Machinery Lubrication July 2023

Lubricants are an essential component in rotating equipment, so we must determine the most optimal and sustainable ways of managing these fluids, which includes enhancing their performance. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology for assessing the environmental impact associated with every stage of a product’s life cycle, and it's the accepted tool to analyze a product’s environmental impact.

Microscopic particle evaluation requires that particles are deposited onto a static surface and inspected with a microscope. Digital particle identification techniques measure pixels associated with the particles, which are dynamically measured as they flow past a detector array. ASTM is actively involved in developing standards to improve the value and utility of both approaches.

Interpreting an oil analysis report is a science, and technicians and engineers must be trained to read them properly and consider all of the parameters. If points of ignorance and misconception are not corrected, the benefits of an oil analysis program will be negated, and the program will only serve to waste time and money.

Oil analysis is an accurate and effective tool to detect abrasive particle contamination in lubricating oils with the proper interpretation, which can alert to needed maintenance well before failure occurs. Timely detection of potentially harmful contamination allows maintenance personnel to identify potential sources, take corrective actions, and prevent adverse effects on reliability.

Certain subjects merit emphasis and should be frequently revisited. Contamination control is one such subject. Particles are like a virus, invisible to the naked eye but packing a powerful punch. The most destructive particles are typically less than ten microns in size. The microscopic size of these destructive particles makes them hard to measure and count.

Each day we get another piece of the- oil analysis puzzle. If we are tracking and trending what will be “evidence” to an investigator, how much better and more focused are we going to be knowing that we could avert disaster? Do we know our systems and processes well enough to recognize the significance of the insignificant?

In this episode of Gear Talk, Wes is joined by Daniel Rader, Reliability Engineer at L3Harris Technologies, to discuss the proactive side of reliability and how we design reliability into our systems and into our machines.

Featuring a roundup of news, upcoming events, social media updates and more, the Sight Glass is your go-to spot for keeping up-to-date with the latest and greatest in our industry.