Demystifying lubrication in

bearing applications
November 10, 2016

Sponsored by:
About the Viewer Panel
Technical problems?
Click on the Question Mark Symbol on the upper right hand corner of your screen,
where you will be directed to a list of system checks
Send a question from the Ask a Question window. Individual technical questions
will be answered in the Answered Questions on the left hand side of your screen
Slides:
Click the four pronged arrow button at the top right corner of the slides to view an
expanded window
Slides should change automatically
Click on Download Webcast Slides under Event Resources for a PDF of all slides
Warning: The PDF will be a large file
Archive:
Within 7 days, an archive with Q&A will be posted
We will send an email to registered attendees with hyperlink
Can also access from www.plantengineering.com home page
Speakers:

Presenter: Dave Kaunitz,

Product Manager for Baldor-Dodge Ball
Bearings, Baldor Electric Company

Moderator: Bob Vavra,

Content Manager,
Plant Engineering, CFE Media
Demystifying Lubrication Webinar
Maximizing Bearing Life and Reliability
Topics of Discussion

How does a bearing work?

What is lubrication?
Comparing lubrication options for mounted ball bearings
Maximizing life by protecting your lubrication
Best practices

5 | Baldor Electric Company

How a bearing works
Outer Ring

Bearing
Retainer

Housing Inner Ring

Bearing Lubrication

Purpose of Lubrication
Primary function:
Reduce friction between contact areas by separating contact
surface irregularities
Secondary function:
Reduce wear of the two moving surfaces
Prevents metal-to-metal contact between rollers and raceways
Third function:
Remove heat generated by friction and wear activity
Fourth function:
Protect bearing components from contamination

Effective lubrication is critical to bearing performance and service life

Lubricant Function
(Metal to Metal Separation)

m
o
v
e
m
e
n
t

m
o
v
e
m
e
n
t
u
n
e
v
e
n
e
s
s
i
n
u
n
e
v
e
n
e
s
s
i
n t
h
e
m
e
t
a
l
s
u
r
f
a
c
e
t
h
e
m
e
t
a
l
s
u
r
f
a
c
e

m
o
l
e
c
u
l
e
i
n l
u
b
r
i
c
a
n
t
f
i
l
m
t
h
e
l
u
b
r
i
c
a
n
t

Boundary Layer Lubrication Hydrodynamic Lubrication

(Thin film - about the size of the (Thick film - complete separation
molecules that make up the oil) of the moving surfaces)
Lubrication Types

Oil Solid Lube Grease

Advantages Advantages
1. Can be cleaned 1. Can be run without seals
2. Heat Removal 2. Can withstand aggressive
3. Highest Speed Capability washdown
Disadvantages Disadvantages
1. Possibility of Leakage 1. Not readily available
2. Does not Seal
2. Some types have limited storage
3. Can be Displaced by Water capability
4. Requires special delivery system 3. Speed is limited
4. Relubrication is limited
Advantages
1. Readily available
2. Relubricatable
3. Resistant to water ingress
4. Provides extra protection from
contamination
5. Does not require any special
systems for implementation
5. High Speed Capability
6. Low Cost
Disadvantages
1. Cannot be circulated or
cleaned
2. Does not remove heat well
from the installation
3. Requires seals
4. Can be washed out of a
bearing if not properly
protected
What is grease?

Additives 0-10%
Types: EP additives, corrosion
preventatives, AW agents
G
R
Base oil 75-95%
E Main characteristics: oil type,
A viscosity (most important
S characteristic)
E Thickener 5-20%
Main characteristics: consistency
Bearing Lubrication

How does a grease work?

Oil within the grease performs the actual lubrication.
Oil bleeds from the soap base thickener gradually through the service
life of the grease (Bleed Rate)

It is not uncommon to observe oil discharge from a grease, particularly

when the grease has been stagnant.
Grease Selection Considerations
Bearing Lubrication Thickeners & Additives

Thickener Types
Metallic Soap
Lithium, Aluminum, Barium, Polyurea, Sodium, Calcium..etc
Complex
Mixture of a metallic soap and a complexing agent
Non Soap
Bentonite, Silica aerogels..etc

Additives
Rust inhibitors
Extreme pressure (EP)
Anti-wear (AW)
Bearing Lubrication
Consistency

Grease consistency is identified by NLGI # grade

Bearing Lubrication
NLGI Soap Consistency Selection Due to Speed

Speed categories:
Low speed Up to 20% of max. catalog speed limit

Medium speed 20% to 70% of max. catalog speed limit

High speed Over 70% of max. catalog speed limit

Low speeds : Normally a NLGI #1-2

Medium speeds: Normally a NLGI #2
High speeds : Normally a NLGI # 2-3
Bearing Lubrication
Oil Viscosity Selection

Viscosity - The property of a fluid that resists internal flow by releasing

counteracting forces.

