Bearing Life Cycle

 

Each bearing has a certain potential for life. However, research has shown that, for various reasons, not all bearings achieve this. Important milestones that have a major impact on the life of a bearing can be recognized during the life cycle of the bearing. These steps are assembly, lubrication, alignment, basic condition monitoring, and disassembly. The life cycle stages of a bearing are extremely important to achieve maximum service life. By applying good maintenance practices and using the right tools, you can dramatically extend the life of your bearings and increase plant productivity and efficiency.

Help your bearing reach its maximum life!

Mounting:

Mounting is one of the critical stages in the bearing life cycle. If the bearing is not mounted correctly using the correct method and tools, the bearing life will be shortened. Individual applications may require mechanical, thermal, or hydraulic mounting methods for proper and efficient bearing mounting. Selecting the proper mounting technique for your application will help you extend the life of your bearing and reduce costs resulting from premature bearing failure, as well as potential damage to the application.

Lubrication:

Proper bearing lubrication is an essential step in achieving bearing life. It is important to select the correct grease for the bearing application and apply the correct amount before putting the bearing into service. During operation, the bearing will require periodic relubrication. The correct amount of grease applied at the correct intervals is essential for optimum bearing performance and maximum service life. The use of manual relubrication methods is common practice; however, continuous relubrication offers many advantages. Continuous relubrication can be accomplished using automatic lubricators, which provide a more consistent, correct and contamination-free supply of grease.

Alignment:

Once the bearing is mounted in an application such as a motor connected to a pump, the application must be aligned. If the application is not properly aligned, misalignment can result in additional load, friction, and vibration in the bearing. These can accelerate fatigue and reduce the life of the bearing, as well as other components of the machine. Additionally, increased vibration and friction can significantly increase power consumption and the risk of premature failure.

Basic condition monitoring:

During operation, it is important to periodically inspect the condition of the bearing by performing basic condition control measures. These regular inspections will help detect potential problems and prevent unexpected machine shutdowns. Therefore, machine maintenance can be scheduled according to the production schedule, thus increasing the productivity and efficiency of the plant.

Dismounting:

At some point, the bearing will reach the end of its useful life and will need to be replaced. Although the bearing cannot be reused, it is extremely important to disassemble it correctly so that the life of the replacement bearing is not compromised. First, using tools with the proper disassembly method will help prevent damage to other machine components, such as the shaft and housing, which are often reused. Second, incorrect disassembly techniques can be dangerous for maintenance personnel.

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