A magazine priniting company was using open Deep Groove Ball Bearings in an ink pad roller application. Bearings were lubricated by the ink in which they were submerged. The OEM manufacturer recommended changing to C4 clearance, which increased bearing life but not by much, with the bearings onsite failing at a rate of 100 per month.
NSK conducted a Bearing Failure Analysis and concluded that the bearings were failing as a result of the lubricating ink solidifying on the raceways, causing bearing failure.
NSK recommended Deep Groove Ball Bearings with DDU seals, resulting in no bearing failures reported within a month.
Before | Cost p.a. | NSK Solution | Cost p.a. | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bearing costs for 1.200 bearings per year | € 31.800 | Bearing costs for 180 bearings per year | € 763 | |
Maintenance and labour costs | € 1.532 | No maintenance costs | € 0 | |
Total Costs | € 33.332 | € 763 |
Reference:SS-E-2068