Information Sheet #4 - Bearing Types, Maintenance, and Reliability.
1.0 Introduction:
Rotating mechanical and electrical equipment used throughout industrial and commercial applications incorporate bearings of one type or another to ensure rotating shafts run freely with minimal friction. Bearings help in maintaining the alignment and rotational movements of a machine. LEI specializes in the maintenance of many types of motors and servos all of which incorporate either roller or sleeve type bearings.
2.0 What is the Function of a Bearing:
Bearings maintain the weight of the load a shaft bears during operation, they also enable free rotation to eliminate friction and the wear and heat generated by friction. Without bearings a rotating shaft, and the surface it is rotated within, will rapidly under load be destroyed. The application of a bearing to a shaft enables rotating electrical equipment to run many hours with a high degree of reliability.