How to Prevent Rust from Damaging slew Bearings
Bearings are crucial components in mechanical systems, and their performance and lifespan directly affect the normal operation of equipment. The formation of rust is one of the major threats to the reliability and lifespan of bearings. Rust not only damages the surface finish of bearings but also accelerates wear, causes vibrations and noise, and may even lead to bearing failure. Therefore, it is of great importance to effectively prevent rust from damaging bearings.
What is a Slewing Bearing?
A slewing bearing is an essential device that enables mechanical components to achieve rotational motion. It is widely used in various types of mechanical equipment. It typically consists of a slewing support, a drive device, a sealing system, etc. The slewing support, as a fundamental part, can withstand axial forces, radial forces, and overturning moments, ensuring the stable rotation of the equipment. The drive device provides power for rotation. Commonly, a combination of a motor and a reducer is used, which drives the slewing support to rotate through methods such as gear transmission. For example, in a tower crane, the rotation of the jib during operation relies on the slewing bearing. In the field of industrial robots, slewing bearings help robots move flexibly. It is the key to the normal operation of many large – scale and complex mechanical devices.
The Principle of Rust’s Damage to Bearings
Rust is essentially an iron oxide. When the iron on the surface of a slew bearing reacts chemically with oxygen and water in the air, rust is formed. Rust has a loose texture and a larger volume than iron, which can cause local stress concentration on the bearing surface and damage the bearing’s lubricating film. As rust continues to form and accumulate, it will intensify the internal friction of the bearing, raise the bearing temperature, and accelerate the aging and deterioration of the lubricant. At the same time, rust particles may become embedded between the rolling elements, raceways, and cages of the bearing, causing wear and pitting, which seriously affects the rotational accuracy and operating stability of the bearing.
Measures to Prevent Rust Damage
Material Selection
Choose Corrosion – Resistant Materials: During the design and selection stage, prioritize the use of corrosion – resistant bearing materials. For example, stainless – steel bearings have good corrosion – resistance and are suitable for working environments that are humid or contain corrosive gases or liquids. Common stainless steel materials such as 304 and 316 are used. Among them, 316 stainless – steel has better corrosion – resistance due to the addition of molybdenum, making it particularly suitable for use in harsh corrosion environments such as marine environments or chemical production.
Apply Surface Coating Materials: Surface coating treatment of bearings made of ordinary steel is also an effective way to improve their corrosion – resistance. Common coatings include galvanizing, nickel – plating, chromium – plating, etc. The galvanized layer can form a dense protective film on the bearing surface, effectively isolating oxygen and moisture. The nickel – plated layer can not only enhance the corrosion – resistance of the bearing but also improve its appearance quality and surface hardness. The chromium – plated layer has high hardness and wear – resistance, which can strengthen the anti – wear and anti – corrosion capabilities of the bearing surface.
Storage and Transportation
Control of Storage Environment: When storing bearings, place them in a dry and well – ventilated warehouse. The relative humidity of the warehouse should be kept at a low level, generally recommended to be no more than 60%. Dehumidifying equipment can be installed to maintain the stability of the humidity in the warehouse. At the same time, avoid placing bearings near windows, doors, or other locations where they are easily invaded by humid air. For bearings in long – term storage, it is best to use sealed packaging and place desiccants, such as silica gel desiccants, inside the packaging to further absorb the moisture in the package and prevent rust from forming.
Transportation Protection Measures: During the transportation of bearings, take good protective measures. Avoid exposing bearings directly to humid air. Sealed packaging boxes can be used for packaging. For bearings in long – distance transportation or sea transportation, to prevent the erosion of seawater moisture, anti – rust bags or anti – rust paper can be placed inside the packaging box. These anti – rust materials can release anti – rust gases, forming a protective film on the bearing surface to prevent rust. At the same time, pay attention to the bumps and collisions during transportation to prevent the bearing surface from being more prone to rust due to mechanical damage.
