Noise and Friction Radically Reduced as Schaeffler's FAG Bearings Improve Machinery Efficiency, Lower Maintenance Costs and Avoid Unnecessary Downtime


FAG Generation C deep groove ball bearings, left, FAG E1 X-life spherical roller bearings and FAG SmartCheck as presented at VANZ



New bearing technologies engineered to radically improve the efficiency and lower the noise levels of industrial machinery and electric power tools are being introduced to Australasia by Schaeffler.



FAG Generation C deep groove ball bearings, FAG E1 X-life spherical roller bearings and FAG SmartCheck compact online vibration measuring systems were among Schaeffler technology presented to the Vibrations Association of New Zealand conference in Wairakei Resort May 26-28.



The technology – backed by research and bearing application and maintenance training from Schaeffler operations established for more than 35 years Down Under – is focussed on diverse industries including agriculture, dairy, mining and energy, steel, manufacturing, wood products and paper, oil and gas.



Schaeffler's Deep C ball bearing design allows very high speeds and low friction, making it particularly successful in the electric motor market. With 50% less noise and around 35 % less friction, these bearings increase the efficiency of motors and meet the increasingly strict requirements for minimizing noise. Customers can choose between a robust riveted steel cage and a polyamide cage that is suitable for high speeds, depending on the requirements of applications within dairy and other industries where high speed machinery is prevalent.



Sealed Generation C deep groove ball bearings are designed to achieve the perfect balance between friction and sealing action. They are greased for life with high-quality grease.



"The main requirements placed on modern deep groove ball bearings are optimum vibration behaviour and low running noise without any limitations on speed, load carrying capacity and operating life. Schaeffler analysed the causes of noise using the most up-to-date testing methods to arrive at findings that helped us to completely improve the internal design of the bearing," says Schaeffler, which presented the new technologies to VANZ along with its extensive range of maintenance and grease products designed to optimise performance and minimise downtime.



Schaeffler X-life Spherical Roller Bearings presented at VANZ are among the company's latest X-life technology types, which offer enhanced load capacity and service life optimisation for major industrial machinery. The high performance bearings offer up to 70% longer service life with the same loads, delivering benefits of greater efficiency and operational reliability.



X-Life ranges being introduced by Schaeffler Australia Pty Ltd are among its global parent's premium performance ranges of quality rolling bearings, plain bearings and linear guidance systems engineered to improved productivity, cut wear and reduce downtime for industries such as mining, energy, oil and gas, construction, materials handling and process engineering.



"FAG E1 spherical roller bearings are used in diverse applications where heavy loads have to be accommodated or where shaft deflections or misalignments of bearing seats must be compensated for.



"They operate reliably in the harshest environmental conditions, for example in gearboxes, paper machines, construction machinery and vibrating machinery," says Schaeffler Australia Pty Ltd, which markets the INA and FAG industrial and Luk automotive brands here as part of the Schaeffler Group, one of Europe's leading technology companies employing more than 82,000 people globally.



User benefits of FAG X-Life Spherical roller bearings – in addition to longer operating life under the same loads - include

• Equal operating life under significantly higher loads

• High static safety

• Lubricant is subjected to less strain due to less friction and lower bearing temperatures



FAG SmartCheck vibration monitoring technology, as also presented to VANZ, comprises a compact, innovative, modular online measuring system for continuous monitoring of machinery and process parameters on a decentralised basis. It can be used on assemblies where such monitoring was previously too cost prohibitive.



FAG SmartCheck and the SmartCheck App



FAG SmartCheck is suitable for early detection of rolling bearing damage, imbalances, and misalignments among other faults on:

• electric and geared motors

• vacuum and fluid pumps

• ventilators and fans

• gearboxes and compressors

• spindles and machine tools

• separators and decanters.



"SmartCheck demonstrates that vibration monitoring does not have to be complicated – as a flexible solution, the technology adjusts readily to user demands and reliably fulfils even complex requirements" says Schaeffler.



Plug-and-play system



FAG SmartCheck is ready for immediate use. When supplied, it already has a set of key data that facilitate general, reliable machinery monitoring.



In addition, predefined configuration templates are available for monitoring of items such as fans, pumps and bearings. These can easily be matched to individual requirements, due to the integrated bearing database of FAG and INA standard bearings, data configuration which facilitates a more comprehensive and simpler analysis.

In addition to the standard parameters of vibration and temperature, it is possible to record other classic operating parameters such as speed, pressure, flow rate etc. All parameters can be correlated with each other and included in the alarm configuration.



The data are recorded and analysed centrally by the system. The current machine condition can be displayed directly on the device or transferred to any control facility as required.



The Schaeffler Group's INA, FAG and Luk brands stand for the development and manufacture of high-quality rolling bearings, plain bearings, linear guidance systems, and engine components for mechanical engineering, aerospace and the automotive industry worldwide.



Collectively Schaeffler brands' broad range of products is among the most comprehensive in the rolling bearing industry. Schaeffler can supply products for applications in around 60 industrial sectors and numerous automotive applications with approximately 40,000 volume produced catalogue products. In addition, the company develops with its Australasian and global customers a wide variety of special solutions with which complex tasks involving bearings can be managed reliably and economically. This means that, for the Industrial division alone, Schaeffler can supply nearly 225,000 products.



Further, the company offers in Australia and globally a wide range of services including support, diagnostics, and maintenance and assembly for rolling bearings and systems.



For further information, please contact Tanya Jepson, Marketing and Communications Manager, Schaeffler Australia Pty Ltd,  Level 1, Building 8, 49 French's Forest Road,  French's Forest, NSW 2086 Tel: +61 2 8977 1075  •Â  Mobile: +61 (0) 439 596 025  •Â  Fax: +61 2 9452 4242

tanya.jepson@schaeffler.com   

http://www.schaeffler.com.au








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