Reliable Plant
|
www
.
reliableplant.com Machinery Lubrication
|
www
.
machinerylubrication.com 2025 Annual 31
ML
pieces; however, if you have done this before,
you know that when you get a stick about the
size of your hand, it's almost impossible to
break down any further. e same is true of
small particles; instead of being broken down to
even smaller sizes when they pass through the
load zone, they cause abrasive wear.
Built-In
When a machine comes in new from the
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
or has been brought back to the plant after a
rebuild, it is always a good idea to perform a
flush. is flush will help send any particles that
may still be in the machine out the drain port.
Ingested
Particles can be ingested from the process,
atmosphere, or combustion by way of leaking
seals, pipes, and hoses; however, the most
common method of entry is through the
headspace. Open hatches or ports on the top of a
reservoir should be closed to deter particle entry.
One of the most overlooked items for
particle ingression is the breather. Machines
often come with a vent or vented plug to allow
a machine to breathe. ese allow a direct path
for contaminants.
Hydraulic lubricants often have tight
cleanliness goals, but think of the headspace
protection on most of the units - a cap with
tightly woven steel wool. Replacing these
with a low-micron filter will help eliminate
this easy path.
Generated
Particles coming from this type of ingression
are most often controlled by lubricant filters.
Something to consider here, though: remember
the size of the film thicknesses we discussed
earlier? If your components are separated by very
small film thicknesses, and you are running a 40
micron filter, are you eliminating the particles
that are doing the damage? When choosing
filters for machines, it is important to keep your
lubricant cleanliness goals in mind.
Do Your Machines Have
an Issue?
Lubricant analysis is the most common
way of quantifying the number of small parti-
cles found in machines. is information can
be very helpful, as it will tell if proactive steps
such as controlling the headspace are working,
as well as letting users know that the current
filtration strategy is helping to eliminate parti-
cles of the right size.
ML
