As we have already mentioned several times on our blog, lubrication is an essential element to ensure the correct use of bearings . And precisely because this activity represents a priority in the proper use of the element, it is good to clarify some essential, and often underestimated, concepts.
Let us therefore begin these insights by starting with grease lubrication systems.
How much grease is needed in bearings?
The first concept that we recommend that you keep in mind and, if you find it useful, share with your trusted advisor, is related to the amount of grease required for the lubrication activity. Contrary to what some believe, in fact, it is not at all necessary to spend huge amounts of bearing grease to allow the bearings to be lubricated correctly and, in fact, it is often not necessary to refill frequently. As you can imagine, the frequency of topping up and the amount of grease to use will depend on the type of bearing, its dimensions, the number of rotations and other operating conditions that may influence its efficiency.
In any case, it will not be necessary to carry out complicated calculations to estimate the lubrication needs of your bearings. In fact, all you need to do is look at the bearing manufacturer's user manual and, if necessary, ask your trusted consultant to make estimates regarding refills and amounts of use, by predicting bearing temperatures, their uses and other terms of use.
Which grease to use?
In addition to the above, remember that a lot will also depend on the type of grease you intend to use in the bearing: for example, some quality lithium greases with synthetic oil can guarantee longer lubrication intervals compared to using a grease more traditional. bearings.
How important is it to protect the bearing from external agents?
Another element that must be evaluated whether or not to extend lubrication intervals and their effectiveness is represented by whether or not the bearings are isolated from external agents. It is indeed clear that the effectiveness of grease lubrication can decrease, even significantly, after emulsification or deterioration due to the penetration of foreign substances or water. Therefore, if the bearing is not isolated from the outside, it may be necessary to reduce the planned times for subsequent planning intervals.
Size matters!
Further influencing the frequency of grease lubrication is also the size of the bearing: larger bearings, or bearings used at high speeds, generally require more intense and frequent lubrication. Precisely for this reason, these bearings are usually housed with the availability of a special hole for inserting grease, avoiding the need to dismantle them every time they need to be lubricated.
Finally, we remind you that for any need related to your system's bearings, at Bearings & Components you will find the right spare part for you: contact our pre- and post-sales technical assistance for more information!
