September 23, 2003

By: Mark Harris
Website: http://www.bearing-n-bearings.com

Observing correct handling procedures for precision bearings is essential to maximising their operating life

Experience shows that up to one third of bearing failures can be attributed to improper handling and faulty mounting of bearings. Moreover, this problem promises to get worse as bearing tolerances become ever more exacting. Today, precision bearings can work to tolerances of 1 micron, yet handling such bearings without protective gloves can place fingerprints on the bearing surfaces 13 microns high. Dust particles are even worse, at 25 microns, and human hairs, relatively colossal, at 76 microns.

The implications of this for the bearing user are major changes to the way in which bearings, and precision bearings in particular, are handled. No more the traditional image of the greasy workbench with the ever-present hammer. Rather, the clean room type conditions that prevail in electronics production. The best approach is to regard every kind of foreign material - dust, moisture, fingerprints, solvents, lint, dirty grease - as abrasive, corrosive or otherwise potentially damaging to the bearing precision The problems with handling bearings begin the moment they are removed from their protective packages. Because of this it is best not to remove them until they are ready for use, and then only after the work area has been effectively cleaned and prepared.

Once unpacked, the bearings should only be handled with clean, dry, talc-free gloves. Here care should be exercised as material incompatibility between the gloves and any cleaning solvents could result in contaminant films being transferred to the bearings during subsequent handling. Where the bearings are instrument types even handling with gloves should be avoided in favour of surgical tweezers. With the bearings unpacked, they are now subject to atmospheric borne contaminants, so they should be kept covered at all times. The cover should be clean and dry and of a type that will not shed fibrous or particulate contamination into the bearings.

Keeping bearings covered is an essential "do" in the lexicon of bearing handling. An essential "don't" is to wash or treat the bearings prior to mounting. These practices are unnecessary today, as companies like Barden take great care in cleaning bearings and properly pre-Iubricating them before packaging.

About The Author:

Mark Harris is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.bearing-n-bearings.com.  Keep things running smoothly with ball bearings, roller bearings, ball thrust bearings and tapered bearings.