26Feb

Avoid These Three Common Bearing Greasing Mistakes

When executed properly, bearing grease replenishment extends the lifecycle of rotating machinery. Be a LUBExpert… don’t make these 3 common greasing mistakes Every plant is different. The machines inside them, the production processes they power, and the loads and conditions in which they operate. But one...
26Feb

The Hidden Costs of Over-Greasing — And How to Stop It

Walk into almost any plant and you will hear it. If a little grease is good, more must be better. That belief has quietly cost industry millions. Over-greasing does not protect bearings. It creates excess pressure, increases friction, raises operating temperatures, and pushes grease past seals....
26Feb

Turning Ultrasonic Leak Detection into Real Savings

Everyone agrees that compressed air leaks cost money. We tag them, we mark them, and we acknowledge them. And then nothing happens.  Leaks can consume 30 to 40 percent of the total air volume produced in a system. That wasted air represents lost energy, unnecessary compressor...
24Feb

Extreme Slow-Speed Bearing Condition Monitoring with Ultrasound

Slow-rotating assets are notoriously difficult to diagnose with vibration analysis and other predictive technologies. The low energy output of slow rotating assets greatly increases the margin for error when detecting defects with vibration analysis. It is not impossible to detect defects on slow-speed rotating assets with...
18Feb

Cement Manufacturing – Slow-Speed Bearing Condition Monitoring (SKF 61952 MA) – SDT340 Case Study

Cement production is rotating equipment heavy. To keep material moving through each stage of production, rotating assets must be monitored and maintained. Cement manufacturing involves a high concentration of slow-rotating equipment which can pose challenges for under-equipped maintenance and reliability teams. Slow-rotating equipment often found within...
18Feb

Pump Bearing Failure – Inner Race (SKF – NU308) SDT340 Case Study

Pump reliability is essential to liquid intensive manufacturing processes. Reliable production depends on freely available water throughout the system. That reliability depends on the entire system, including the pumps, motors, valves, and associated piping. The following case study examines the reliability of a dump transfer chest...
18Feb

Bearing Roller Cage Failure Detected with SDT340

Roller cage bearings reduce friction by separating and evenly spacing rolling elements. The roller cage design improves efficiency and speed capability but is more susceptible to lubrication related failures. Insufficient or misapplied lubrication will lead to increased friction between the cage and the bearing, accelerating...
18Feb

Steam Up Leads to Cracked Inner Race Bearing Failure – SDT340 Case Study

Steam is used in abundance during the paper making process. Especially in the dryer sections, where heat is used to remove moisture from the sheet. Steam is turned off during planned outages so millwrights can safely access the machine to perform regularly scheduled maintenance. Once the maintenance...
18Feb

SKF 6209 BPFO Bearing Failure on Critical Dust Collector – SDT340 Case Study

Dust collectors are important for keeping industrial environments safe, efficient, and compliant. They remove airborne dust and other particles generated during operations, protecting both people and equipment. By pulling contaminated air through a system of ducts, and filters using a fan or blower, air is cleaned...
18Feb

Detecting Bearing Defect caused by Electrical Damage with Ultrasound

The following case study looks at the damaging effects of an electrical current finding a path to ground through a bearing, due to a loose rotor bar.   The issue was identified during an initial condition monitoring inspection performed by SDT at a new customer site. The...