The manufacturing industries are constantly looking for new ways to thrive. However, some of them would be wiser to investigate better ways to survive also.
Bearings (CC0)
While some of these companies push forward with innovative technologies like automation, it is still essential they do not lose sight of the more intricate nuances of their manufacturing efforts. More minor changes can undoubtedly change the bigger picture for these firms, and bearings are one area where this philosophy can be most prudent. How well bearings are used and maintained can heighten the efficiency of a manufacturing firm tenfold.
If you consider a move into manufacturing yourself, you may be unfamiliar with bearings and their purposes. Therefore, you should brush up on your knowledge here to optimize your chances of business success. You will find some answers to some of the queries you may have regarding bearings below.
What Are Bearings?
Bearings play a crucial role in your manufacturing business. You cannot afford to have them be overlooked at any stage.
Supporting rotation in wheels, gears, turbines, rotors, and many more instruments, bearings play an integral role in manufacturing. Therefore, having bearings that function at optimum levels is non-negotiable. Otherwise, multiple parts of your manufacturing business can come to a screeching halt, so it is important to monitor things closely and seriously here.
There are many different types of bearings, such as ball bearings, tapered roller bearings, ball thrust bearings, and roller thrust bearings. Each serves a nuanced function in manufacturing, and they all require proper care in their use.
Unfortunately, many bearings do not ‘live’ to the end of their engineered lifecycle, and the reasons largely pertain to lacking maintenance practices over long periods. Therefore, some workable solutions here could come in handy.
While America’s factories may be roaring back, it is the small components that play a large role in their efficiency. You will find three solutions below to help you efficiently enhance your bearing’s durability and thus improve the overall effectiveness of your manufacturing firm.
Using Vespel SP22 in Your Bearings
Vespel has numerous applications across multiple industries. Some of these include the automotive, space, semiconductor, and oil and gas sectors, respectively.
Vespel is a polyamide-based thermoplastic that can withstand high heat and functions dynamically via its low-wear and low-friction properties. Moreover, it has a high chemical resistance and unyielding mechanical strength as well. There are few extreme environments in which Vespel cannot thrive. For these reasons, it is commonly found in bearings.
Vespel SP22 is one of the most common types of machined Vespel used in manufacturing. Machining, the material removal process in which a material is cut into a specific shape and size for manufacturing purposes, is essential before its application. Additionally, its inclusion in bearings means much less maintenance work will be required in future, making it a crucial necessity.
Consult this comprehensive overview on machining with Vespel SP22, and it should put you in better stead. Explaining that Vespel has excellent machining characteristics, Aero-Plastics Inc. (API) walk you through all the knowledge required to machine Vespel cost-effectively. Then, equipped with API’s guidance, your bearings will function better than ever before.
Lubrication Solutions
Lubrication can play a significant role in terms of how efficiently your bearings operate.
Last February, we reported that 13% of bearing failures could be attributed to lubrication factors. Subsequently, both academics and industry figures came together to find a solution to the problem, and it is now considered a fast-evolving area of research. Revisiting these matters may help you maintain your bearings for longer.
The go-to option in these matters is lithium-based greases, as they are highly water-resistant. These solutions also perform well in both high and low temperatures, as they are comprised of synthetic lubricating fluids that excel in both conditions. In addition, the versatility of these greases makes them the perfect companion to the highly adaptable bearings themselves.
Ensure that you lubricate your bearings based on their present condition, not by any schedule you have drafted. Scheduled maintenance can seem like a reliable approach, but relubricating a bearing when required can cause blockages and build subsequent pressure, causing the component to work much harder, needlessly, through the excess application of grease.
Use of Coatings
You can extend the service life of your bearings by implementing a specialty, surface-treating coating.
A wear-resistant carbon coating should work nicely. It can be strategically applied to shaft raceways and rolling elements. If your lubrication solutions were not efficient before, then a coating such as this one should help compensate for any potential shortcomings in that scenario. Coatings can also be a sufficient safeguard against sudden fluctuations in load and speed and the wear on contact surfaces incurred by each.
Through applying these extra layers of coating, friction and corrosion resistance in your bearings are also heightened. Vibration damage can also be diminished as well, as well as the effects of gratuitously high operating temperatures. A practical and cost-effective solution, a wear-resistant carbon coating can significantly influence the effectiveness and longevity of your bearings.
Back to Homepage
Back to Consumer Goods