Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
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component manufacturer can off er recommendations as to the equip- ment's sensitivities and the suggested RCL weight factors. Likewise, fi lter manufacturers can give recommen- dations on the RCL weight factors when they have developed evidence correlating the fi ltration methods and hydraulic system applications. e contaminant sensitivity tests for components originated from studies conducted at the Fluid Power Research Center of Oklahoma State University in the 1970s. These studies, along with a U.K. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) survey, helped empha- size the importance of hydraulic fl uid fi ltration as a more eff ective strategy for component life extension. In the late 1990s, the British Fluid Power Association's technical committee on contamination control wa s instrumenta l in developing early methods for determining the RCL. is provided infl uence on the conclusive weight factors applied in the current ISO 12669 standard. Proactive Maintenance in Three Easy Steps Cleaner oil extends the life of your machines by keeping the frictional zones less exposed to the dangerous effects of contaminants. When the eff ort to achieve this is carefully opti- mized, the return on investment can be a signifi cant advantage, even a compet- itive advantage. Creating this RCL target is only the fi rst step of a complete proactive maintenance contamination control strategy. Following are the three steps: 1. Set the cleanliness target. is can be determined through experience and optimized with a methodology such as what is outlined by ISO 12669 along with the optimum reference state. e target should ultimately refl ect your reliability objectives. 2. Take specifi c actions to achieve these targets through a two-pronged approach, reducing ingression and improving fi ltration. Reducing ingres- sion is more cost-eff ective but not a perfect standalone solution. Combining this with improved fi ltration is neces- sary for any critical application. 3. Measure contaminant levels frequently with oil analysis. As the saying goes, what gets measured gets done. Knowing the contamina- tion history is vital to a sustainable program. Contamination levels are a leading indicator, while the wear and failure rates are a lagging indicator. Proactive measures can be justifi ed and reinforced with more data to validate the cause and eff ect. It's recommended that these types of results be posted op en ly for e ver yone i nvolve d to understand. ML References ISO 12669:2017: Hydraulic fl uid power — Method for determining the required cleanliness level (RCL) of a system Fitch, Jim. (2006). "A Conversation with Dad — Pioneer, Educator and Mentor in Fluid Contamination Control." Machinery Lubrication Fitch, E.C. (1988). Fluid Contamina- tion Control, Fourth Edition. FES Inc. About the Author Bennett Fitch is the director of product development and Lubrication Program Development (LPD) services for Noria Corporation. He is a mechan- ical engineer who is certifi ed as a Level III Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA III), Level II Machine Lubrication Tech- nician (MLT II) and as a Machinery Lubrication Engineer (MLE) through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). Contact Bennett at bfi tch@noria.com to learn how Noria can help you develop and manage your lubrication task routes. ML www . machinerylubrication.com | September - October 2019 | 39