Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/629709
52 | January - February 2016 | www.machinerylubrication.com PERSPECTIVE They may come from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or other industry organizations, such as the American Gear Manufac- turers Association (AGMA), the National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI), etc. Please note that some lubricants may claim a certification or approval for certain technical standards or OEM specifications, while others may only "comply with" the standard or requirement but are not necessarily approved or certified. This may be particularly significant when complying with equipment warranty requirements. Potential Restrictions and Hazards This section describes any undesired ingredients or product properties as well as toxicological or safety aspects to be consid- ered when buying or handling the lubricant. For example, the product must not have mutagenic or carcinogenic compounds. Lubricant Identification System Every lubricant to be used in the plant should have a unique identification code to prevent mislabeling or misapplication. The classification should be independent of the brand name. In a proper identification system, every product will have unique visual and written codes. For example, a hydraulic oil may have a square lube identification tag, while a grease may have a round tag. Quality Control at Reception This element specifies the tests to be conducted on lubricants entering the facility in order to verify product quality. Here it is necessary to define laboratory or field tests as well as the accept- able results or limits. ASTM methods, test equipment, field test kits and product inspections may be referenced. See the example below. Supplier Requirements This section identifies the requirements for the lubricant supplier relating to product quality. For example, the supplier should be ISO 9000-certified, or every batch of lubricant should be sent with a certificate of analysis. The lubricant supplier approval process can provide more detailed information about the supplier. Lubricant Disposal This element provides general or specific requirements for lubri- cant disposal based on the product type, formula, contaminants and lubricant volumes. These requirements should be defined according to local regulations and corporate policies. Supporting Information This information supplements the specifications' technical descriptions. It may include a glossary of terms, ISO viscosity grades, NLGI classifications and ASTM standards. Creating Lubricant Specifications The process of creating lubricant specifications should first begin by developing or updating the database of machines, lubrication points and lubricants in the plant or fleet. Product recommenda- tions will come primarily from OEMs, lubricant suppliers, consulting companies or internal experience. Other technical references may also be consulted, such as the AGMA, ISO, NLGI and others. For critical machines, additional validation may be needed to ensure the selected lubricant fulfills the lubrication requirements based on the equipment's current operating conditions. Once the database of lubricants and lubrication points has been completed, it is time to consider product consolidation. The goal is to minimize the number of lubricants used in the plant while still maintaining appropriate lubrication of all machines. The consolidation process should help identify products that are equivalent, lubricants that have similar specifications, machines that can utilize multi-purpose lubricants and when it is practical to use a higher quality lubricant. At this point, a consolidated list of lubricants can be generated, including all equipment applications for each product. The next step is to create specifications for every lubricant or lubricant family. Whenever possible, the information should be categorized by product family, i.e., all lubricants that have similar properties but differ only by viscosity grade. If there is a single lubricant with special properties for a specific application, a lubricant specification document should be produced just for it. Creating these specifications may involve several different departments such as engi- neering, maintenance and pur chasing. Lubrication know- ledge will be required as well as access to equipment manuals and lubricant requirements. Expert out sourcing support can be employed when internal resources are limited. Keep in mind that the specifi- cations as well as the database BOOKSTORE 53% of lubrication professionals say their plant has created lubricant specifications to aid in the lubricant selection process, according to a recent poll at MachineryLubrication.com INCOMING LUBRICANT QUALITY TEST - HYDRAULIC OIL ISO VG 68 TEST OR PROPERTY BASE MIN. MAX. Viscosity at 20°C (cSt) Field viscometer 170 200 Acid number (mg KOH/g of oil) Field test kit 1.1 1.4 Particle count Particle counter / ISO 4406:99 - - - 19/16/13 Moisture analysis (ppm) Calcium hydride kit - - - 500