the bearing for the first time, there will be a certain degree of rotation noise. Therefore, these bearings should set aside time according to the FIFO principle to control.
Clean
Clean rolling bearing is very important. Turn the single direction thrust ball bearing ring and rolling element surface roughness is usually 1/10 μm, smooth surface damage so very sensitive to pollutants. Lubricating layer between the plane of rotation is generally 0.2 ~ 1 μm, a particle size greater than lubricant-type impurity will be subjected to excessive rolling element rolling to produce a localized pressure bearing steel, eventually cause permanent material fatigue. In addition to this, the external environment in the dust particle sizes up to 10 μm, can also cause damage to the bearings. Therefore, clean dust-free environment is critical to bearing storage and installations.
Fully ready to install
Bearings should carefully using a suitable tool installation and removal. Industry experts estimate that premature bearing failure in the case of 16% is due to improper installation. For large installations (for example, in the production unit) is concerned, usually strictly controlled conditions to install, you can install the device using a suitable linear plain bearings.
However, maintenance or replacement work environment is varied. Therefore, to ensure maximum bearing life, full preparation of the bearing mounting is necessary.
First, the relevant documents, such as drawings, maintenance manuals, brochures and other products require careful study. Next, all bearing components, such as shafts, distance rings, caps, washers, etc. must be kept absolutely clean and free from contamination. Neighboring parts of the state should be carefully examined.
Careful installation and removal
According to the different applications and bearing size and type, choose the appropriate installation method (mechanical or hydraulic) and tools. Here are some basic principles slim bearings installation:
1. Do not apply force on the rolling elements are mounted, which can easily lead to the rolling element and raceway local contact surface overload, leading to premature failure of the bearing.
2. Do not use any hard tools (such as hammers, screwdrivers, etc.) directly to knock on the bearing surface, which can lead to cracking or chipping bearing ring.
3. Compliance with the guidance of respected by others install equipment suppliers.
Approximately 90% of the rolling bearing from the device has never been removed where they too, will usually only larger bearings as scheduled preventive maintenance program and removed. And installation of a bearing as the bearing must be carefully prepared demolition, demolition process, to ensure that the adjacent parts such as shafts and bushings are not damaged. According to the bearing type, size and application to select the appropriate methods and tools.
Designers should be noted that a well-designed bearing location can greatly simplify installation and removal of bearings, thus reducing maintenance costs.
Correct proper lubrication
Lubricants can isolate metal bearing surfaces (such as rolling element bearing ring and bearing housing), thus reducing friction and protect the metal parts and the fight against pollution and impurities. There are a variety of lubricants (including greases, oil and solid) for selection of different operating conditions. Correct selection is very important to extend the bearing lubricant and equipment life.
Due to excessive rolling member rolling bearing lubricant experiencing long mechanical pressure, addition, subjected to high temperatures over time especially in wet or contaminated environments, the chemical nature of the lubricant will change. All this leads to decreased lubricating qualities. Therefore, to ensure the longest life, to regularly re-lubricate the bearings. Lubrication cycle depends on the operating conditions, such as temperature, speed, and the environment. Only pre-lubricated bearings or seals (also called "lifetime lubrication" bearing), bearing life is dependent on the lubricant life.
Lubricants must be properly stored in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, with particular attention to the lubricant to keep clean, free from contamination. Before each use, carefully check the quality of the lubricant, use stale or contaminated lubricants may cause premature bearing failure.
Condition monitoring / maintenance
Generally speaking, bearing very reliable, despite their limited lifespan. With the machine, like all other important components, they should be regularly inspected and maintained. Inspection and maintenance frequency depends on the operating conditions and the importance of individual applications for each device.
Because of the key role of bearings, condition monitoring function is recommended to join in its design phase. Important parameters of the machine is running, such as vibration and noise can be continuously monitored, preventive measures before unpredictable and costly equipment downtime.
Basis of good practice - Training
Practice makes perfect, but proper training is the foundation of practice. Chamber of renowned bearing manufacturers offer a variety of training programs for commercial, technical or workshop staff. If you have a basic knowledge of technical personnel in the course of processing the bearing, so you can avoid major mistakes. Design and product development engineers can optimize bearing design, maximize equipment performance, minimize life-cycle costs.
Bearings are usually pumps and other equipment in the important parts, although top quality bearings are very reliable, but to ensure they have the longest life, still have to pay more attention. Proper preservation, careful installation and removal, adequate lubrication and re-lubrication, proper condition monitoring, timely maintenance and, finally, to improve staff training, to improve bearing life and equipment performance are very important.