How to choose bearing lubricant?
author: Leila
2025-03-24
The shaft bears the entire load of the machine and is a key component that supports the normal operation of the machine, which directly affects the service life and operation rate of the machine.
In addition to the quality of the bearing itself, good lubrication also has a great relationship with extending the life of the bearing. In order to ensure the trouble-free application of the bearing, attention to the bearing oil used is also essential.
So when should bearing oil be used? When the bearing has the following performances, it means that the bearing is insufficiently lubricated and needs to be lubricated.
Performance of insufficient bearing lubrication
1. Discoloration
Metal-to-metal contact can cause the bearing temperature to be too high, causing the raceway and roller to discolor. In mild cases, this discoloration is due to the lubricant contaminating the bearing surface, while in severe cases, the metal discolors due to high temperature. Early detection can avoid expensive repairs.
Metal-to-metal contact can cause the bearing temperature to be too high, causing the raceway and roller to discolor. In mild cases, this discoloration is due to the lubricant contaminating the bearing surface, while in severe cases, the metal discolors due to high temperature. Early detection can avoid expensive repairs.
2. Scratches and peeling
Scratches and peeling are prone to occur in high-load, low-speed applications or under continuous high temperatures, and thin or insufficient lubricating oil films will accelerate the occurrence of problems. Insufficient lubrication, incorrect grease selection or sudden changes in operating conditions can cause bearing material to peel or bearing flange scratches.
Scratches and peeling are prone to occur in high-load, low-speed applications or under continuous high temperatures, and thin or insufficient lubricating oil films will accelerate the occurrence of problems. Insufficient lubrication, incorrect grease selection or sudden changes in operating conditions can cause bearing material to peel or bearing flange scratches.
3. Roller overheating
The rupture of the lubricating film can cause local scratches on the direct contact between components. In tapered roller bearings, this may appear as scratches on the big end of the roller and the guide flange.
4. Complete bearing lockup
Extreme local heating can produce metal flow in the bearing, changing the original material and geometry of the bearing. This can cause excessive roller tilting, cage damage, and complete bearing lockup.
A small damaged bearing can cause critical equipment to stop suddenly. Regular inspection and relubrication are still the best way to protect equipment.
Damage caused by insufficient lubrication varies greatly in appearance and impact on bearing performance. Now that we know the manifestations of insufficient bearing lubrication, how should factories choose bearing oil?
Selection of bearing grease
1. Appropriate viscosity and good viscosity-temperature characteristics
In order to prevent the temperature of the machine tool spindle bearing from being too high, causing thermal deformation of the machine tool, affecting the processing accuracy or causing poor bearing lubrication, the lubricating oil with appropriate temperature should be selected according to the spindle bearing structure, speed and bearing clearance, and it should have good viscosity-temperature characteristics to prevent the viscosity from changing too much when the spindle working temperature and ambient temperature change greatly, affecting the lubrication performance.
In order to prevent the temperature of the machine tool spindle bearing from being too high, causing thermal deformation of the machine tool, affecting the processing accuracy or causing poor bearing lubrication, the lubricating oil with appropriate temperature should be selected according to the spindle bearing structure, speed and bearing clearance, and it should have good viscosity-temperature characteristics to prevent the viscosity from changing too much when the spindle working temperature and ambient temperature change greatly, affecting the lubrication performance.
2. Good lubricity
In order to maintain a uniform oil film between the spindle and the bearing contact surface, and the oil film will not be destroyed when the spindle starts or stops to generate impact load, maintaining good lubrication performance plays a role in reducing friction and friction heat, reducing spindle temperature rise, and ensuring processing accuracy.
In order to maintain a uniform oil film between the spindle and the bearing contact surface, and the oil film will not be destroyed when the spindle starts or stops to generate impact load, maintaining good lubrication performance plays a role in reducing friction and friction heat, reducing spindle temperature rise, and ensuring processing accuracy.
3. Good oxidation resistance
When the machine tool spindle adopts the circulating lubrication method, the spindle bearing oil is required to be used for a long time without deterioration, so it is required to have good oxidation resistance.
When the machine tool spindle adopts the circulating lubrication method, the spindle bearing oil is required to be used for a long time without deterioration, so it is required to have good oxidation resistance.
4. Good rust resistance
Since the oil will inevitably mix with condensed water in the air or machine tool coolant during the operation of the spindle lubrication system, the oil is required to have good rust resistance to avoid rusting of the machine equipment.
Since the oil will inevitably mix with condensed water in the air or machine tool coolant during the operation of the spindle lubrication system, the oil is required to have good rust resistance to avoid rusting of the machine equipment.
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