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How Does Lubrication Improve Bearing Performance & Reliability?

Mike Jeffries | February 9, 2017

Lubrication&Bearings.jpegBearings must be able to roll smoothly to work efficiently. This includes keeping the roller surface free of as much debris as possible as well as taking steps to reduce friction along the roller path. Once contaminants have been introduced into the system, damage can occur, and that damage adds up over time until the system eventually fails.

Related Blog: What Can I do to Prevent my Industrial Pump from Needing Repair?

Types of Contaminants

Bearings are designed for a perfect world, but such an environment is impossible to achieve. Contaminants are going to enter the system as dust through air flow, water through condensation or immersion, or even particles that are produced by materials being moved by the bearings themselves.

How Lubrication Works

Lubrication is the best defense against particulate contamination. It seals the bearing housing, acting as barrier against dust, dirt, and liquid. Since there is no way to prevent all contaminants, lubrication reduces the damage when they do. Once minor damage from particles has occurred, lubrication acts as a sort of filler for damaged areas to help bearings continue to operate efficiently.

Lubrication Reduces Friction

In a bearing assembly, the load is supported by a small area. The contact point is often only a few microns, which is less than the diameter of a human hair. Lubrication allows the contact points to move more freely, and friction reduction leads to more efficient and cost-effective operation of the system.

Reduce Corrosion Through Lubrication

Corrosion is caused by exposure to a material’s environment. While corrosion is typically associated with metals like iron or aluminum, it can affect a wide range of materials, affecting their flexibility, smoothness, and overall longevity. Lubrication acts as a very thin shield between bearings and their environment, protecting them from actual exposure to air, water, or other liquids or gasses.

Lubricate During Regular Maintenance

Lubricants absorb the materials they protect bearings from, making it important to apply or change lubricants frequently. During every regular maintenance cycle, lubrication should be checked and applied as necessary. This may entail draining oil and changing filters or flushing grease out of the bearings and replacing it with a fresh application.

Regardless of the type of bearings you use, failure to lubricate them properly will lead to component failure. For more than 30 years, Mader Electric has provided support and maintenance for pumps, motors, and conveyor systems. Our experience with repairs, training, and more continue to make us a reliable and trusted industry leader. New Call-to-action

Topics: industrial pump, pump repair, motor

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