Avoiding Bearing Failure with Rapid Speed Changes

Rapid Speed Changes and Bearing Fatigue

Just like any other industrial component, bearings, which work tirelessly, are susceptible to fatigue due to several factors. A key consideration when dealing with bearings is how rapid speed changes impact their operational lifespan.

If bearings aren't designed specifically to endure high speeds and frequent changes, these shifts can lead to slippage between the rolling elements and raceways. This, in turn, accelerates wear and tear, especially on the guiding faces of the cages. It's crucial for industries to select bearings that are engineered to handle such conditions effectively.

Negative Effects on Bearings

Sudden speed fluctuations are common across a wide range of industrial applications, including wood milling machines, reversible blooming mills, automotive clutches, and more. Virtually every piece of machinery or type of motor experiences speed changes at some point during production cycles. These abrupt velocity shifts can have several detrimental effects:

• • Damaged Cages — Cage damage stems from numerous causes, but one major contributor is rapid speed variations. Excessive acceleration and deceleration increase pressure between contact surfaces, leading to stress and fatigue, which might result in expensive bearing failures.

• • Broken Retainers — At higher speeds, inertial forces within bearings rise significantly. Frequent stops and starts, coupled with insufficient lubrication, generate high forces between the retainers and rolling elements, causing cracks in the retainers.

Strategies to Enhance Bearing Longevity

To mitigate damage caused by rapid speed changes, engineers must carefully select the most suitable bearings for each application while ensuring adequate lubrication throughout the bearing's lifecycle.

• • Optimal Bearing Choice — Picking the perfect bearing tailored to your project ensures it can manage the application without premature deterioration. Bearings with smaller rolling elements and thinner cross-sections reduce the mass of rotating parts, making them better suited for harsh conditions involving quick acceleration and braking.

• • Effective Bearing Lubrication — Lubrication serves as a buffer between a bearing's rolling elements and cage. Increased stress from rapid speed changes heightens the necessity for regular re-lubrication to minimize long-term bearing damage risks.

At Emerson Bearing, we offer an extensive range of solutions catering to nearly every bearing requirement. To discover ways to prevent costly downtime and other consequences of bearing failure, explore our Emerson Bearing Failure Analysis guide. This guide will assist you in selecting the best bearings for your applications, boosting efficiency, and preventing future bearing failures.