Bearings in the Mining Industry

With harsh and unforgiving conditions, the Mining and Excavation industries are two of the most challenging industries that we at Quality Bearings Online serve. Issues with dust, dirt and other contaminants finding their way into the bearings is one of the most common problems, and in most cases can cause the bearing lifespan to decrease or the bearing failing altogether.

There are, however, ways to help the sustain the lifespan, and avoid unnecessary maintenance and downtime of machinery.

Using the right type of lubricant in the bearing is vital, especially in these conditions, some of the more popular types of grease to use are Shell Gadus S2 V220 AC or Shell Gadus S2 V220 AD these are due to their heavy-duty protection benefits as well as being water resistant and containing solids which help for shock-load conditions. Under greasing or over lubricating the bearings can also cause issues and decrease the lifespan of the bearing.

Because of the severe environmental and operating conditions in the mining sector, the bearings required need to be extremely robust. Facing heavy-loads, a variety of speeds and some severe misalignment, Spherical Roller Bearings tend to be the bearing of choice. The heavy-duty nature of these products and their ability to counter misalignment by design, excavation and processing equipment rely heavily on these bearings to manage all challenges thrown at them. We stock a wide range of market leaders SKF spherical roller bearings along with other top brands such as FAG, NSK and Timken. Sealed variants of spherical rollers can also aid the bearing life as they can protect the bearing and lubricants from outside contaminants.

Regular maintenance and inspection of the bearings in the machinery is vital for maximising the lifespan of the bearings, preventing mechanical failure and reducing maintenance costs. Frequently checking operating temperatures and bearing noises can help identify issues such as; bearing damage, incorrect mounting, abnormal loads or insufficient or improper lubrication. Tools such as the SKF TKTL range are a series of infrared thermometers that can help measure the operating temperatures to check any abnormalities, or using sound detecting equipment such as the SKF electronic stethoscope (TMST3) or the SKF sound pressure meters (TMSP1), damage to the bearings can be discovered before any issues occur and can help reduce the cost of maintenance by early detection.