Types & Effects of Lubrication Simplicity ® Plain Bearings
Types and Effects of Lubrication Lubrication is any outside technique used for reducing the friction, wear, or both of a bearing. Proper lubrication of Simplicity bearings is critical. Evaluate lubrication needs on an application-by-application basis to determine whether or not it should be used at all, what type is needed, and how it is applied. Below are some criteria on which to base the lubricant decision: Do not use WD40 ™ , PTFE sprays, or other oils, greases, or sprays that contain fluorocarbons or silicone. In testing, these lubricants have proven to cause long-term stick-slip problems with the Frelon lined bearings. They tend to become a gummy substance that ultimately increases friction. WD40™ is a registered trademark of the WD40 Corporation.
Grease Products DO NOT USE A MOLY FILLED OR OTHER TYPE FILLED GREASES! They become like a lapping compound on the ID of the bearing and increase wear dramatically.
Proper Use of Greases Proper use of grease is critical for trouble-free operation.
Effects of Lubrication Lubrication can greatly increase the performance of a bearing when applied properly as noted earlier. Actual performance results for specific applications are difficult to predict due to the number of elements involved (temperature change with lube, useable life, or aging of lubricant, etc.). Specific application testing is recommended to establish specific performance parameters. 1. If possible, remove the bearing from the housing, wipe the grease from the liner, use a 3-in-1 type oil to clean the excess remaining grease, and reinstall. 2. If it is not possible to remove the bearing, wipe as much grease as possible away from the ends of the bearing, then start to fill with a 3-in-1 type oil for cleaning the liner. To speed the cleaning process, apply forced air to the bearing through the zerk hole and continue using oil lubrication. Be sure the felt wick is removed from a “FL-xx-JKM” bearing because grease inserted through the zerk will cause the wick to act like a brake. Do not fill all of the running clearance with grease! The temptation is to treat it like a rolling element bearing and fill it until it weeps from the end. This will cause greater friction and binding. The rule of thumb for the bearing liner that “thin is better” applies to the use of grease also. If grease is used and does not work in the application, it is possible to salvage the bearing with minimal work and to continue to operate. Follow the steps below:
Recommended Lubricants: • Waylube oils
• Lightweight oils • 3-in-1 type oils • Lightweight petroleum based greases
Using Oils with Simplicity DO NOT USE ANY TYPE OF MOTOR OIL OR OILS WITH ADDITIVES! These types of oils work well short term, but quickly become ineffective, and will cause stick-slip reactions in the bearing. As a rule of thumb, the less additives in the oil, the better the performance. Recommended oils are Mobil Vactra #2 (a way lube oil) and any standard 3-in-1 oil. The 3-in-1 oils are tremendous cleaning oils and are the best in preparing for a proper transfer of PTFE to the shafting.
pbclinear.com • Engineering Your Linear Motion Solutions 139
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online