Installation and Use
Inspection and Treatment Before Installation: Before installing a bearing, carefully inspect its appearance to ensure that there are no rust marks or damages on the surface. If there are slight rust spots on the bearing surface, a special rust remover can be used for treatment. After rust removal, clean and lubricate the bearing with clean lubricating oil before installation. During the installation process, ensure that the installation tools and the installation environment are clean to avoid impurities from entering the bearing and scratching the bearing surface, which may cause rust.
Operation Environment Management: During the use of bearings, keep the operating environment of the equipment clean and dry. For equipment operating in humid environments, protective measures such as installing protective covers and sealing devices can be taken to prevent moisture and dust from entering the bearings. At the same time, regularly maintain and service the equipment, and promptly clean the dust and dirt on the equipment surface to avoid their accumulation and absorption of moisture, which may lead to rust on the bearings. In addition, control the temperature and humidity during the operation of the equipment to avoid the formation of condensate on the bearing surface due to excessive temperature changes.
Lubrication and Maintenance
Select Appropriate Lubricants: High – quality lubricants can not only reduce the friction and wear of bearings but also have anti – rust functions. Select appropriate lubricants according to the working conditions and environment of the bearings. In humid environments, lubricating greases with good anti – rust properties, such as lithium – based lubricating grease, can be selected. It has good water – resistance and anti – rust properties. For high – speed rotating bearings, lubricating oils with low viscosity and good anti – oxidation properties should be selected, and an appropriate amount of anti – rust additives should be added to enhance the anti – rust ability.
Regular Lubrication and Replacement: Lubricate the bearings regularly according to the equipment’s operating instructions. When adding or replacing lubricants, ensure that the old lubricants are completely removed to prevent impurities and moisture in the old lubricants from corroding the bearings. At the same time, pay attention to the service life of the lubricants and replace expired or deteriorated lubricants in a timely manner to ensure their anti – rust and lubrication performance.
Monitoring and Maintenance
Establish a Monitoring Mechanism: Utilize modern monitoring technologies such as vibration monitoring and temperature monitoring to understand the operating status of bearings in real – time. By analyzing vibration signals and temperature changes, it is possible to promptly detect whether there are abnormal wear or overheating phenomena in the bearings, and then determine whether factors such as rust affect the bearing performance. Once abnormalities are detected, take timely measures to deal with them.
Regular Maintenance and Inspection: Develop a reasonable maintenance and inspection plan and regularly disassemble and inspect the bearings. Check for rust marks on the bearing surface, wear conditions, and the state of the lubricant. For minor rust marks found, deal with them in a timely manner. For bearings with severe wear or rust, replace them in a timely manner to avoid causing greater damage to the equipment.
Preventing rust from damaging bearings requires taking comprehensive and effective measures from multiple aspects, including material selection, storage and transportation, installation and use, lubrication and maintenance, and monitoring and maintenance. Only in this way can the erosion of rust on bearings be minimized, the lifespan of bearings be extended, the normal and stable operation of mechanical equipment be ensured, the maintenance costs and downtime of equipment be reduced, and the production efficiency and economic benefits of enterprises be improved.
The Price of Slewing Bearings with Rust – Prevention Capabilities
The price of slewing bearings with rust – prevention capabilities is influenced by multiple factors. In terms of materials, using corrosion – resistant materials such as stainless steel and special alloys, or applying high – quality anti – rust coatings will increase the cost and thus raise the price. In terms of processing, high – precision machining and advanced surface treatment processes can improve rust – prevention performance and quality, but the large investment also drives up the price.
Supplier of Slewing Bearings
LDB Bearing Company is a leading enterprise in the bearing industry with remarkable strength. Since its establishment in 1999, it has worked hard from obscurity and has become a mainstay in the industry with its dedication to quality and enthusiasm for innovation. The products developed and manufactured by the company are widely used in many fields. Among them, the spur – gear slewing drive has high precision and good stability, which significantly improves the operation performance of industrial welding robots. Moreover, the company attaches great importance to product quality, strictly adheres to high standards, and has passed the ISO9001:2015 quality management system certification of TUV Germany. With its excellent quality and high – quality services, its products are sold to 73 countries and regions around the world, winning the trust of customers. It is bound to lead the industry to new heights in the future.