The viscosity of a lubricant plays one of the most important roles is the
selection of the lubricant.

The viscosity of a lubricant is generally rated at 40C in Centistokes (cSt).

Values are also available and should be considered at 100C.

Viscosity decreases as temperature increases. Select viscosity at the

anticipated operating temperature of the bearing.

Low Speeds, High Loads = High Viscosity Oil for Maximum Film Thickness
High Speeds, Light Loads = Low Viscosity Oil for Minimum Shear/Churning
Bearing Lubrication
Lubrication Compatibility

CALCIUM COMPLEX

LITHIUM COMPLEX
BARIUM COMPLEX

POLYUREA
CALCIUM
COMPLEX

LITHIUM
AL

AL COMPLEX
BARIUM COMPLEX

CALCIUM
CALCIUM COMPLEX
CLAY
LITHIUM
LITHIUM COMPLEX
POLYUREA
SODIUM

INCOMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE BORDERLINE

Why are seals and lubrication important to
mounted bearing performance?
80% of all premature bearing failures are lubricant related
Moisture Staining (Etching)

Moisture contamination
Avoid with proper lubrication and
lubrication intervals
Note
frosty
raceway
Ineffective Lubrication

Excessive Wear of components

Discoloration of components
Increase in operating temperature
Increase in vibration

Remedies
Use the correct grease for application
Use correct amount of grease for
the application
Incorporate maintenance relubrication
interval if possible.

20 | Baldor Electric Company

Protecting Lubrication
Environmental / Application Considerations

What is the level of contamination in the environment?

Are the bearings subjected to washdown?
Air
Water
High Pressure Water
High Pressure and High Heat
Speed
Sealing Systems

Three Main Types

Contact Seals Clearance Seals Combination Seals

Contact Sealing Systems

Contact Seals
Most common among mounted bearings
Makes direct contact
Contains resilient flexible component that closes path, returns to
original shape if deformed
Best suited for wet or dry environments under slow to moderate
speeds
Labyrinth/Clearance Sealing Systems

Clearance Seals
Obstructs particle entry with
Labyrinth maze
Grease dam
Beneficial at high speeds
Low drag
Lower operating temperatures
Best suited for high-temperature environments
Combination Sealing Systems

Combination Seals
Blends elements or features of contact and
clearance seals
Most effective
Obstructs particle entry with
Labyrinth maze
Full contact seals
Grease dam
Flinger rotating shield or collar
Bearing Retainers
End Covers

Extra layer of protection

Human safety
Food safety
Best Practices
Bearing Relubrication
Rules of Thumb
Constraints:
Operating Temp 0 200F
Unitized bearings
Low to moderate moisture/contaminant exposure
NLGI = 2
Lithium or lithium complex base grease
Viscosity = 100 to 150 cSt @ 40C

How to relubricate
Amount = Slowly pump in grease until FRESH grease can be seen
purging from the seal
Alternative - 3 Shots Per Inch of Shaft Diameter (Conditionally per interval observations)
Ideally, lubricate with bearing rotation, safety permitting

When to lubricate
Lubricate after cleaning/washdown
Lubricate before periods of shutdown
Bearing Lubrication

The recommended relubrication frequency will be affected by the level of

contamination in the environment.

Lubrication Guide
Suggested Lubrication Period in Weeks
Hours 251 to 501 to 751 to 1001 to 1501 to 2001 to 2501 to
Run Per 1 to 250 500 750 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Day RPM RPM RPM RPM RPM RPM RPM RPM
8 12 12 10 7 5 4 3 2
16 12 7 5 4 2 2 2 1
24 10 5 3 2 1 1 1 1
Summary

Keys to maximizing life and reliability in your facility

Choose the right lubrication for your application and environment

Consider
Soap base
Oil viscosity
Bleed rate

Choose the right sealing system to protect your lubrication

Washdown
Operating Speed
Maintain your bearing properly
Determine your lubrication frequency
Adjust to your environment
Follow the best practices when relubricating
Questions
Submitting Questions, Exit Survey and Archive
Questions?
Type your question in the Ask a Question box on the Webcast Console
and click Send. We will get to as many questions as we have time for.
Questions that are for todays presenters will be answered verbally during
the Q&A session.

Exit Survey:
Please take a moment to answer a few questions on our exit survey that
will pop up on your screen at the conclusion of the webcast. We use the
answers to help make improvements to our webcast program.

Archive:
Within 7 days, an archive with Q&A will be posted
We will send an email to registered attendees with hyperlink
Can also access from the www.plantengineering.com home page
Speakers:

Presenter: Dave Kaunitz,

Product Manager for Baldor-Dodge Ball
Bearings, Baldor Electric Company

Moderator: Bob Vavra,

Content Manager,
Plant Engineering, CFE Media
Demystifying lubrication in
bearing applications
November 10, 2016

Sponsored by: