Bearing Failure Analysis Info 1

[longeron]

I've Googled this before without much luck. It seems SKF and NSK want to people to keep paying for classes. Are there some sources for information on FA that I've missed?

 

[electricpete]

There is a ton of info available for free on rolling bearing failure analysis. Have a look here:

http://maintenanceforums.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5951015103/m/3181031703?r=3181031703#3181031703

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[longeron]

Wow. Fantastic. I gobbled up every byte. How do you like the AMP forum?

 

[electricpete]

There is AMP and there is maintenanceforums.com
Both run by the same folks.

I really like maintenanceforums.com
Plenty of folks knowledeable in rotating equipment including vibration analaysis, lube oil, maintenance etc.

=====================================
Eng-tips forums: The best place on the web for engineering discussions.

 

[Fugeguy]

Here are some more good links:

http://www.koyousa.com/brochures/pdfs/cat322ex - Failure Catalog.pdf

http://www.koyousa.com/brochures/pdfs/cat2000ex - Failure Chart.pdf

 

[unclesyd]

Not exactly a response to you OP and not confuse the very good responses posted so far.

Back in the days where there wasn't all the available instruments, other than a stethoscope, to check bearings one method that I used with considerable success was to install the same bearing and change to lubrication to some premium lubricant. They talked about me using a $6.00 a gallon oil instead of a $2.00 a gallon oil. This went on until I published results of changing oil in some very expensive equipment. Why use the cheapest oil in a $100,000 piece of equipment when nearly everyone used $5.00-$6.00 oil in a $5,000 car.
Using this approach I was able to resolve about 75% of the basket case bearings that I received for evaluation. Using the same bearing and the better lubrication a lot of bearing failures went away.
The better lubricant worked because it could take more heat, lack of being changed, etc. The main thing though was that it enabled the bearing to run and be monitored and removed for evaluation prior to destruction. This really manifests itself whit the advent of monitoring instruments. The advent of the Anderson Spike Energy Meter help resolve many potential bearing failures just by changing lubricant on the fly.

One of the better examples was the bearings on the stamping press that flattened the grass blades on the AstroTurf door mats. I was brought two double row bearings that was part of the crank on the press that were failing every few months and were quite a chore to change. It was quite obvious that the failure was a lubrication problem. I recommended that we use the same bearings but with a different oil, $6.00 a gallon. All I heard was screams and hollers about the cost since the system had a pass through lubrication system. Before I left the manufacturing area another problem with the press was presented. I was told since you are so smart why don't you solve the knuckle joint failures of every three months. The knuckle is part of the linkage that connects the crank to the crosshead. It was grease lubricated by a Manzel type lubricator. I had an immediate recommendation for a better grease which was procured and installed with the existing slightly worn knuckle. At the same time I cut the feed from the Manzel by 80%. Three years later when the operation was moved to St Louis the press had the same bearings and knuckle. Within 6 months of the move I was back in the press business as they had changed the oil and grease back to the original oil and grease resulting in losing both bearings and had weld knuckle.

This approach is especially good to being able to evaluate some troublesome bearings