What You Should Know About Bearing Maintenance

Industrial bearings play a crucial role in keeping production lines moving. Despite their size, these mechanical components are essential to the free and unrestricted movement of certain parts and entire machines. That’s why it’s so important that they receive proper maintenance – to have a long operational life.

What Are Industrial Bearings?

As mentioned above, bearings are asset components that are common in industrial settings. They’re vital to the expected rhythm of production lines, working to keep assets running. All rolling bearings are made up of inner and outer rings, and a rolling element.

Manufacturing these components requires high quality standards with controlled measures and high-strength materials, like steel combined with chromium, or stainless steel. They act as fixed support to the machine’s rotating elements, ensuring that the mechanical transmission systems work properly.

​​What Are Bearings For?

Bearings are responsible for giving certain components the desired direction – it grants rotary movement to two or more elements. They’re also very important for the purposes of reducing friction or sliding friction between contact surfaces like shafts or pulleys.

These assets support loads projected onto a constantly rotating shaft. Without them, moving parts would stick, cause friction, or malfunction. Bearing life depends on its type, the load they carry, and maintenance schedules.

Industrial machinery can only operate if the mechanical transmission systems are working properly and efficiently. A single unexpected bearing failure can interrupt the operation of the equipment in which it is located.

When bearing maintenance is done properly, its lifetime is extended and unplanned downtime is reduced. When they’re not constantly monitored, they can jeopardize production.

What Are Bearing Housings?

They’re elements formed by bearing units that work as support for machines and that have shafts and/or rotary movements. Its structure is usually composed of cast iron, ensuring greater resistance.

They can be classified in two types: rolling/rotating bearing housings, and sliding bearing housings.

Rolling or rotating bearing housings support the rolling element so it can support the shaft. It’s suitable for high-speed, low-friction applications.

Sliding bearing housings use a sleeve attached to the support. They’re mostly used in heavy machines or low rotation equipment (to avoid overheating of components exposed to friction).

Main Types of Bearing

Deep groove ball bearings are the most common type. They can support axial and radial loads, and their main characteristic is the rotation speed, which is higher than in other bearing types.

Double row angular contact ball bearings are suitable for supporting combined loads (axial and radial) acting simultaneously.

Double row deep groove ball bearings support much higher loads than single row bearings.

Tapered roller bearings have conically shaped raceways and rollers. They form an angle in relation to the shaft, allowing the bearing to resist loads in the axial and radial direction.

Cylindrical roller bearings are produced in different models, series, and sizes, differing according to the number of roller races, cage type, and the configuration of the inner and outer ring flanges.

Angular contact ball bearings have inner and outer ring raceways that are offset relative to each other in the direction of the bearing axis. This means that they’re designed to accommodate combined loads, i.e. axial and radial loads acting simultaneously.

Needle roller bearings present a small diameter in comparison to its length. Because of its modified race/roll profile, it avoids tension peaks, prolonging its useful life. This type has different profiles and a wide variety of materials, series and sizes.

How to Select the Right Bearing for Each Application

When selecting the most appropriate bearing, it’s necessary to pay attention to the type and size. Fit, axial and radial load capacity, lifespan, friction, permissible rotational speeds, internal looseness, the mounting of the other components, sealing, and their application must also be considered.

Each of these specifics has an impact on the bearing’s performance, reliability, and cost. There are also other important points, like the level of demand for each application and the cost of the set within the project.

How to Ensure Proper Bearing Maintenance

Having optimal bearing maintenance is more than necessary in industries. Industrial maintenance and reliability teams should prioritize strategies that detect failures that haven’t happened yet and repair them before they can severely affect assets.

To learn more about the main failures found in bearings, check out this blog.

Handle with Care

Bearing storage should be done horizontally, in a dry and clean environment – it’s not recommended to remove them from their packaging before they’re ready for use. Premature failures can be caused by airborne or water contaminants, as well as direct force applied to the outer ring, which causes damage to the rolling elements.

Check Housings and Shaft

Housings and shafts should be inspected for any physical damage. Use a soft cloth to wipe the surfaces clean.

Correct Mounting

The mounting technique you use will depend on bearing type. Cylindrical bore types are generally mounted through a press fit method, whereas the tapered bore type can be mounted directly on tapered or cylindrical shafts with the use of tapered sleeves.

Avoid Preheating and Overheating

The permitted heat limit for bearings depends on the material they’re made of. If that limit is reached or exceeded, they can permanently deform or soften, lowering load carrying capacity and resulting in failure.

Always Use Proper Tools

For mounting or dismounting processes, use specialized tools like bearing pullers, fitting tool kits, oil injector kits, hydraulic nuts, or induction heaters.

Avoid Corrosion

Bearings that are exposed to water for prolonged periods of time may rust or become corroded, causing premature failures and downtime. Gloves are essential when handling bearings to avoid perspiration.

Proper Lubrication

For a longer life, bearings must be properly lubricated with the correct amount of lubricant. It must be applied in the right way according to environmental conditions, temperature, speed and load.