Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/190260
COVER STORY 36% of lubrication professionals say overgreasing is the most common problem at their plant, based on a recent survey at MachineryLubrication.com lubricant but also about lubrication intervals as well. The best label design incorporates a color/shape scheme for each lubricant used. This offers a quick visual reference as to which lubricant is inside the machine. Noria has developed the Lubricant Identification System (LIS), which includes all basic information for a machine type such as base oil, application and viscosity. As mentioned previously, once a labeling system has been established, the labels should be applied to all lubricant storage containers and application devices. 5. Use of OEM Breathers and Dust Caps Most original equipment manufacturer (OEM) accessories like breathers do little to restrict the ingression of tiny particles into oil and critical spaces, which can damage machine surfaces. Some of these breathers are simply a cap filled with steel wool or a mesh screen that serves as a block for larger particles. Considering the lubricant film in a journal bearing is approximately 5 to 10 microns, any particles of this size contaminating the oil will greatly increase the likelihood of wear and subsequent machine failure. These tolerance-sized particles do the greatest damage and have the highest probability of causing machine wear. Not only do many OEM breathers allow particles into the oil, they also do nothing to restrict moisture from entering the oil. Oil is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs moisture from the ambient air. In areas with high humidity or steam, moisture will pass through these types of breathers and be absorbed into the oil, causing rust, increased oxidation and hydrolysis rates, and a higher corrosive potential of acids formed by oxidation and hydrolysis. Most OEM breathers and dust caps allow particles and moisture to enter the oil. The Remedy OEM breathers should be replaced with higher quality versions to restrict particulate and moisture ingression. With several breather manufacturers on the market, the key is to get the breather that is right for your particular environment and operating conditions. In very dry environments, a spin-on particulate filter may work fine provided that ambient humidity is low. In more moist environments, a hybrid-style breather may be the best choice. This type of breather employs a particulate filter to trap hard particles followed by a desiccating phase to strip moisture from the incoming air. All of these breathers can be threaded into the current breather port for quick and easy installation. While these are the most common lubrication problems across industry, there are many more. Some may be unique to certain processes or types of machines, but these five hold true for all facilities. It's been said that, "The problems are all the same; the only thing that changes is the accent." Throughout industry, many people are facing the same challenges in their plants. The successes and lessons learned from these problems should be shared and disseminated to everyone. As industry continues to change and evolve, it will become increasingly important to understand the problems being encountered and to look for new ways to solve them. By applying sound problem-solving techniques and searching for the low-hanging fruit, you can start to make lasting changes for the better. About the Author Wes Cash is a technical consultant with Noria Corporation. He is a mechanical engineer who holds a Machine Lubrication Technician (MLT) Level II certification and a Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) Level II certification through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). Contact Wes at wcash@noria.com. 14 | September - October 2013 | www.machinerylubrication.com