- Operating temperature
- Speed
- Load
- Required service life
- Type of bearing
- Type of lubricant
- Environmental conditions
For most ball bearings in air at room temperature, the appropriate relubrication interval, in number of hours, can be estimated by:
```
L10h= 100,000*C (dmCn)²/p
```
Where:
- C is the bearing capacity factor from table:
| Bearing Type | C |
|---|---|
| Deep Grove Ball Bearing | 1 |
| Angular Contact Ball Bearing | 0.56 to 0.66 |
| Cylindrical Roller Bearing | 0.22 |
| Tapered Roller Bearing | 0.18 to 0.31 |
| Spherical Roller Bearing | 0.11 |
| Self-Aligning Ball Bearing | 0.11 |
- dm is the bearing mean diameter in mm.
>For metric sizes: \(dm= (d+D)/2\)
>For inch sizes: \(dm=0.5625[(d+D)/2]\)
- Cn is the bearing basic dynamic load rating
- p is the bearing operating load under radial load conditions for a single row bearing or equivalent radial load for multiple row or angular contact bearings.
It should be noted that this equation provides an approximation of the appropriate lubrication interval and that actual intervals may vary depending on the specific application and operating conditions.
Additionally, some general guidelines for lubricating bearings are as follows:
* For new bearings, it is important to lubricate them before putting them into service. This will help to prevent damage to the bearing and extend its service life.
* In general, bearings should be lubricated at regular intervals based on the manufacturer's recommendations.
* The frequency of lubrication will depend on factors such as the bearing type, the operating environment, and the duty cycle.
* It is important to use the correct type of lubricant for the bearing. Using the wrong type of lubricant can damage the bearing and shorten its service life.
* When relubricating a bearing, it is important to clean the old grease from the bearing before adding new grease. This will help to prevent contamination of the new grease.
* It is also important to avoid over-lubricating bearings, as this can cause damage to the bearing and reduce its performance.