Machinery Lubrication May June 2014 May June 2014 | Page 10
shown in the preceding tables. It must
also address hardware and design
features that are not permitted. These
might include ring oilers, drip oilers,
screen filters, snorkel vents, high-wattdensity tank heaters, long pump suction
lines, etc.
Consider having the specification
carefully reviewed by an outside
lubrication consultant, especially for
the
most
reliabilitycritical machines. Remember that the
cost
of
retrofitting
needed
maintainability hardware will be many
times the cost of the same hardware
when installed at the factory (as part of
the original bill-of-material).
Conversely, buying machines stripped
to the bones in an attempt to reduce
costs is almost always false economy.
The astute reliability professional views
new equipment in terms of the cost of
ownership, not simply the cost of
purchase. Most important is the overall
machine reliability, which includes
repair costs but also equipment
utilization (uptime), maintainability
(PMs, inspections, etc.), safety and
other factors. All of these should drive
the business decision to invest in
reliability readiness.
About the Author
Jim Fitch has a wealth of “in the
trenches” experience in lubrication, oil
analysis, tribology and machinery failure
investigations. Over the past two decades,
he has presented hundreds of courses on
these subjects. Jim has published more
than 200 technical articles, papers and
publications. He serves as a U.S. delegate to
the ISO tribology and oil analysis working
group. Since 2002, he has been director and
board member of the International Council
for Machinery Lubrication. He is the CEO
and a co-founder of Noria Corporation.
Contact Jim at [email protected].
Across
3
Crossword
Puzzler
6
8
9
10
12
14
15
16
A ported or closed cover for the end of a
filter element.
A fluid circulation process that is
designed to remove contamination and
decomposition from a lubrication-based
system.
Compound containing only carbon and
hydrogen.
Removing air from a liquid, usually by
ultrasonic and / or vacuum methods.
A device used to convert fluid energy into
mechanical motion.
A ]