Sunday, December 22, 2019

Bearings; Friction


Hello Techs;

  Bearings are machine parts in which other parts turn or slide. Almost every piece of moving machinery in an industrial facility uses bearings.

  Friction is the resistance to motion that exists between two bodies in contact. In order to move either or both of these bodies more easily, friction must be reduced.
  There are two kinds of friction that exist between two surfaces in contact:
(1) Rolling friction and (2) Sliding friction. Rolling friction is the friction that exists when one body rolls around or within another. Sliding friction is the friction that exists when one body slides over or across another. The difference between the two is the way related surfaces move in respect to each other.

 


  Rollers can decrease friction and make an object easier to move.
Lubricating a surface also reduces friction and allows an object to move much more freely. Most of the loads in the plant are moved by machines that use parts called “bearings.” Bearings help reduce friction, and thus make plant operation more efficient.

Bearings and Their Functions
Bearings are machine parts in which other parts turn or slide.
They have three major functions:
1) to reduce friction,
2) to carry force, and
3) to position a moving element


  Some bearings are made to deal with rolling friction, while others handle sliding friction. In both cases, the bearings are lubricated to reduce friction as much as possible. Lubrication cannot remove friction completely, because the lubricant experiences a third kind of friction, called fluid friction. Fluid friction is far less powerful than either rolling friction or sliding friction, but it is important to remember that it is present.

  “Bearing the load” is a bearing's second function. A bearing carries the force of a shaft or other component. The forces on a bearing are caused by the weight of the shaft, by additional forces that result from the shaft's movement, and by forces carried by the shaft.

  The force on a bearing will often vary in size and direction. The variations can be complicated, and, sometimes, the force on the bearing can completely reverse direction. A bearing must be able to keep a moving shaft or element in position if the force conditions change. In most kinds of rotating machinery, the consequences of shaft movement other than rotation can be severe, and machinery can be badly damaged. To avoid this, bearings are built to fit around the shaft.


 

  One of the main problems we face in the conveyance world is bearing failure. Many times it is due to v-belts, cog belts and transport belts being too tight and that stress is transferred to the bearings, shafts, reducers and motors. Many sites (like mine) use sealed bearings and thus they do not need much attention. However, they will still wear out over time. Monitoring their heat and vibration will assist you in knowing when it is time to replace them.   

 


Red Vector Spotlight!
  I have a Bearing PDF to send out. If you would like a copy of this short guide, 40 pages, I can email it to you! I will also post others as we go along this journey.
 


  In Conclusion my friends; what are some of this topics that we talked about here supported your needs? What are some of the challenges in bearings do you need support on? Over the next few weeks, we will go many different types of bearings and their uses to support your understanding of them.

  I hope that this blog supports your needs and delivered good content for you! Please feel free to leave a comment!

Best Regards. Joe DeLoach

 

Bearing Friction & Prevention

Hello Technicians;   One of the main moving components in conveyance/machinery is bearings, and they will wear out over time. Prevent...