Notes on Bearings in Operation: Listening

It is increasingly important to check the condition of running machines and prepare a thorough inspection plan. Bearings are the focus of attention because they are the most important rotating parts in all machines. Condition monitoring is an important part of preventive maintenance. Early The detection of bearing damage avoids equipment downtime during unplanned maintenance due to bearing damage. Especially bearings in important machines or harsh environments should be inspected more often. At present, there are quite a few systems and instruments on the market to monitor bearings, and most of these instruments are based on vibration measurements. However, not all machines are equipped with this advanced instrument, and in this case, the machine operator or maintenance engineer must be highly alert to [fault signals] of the bearing, such as noise, temperature and vibration. [Listening], [Touching], [Observing] are three important factors, the views provided below can be used as your reference. Listening: The use of hearing to identify irregular operation is a very common method. For example, using an electronic stethoscope to detect abnormal noise of a part is used by experienced operators. If the bearing is in good operating condition, it will emit a low whine sound. If it emits sharp hissing, squeaking and other irregular sounds, {TodayHot} usually indicates that the bearing is in poor operating condition. The high-pitched creaking noise may be caused by improper lubrication. Improper bearing clearance can also cause metallic noise. The dents on the track of the outer ring of the bearing will cause vibration and cause a smooth and crisp sound. If it is caused by knocking scars during installation, it will also generate noise. The noise will vary with the speed of the bearing. If there is intermittent noise, it means that the rolling parts may be damaged. This sound occurs when the damaged surface is rolled over. If there is contamination in the bearing, it will often cause a hissing sound. Severe bearing damage will cause irregularities and Huge noise. Bearing damage can be detected by hearing, but usually the bearing must be replaced immediately. Therefore, it is better to use, for example, electronic condition monitoring equipment, to pre-empt the running condition of the bearing. Compared to the old method (using a wooden stick or screwdriver against the bearing housing and the other end against the ear), the use of advanced instruments can more accurately predict bearing condition.