It can be difficult to know when to replace your roller bearing since the amount of time between the initial damage and when the bearing becomes unserviceable can differ significantly.
Emerson Bearing, a Boston, MA-based bearing company catering to niche markets nationwide and the sister company of Action Bearing which serves the New England market, shares tips for recognizing the signs of roller bearing damage and the need for timely replacement.
High-speed bearings can be destroyed in seconds. Low-speed bearings can take months to break down. Early diagnosis of a damaged bearing is essential so that the bearing can be replaced before it fails completely, at which point it can also damage the machine and other components.
Look for these common reasons for roller bearing damage:
Handling damage – Damage caused by rough transport or installation often exhibits as denting or nicking; raised metal due to contact with roller edges.
Cage damage – Bearings that were dropped or incorrectly installed often result in cage damage. When this occurs, rollers tend to skew and bind, and the cage ring gets obstructed during operation or installation.
Preload/overload damage – Excessive bearing preload or overload can damage roller bearings in different ways. Preload settings that are too tight could also lead to cone bore contraction. Full race width fatigue spalling can occur due to heavy loads that create a layer of lubricant and high temperatures.
Deformations – Roller bearing deformations can occur in several different ways. Excess heat can cause metal flow, which can result in rib face deformations in the bearing cones. Deformation can cause rollers to skew and the bearing to lock up entirely.
Fatigue spalling – This is a type of damage to the metal surface. Inclusion spalling results from oxides or other hard inclusions in the steel of the bearing. Point surface spalling occurs because a raised surface or debris exceeds the thickness of the bearing lubrication film. In both types of spalling, the metal will begin breaking away from the raceway.
“By identifying early indications of damage, bearings can be replaced during regular roller bearing maintenance, which ultimately prevents costly, unexpected downtime due to bearing failure,” said Steve Katz, president of Emerson Bearing. “Machines should be monitored for unusual noise, vibration, and temperature and the causes of these symptoms should be addressed promptly to prevent further damage to the system.”
Inventory Matters
As an industry-leading bearing supplier with over six decades of experience, Emerson Bearing has a reputation for distributing high-quality roller and ball bearings. Emerson is proud to carry leading brands such as BOWER, FAG, FERSA, IKO, INA, NACHI, NSK, NTN, RBC, TORRINGTON, URB, and ZNL.
With over four million bearings in stock at multiple price points, Emerson Bearing has the largest inventory of bearings on the East Coast under one roof in their 30,000-square-foot warehouse. The company serves 16 major markets and their team of experts can assist with bearings and related products for specific industrial and manufacturing applications.
Emerson Bearing
EmersonBearing.com
Filed Under: Bearing Tips