lubrication and it’s effect

lubrication and it’s effect

One of the most important things an operator can do for his machinery is to make sure it is properly lubricated or not.

Lubrication:

Lubrication is the control of friction and wear by the introduction of a friction-reducing film between moving surfaces in contact. The lubricant used can be a fluid, solid, or plastic substance.

-Many different substances can be used to lubricate a surface. Oil and grease are the most common. Grease is composed of oil and a thickening agent to obtain its consistency, while the oil is what actually lubricates. Oils can be synthetic, vegetable or mineral-based as well as a combination of these.

-Lubricants have many properties that can be mixed and matched to meet your operating needs. For example, there are different chemicals that can be added to allow a machine to efficiently run at extreme temperatures. We can also make a lubricant more effective in protecting machine surfaces under extreme pressures.

grease is used in the following cases:

  • When you need lubrication or softening, we want to keep it in place and stick to the surfaces for a long time.
  • You want to isolate pollutants such as water or dust.
  • When you use the machine so often that you may forget to lubricate it.

oli is used in the following cases:

  • You want to lubricate something without the need for resistance which exists in grease , especially if it is a rotating and fast-moving object.
  • You need to lubricate the filament in a small space and also the fine mechanical parts, without having to disassemble anything.
  • You have fast-moving mechanisms, so using heavy-duty and viscous greases may hinder these mechanisms.

functions of a lubricant are:

  1. Reduce friction between the rotating and stationary components
  2. Prevent wear
  3. Protect the equipment from corrosion
  4. Control temperature (dissipate heat)
  5. Control contamination (carry contaminants to a filter or sump)
  6. Transmit power (hydraulics)
  7. Provide a fluid seal
  8. Reducing wear by separating moving surfaces
  9. Absorbing shock
  10. Dampening noise
  11. Removing heat transmitted down the shaft from the process end of the machine
  12. Keeping contaminates away from the bearing components
  13. Acting as a sealing medium

To ensure optimum lubrication, it is important to use the right type and quality of lubricant, in the right amounts, at the right place and at the right time.    Once lubrication has been applied, the equipment and the lubricant should be tested to see if:

  • The correct formulation of lubricant was used for the application
  • Whether the lubricant solved – or merely masked – the problem
  • Whether the amount of lubrication applied was correct

The need for frequent lubrication may well be a symptom of underlying machinery damage (such as wear or damage to bearings, shafts or seals) so the solution isn’t simply to lubricate to stop vibration or excessive noise.  In fact, too much lubrication can be just as detrimental as too little lubrication. Under lubrication can cause bearings to wear out before their time, whereas over-lubrication can lead to catastrophic results to the bearings or long-term damage to motor coils and windings.

It is critical to follow the manufacturers’ recommendations and use the right type and quantities of lubricant with the appropriate frequency of application that is best suited to the machinery’s optimal functioning.

An optimal lubrication programme requires vigilance, skill and experience from the operator and should include thorough checking and testing procedures using quality equipment.  Ultrasound technology has advanced significantly over the years and is ideally suited for testing for lubrication flaws.

Piston_pump_machine_CUBII

If you want to know more about the distinctive Cubii machines, you can follow this video, it may be useful if you are thinking about starting a new fluid filling project:

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