• Measuring
  • Analysing
  • Concluding
  • Advising
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Bearing damage

Why bearings fail?

The larger part of the bearings in a machine last longer than the machine itself. Only a small part fails early and before the calculated bearing life time. With our reliable condition monitoring program you will have an insight in the true condition of your bearings enabling you to change the bearing at the right time. Unnecessary overhauls are skipped and unplanned downtime is minimized.

Overload, poor lubrication or looseness

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Early bearing failure has, in almost every case, an external factor that caused deteriorated circumstances and increased wear. The most common caused for increased wear and early bearing failure are:

Design or calculation error, increased turning speed, increased load, incorrect assembly methods or just misuse are all common causes of overloading a bearing.

Incorrect lubrication is besides overloading also an important factor for a large part of the early bearing failures. Insufficient control over the lubrication methods often lead to under- or over lubrication. Also the mixed usage of different kinds of lubrication products can cause chemical reactions resulting in deterioration or complete loss of the lubrication properties.

Electric motors, especially when fitted with a variable speed drive, have the potential for electrical fluting. This fluting can cause electrical currents to pass trough the bearings which causes an "electrical welding" effect in the turning bearing. This welding leads to damages on the surface of as well the inner ring as the outer ring as on the rolling elements.

Incorrect assembly methods

It is commonly known that for the assembly of bearings in a machine only safe, clean and destined tools should be used. However, many bearings, and consequently many machines, still fail soon after an overhaul or repair has been carried out. Bearing damage analysis often indicates that an overload during assembly has caused the initial damage of the early bearing failure.

Photographic reports