Tag: Industrial Grease Lubrication
Tips For Trouble-Free Industrial Grease Lubrication
Lubrication is a fairly easy process and has no life or death dangers attached to it. But industrial grease lubrication, on the other hand, can lead to potential disasters, if not applied and carried out as efficiently as it should. The result of failures caused by this method can cost unexpected downtime, higher maintenance costs, or even personnel safety hazards.
Grease lubricants involve much more than just inserting grease into a machine’s parts and then hoping for the best. It should be a well-planned and carefully performed procedure to ensure the equipment’s safe operation and achieve maximum service life.
Before going into grease lubrication, make sure to get the required knowledge or hire professional service providers like Micro-Lube which has been in the industrial lubricants industry for several years now, and is ready to serve you with any assistance you want regarding industrial lubricants
Also Read: What Causes Lubrication Failure?
If you are looking for tips on trouble-free grease lubrication to minimize operation costs and increase machine efficiency, follow these tips. This blog post will guide you through some important tips to ensure the best operation.
Choose The Right Type Of Grease
When you think grease is just grease, there begins the death of your equipment. Many people get into trouble due to their ignorance about their grease selection. If you are aiming for the long trouble-free life of your equipment, your grease selection should include proper base oil viscosity, base oil type, thickener type, NLGI grade, and an additive package.Decide Where And How To Apply
After selecting the right grease lubricant, determine the place where you have to apply the grease in the right way and the right amount. Some machines have a prominent place for applying grease, making the process a lot easier. But the most crucial tip is to look for any potential places and figure out the greasing points where grease must be applied. There can be hidden places where the grease may not be able to get to using regular methods, but there are tools available to ensure that every part gets its share.Select The Right Grease Frequency
It is equally important to apply the right amount of grease in the right places. Make sure that no place is left empty and that the grease is spread evenly around the parts. Many people pick the wrong greasing frequency. This results in bad performance and results in the inefficiency of the machine. The frequency depends on a lot of factors, such as the degradation time of the grease, the workload of the machine, time, speed, and what kind of contaminants it is exposed to. A general rule of thumb is to grease the machines once every quarter or every month. However, this method rarely fits all equipment.Monitor The Lubricants Performance
Once you have selected the right grease for lubrication and determined the greasing points, it’s time to monitor the effectiveness of the lubrication. It is necessary to evaluate the performance of the lubricant and adopt any changes over time as needed. One good way to measure the effectiveness of a lubricant is to test the sound of the equipment. A smooth and crisp sound without fluctuations indicates that the parts are working properly.Choose The Appropriate Test Period
Maximum equipment life can be achieved by consistently measuring the lubricant’s effectiveness. It is important to monitor in-service grease consistency, as grease that softens too much or early on can run out of the machine or fail to stay in place. A grease that hardens with time can provide inadequate lubrication and increase the load and electrical consumption which consequently is bad for the machine’s performance. Make sure that you perform regular inspections of the equipment to look after the condition of grease.To Sum Up
These were a few essential tips for trouble-free industrial grease lubrication. Greasing can be a tricky task. It is suggested that you should use professional lubrication products by an experienced company that provides the best solution for your needs.About Micro-Lube
Micro Lube is a full-service lubrication company with international experience and a genuine commitment to professional, affordable, and personalized service to its diverse customers. At Micro-Lube, you can find a wide range of lubricants for almost any kind of machine. We help provide you with the best lubricant for your machines and several other products related to filtration, dispensing, chain, conveyor, and more. Our staff has over ten years of “hands-on” experience in providing the best solutions for your equipment, which has earned our customers’ confidence in our products and services. Contact us here for more information. Also read related blog: Know about the Basics of Automatic Lubrication System5 Signs Of A Successful Lubrication Program
Industries face immense challenges while formulating and implementing effective lubrication programs. According to numerous case studies, 70 percent of machine failures are related to lubrication failures in one way or another. It is important to keep in mind that these failures are not only associated with a lubricant’s quality but also depend on its lubrication systems, practices, and programs.
A successfully implemented lubrication program can mean many wins for your factory. An effective lubrication program leads to reduced machinery downtime, decreased maintenance cost, and increased factory-wide efficiency.
Lower Grease Consumption
A decrease in the quantity of lubricant consumed by your machinery is a sure sign that your lubrication program is on the right track and is working successfully. Bad lubrication practices can lead to your bearings receiving more lubricant than they are designed to handle. The excess lubricant can lead to lubrication churning and ultimately lubricant starvation which can destroy the machine. Over-lubrication can also happen when re-greasing intervals are scheduled based on time rather than on the lubricant’s condition. Most organizations end up over lubricating their machinery due to these reasons. To keep this in check, you can ask your maintenance department to track your machines’ grease consumption. This can help you monitor and control your lubrications cost as well as develop an effective lubrication strategy. By following an efficient lubrication program, you can reduce your factory’s overall grease consumption needs.Fewer Lubrication-Related Failures
Optimized lubrication programs experience few lubricant-related failures as compared to unoptimized programs. This is because if you’re following a set program, you will be:- Aware of the effective lubricants storage and handling techniques
- Won’t over-grease, under-grease, or forget to drain the oil
- Be vigilant to decontaminate and replace the lubricant as soon as it is needed
Increased Number Of Machines Monitored
If your organization follows an effective lubrication program for all your equipment, you’ll notice that your workers have more time to monitor your machines and accurately assess their lubrication needs. A failing lubrication system will mean less time to do these things, as your employees will be busy fixing and maintaining the broken machines. Take, for instance, the criticality assessment. In this process, workers prioritize the maintenance of the machines based on their potential risk of failure. Although it does somewhat increase the factory’s overall performance, to achieve 100% efficiency, you must optimize all of your factory’s equipment. With a successful lubrication program, you’ll have more time to plan, organize, and schedule your maintenance steps. This will allow you to bring more machines under the right lubrication program.Improved Machine Reliability
Lubrication directly affects your machines reliability and plant uptime, making it one of the most common signs of a successful lubrication program. Machines that are properly lubricated require less energy to run. A decrease in energy consumption will prevent your machines from overheating and enjoy a longer life cycle. Here are the five lubrication practices that increase machine reliability:- Completing all lubrication tasks at the right time.
- Adding the right lubricant to the right piece of equipment.
- Properly storing and handling the lubricant and keeping it free from contamination.
- Having the right lubricant tools that are efficient and practical
- Regularly analyzing the oil and other chemicals.