Bearings are important when it comes to the performance and service life of mechanical systems. Bearings are important in motors, automotive and industrial machinery to enable easy movement and minimize friction. The knowledge of the calculation of bearing torque is necessary to ensure that such systems are operated efficiently and do not experience undue wear and tear.
At Bearmax USA our business is to sell high quality bearings which are designed to perform. Torque is one of the most important considerations when bearing performance and it is important to know how to compute bearing torque when designing and servicing bearing-based systems. We are going to discuss the significance of bearing torque calculation; bearing friction torque, starting torque, and ball bearing torque calculation in this blog.
What is Bearing Torque?
The force needed to turn a bearing is called bearing torque. It is the by-product of friction in the bearing as it travels. All bearing systems have a certain amount of resistance caused by the friction between the rolling elements of the bearing and the raceways. This friction forms a torque which must be overcome to enable the bearing to work effectively.
The significance of bearing torque calculation cannot be overestimated and it directly affects the efficiency, power consumption and the life span of machinery. When the bearing torque is excessively high, the system will consume a greater amount of energy to run, causing overheating, accelerated wear and possible system failure.
Bearing Friction Torque Calculation
Bearing friction torque calculation is one of the main aspects of the overall bearing system torque. Frictional resistance occurs as a result of contact between the rolling elements (balls or rollers) and the inner and outer raceways of the bearing. A consequence of this frictional resistance is the torque which has to be considered in the design and maintenance of the system.
The simplest equation to compute bearing friction torque is to multiply coefficient of friction with radial load of the bearing and the radius of bearing rolling elements. The coefficient of friction also varies with the material in the bearing and with the lubrication. A lubricated bearing will experience a lower coefficient of friction, which will reduce the frictional torque and enhance performance.
Proper calculation of bearing friction torque is a key ingredient to making sure that bearings are working within their optimal range. An example would be to apply the appropriate lubricant that will reduce the friction torque of the bearing, thereby improving its efficiency and increasing its working life. That is why the choice of the type of bearing and lubricant is so significant to performance.
Bearing Starting Torque Calculation
Another important parameter to consider when calculating bearing torque is the starting torque. This is the torque needed to get the movement of a bearing to start at a standstill position. The initial torque computation is required when dealing with programs that would need the bearing to undergo constant starts and stops, e.g. in motors and compressors.
Bearing starting torque is calculated by considering various factors like load on the bearing, coefficient of friction, lubricant viscosity, etc. When a lubricant is first started up its viscosity can make it very difficult to get going and the starting torque will be higher. With time, and as the bearing attains operating speed and the lubricant becomes more efficient, the starting torque decreases.
In the case of engineers, it is important to be able to compute the appropriate initial torque of a bearing to ensure that a motor or a machine is both efficient and reliable when it is first started. Correctly determined starting torque will not subject machinery to undue power demand or early bearing wearout at start-up.
Ball Bearing Friction Torque Calculation
The most utilized types of bearings are referred to as ball bearings, although they have a variety of applications. These bearings replace friction and optic roller bearing with a spherical bearing, which offers smooth operation. But similar to all bearings, they also have frictional resistance and hence the necessity to calculate ball bearing friction torque.
Bearing friction torque can be calculated in the same manner as the other types of bearings, but should consider the geometry of the spherical rolling items. Contact of the ball with the raceways generates a frictional force giving rise to torque. The geometry of the rolling elements normally results in lower ball bearing friction torque than in other types of bearings, although it must be calculated correctly to achieve optimum performance.
Engineers can determine whether they have the correct ball bearing to use in a certain application by calculating the friction torque of ball bearings. A properly calculated bearing torque helps to make sure that the system will work without problems, use less energy and be reliable in the long run.
Maximizing System Efficiency with Accurate Bearing Torque Calculations
The direct effect of bearing torque calculation on system efficiency is one of the most valuable lessons that one can learn during the course of learning bearing torque calculation. An accurate bearing torque allows mechanical systems to work within the optimal range avoiding unnecessary friction and wear. At very high bearing torque, caused by excessive lubrication or inappropriate lubrication, the energy consumption is high, and the system becomes susceptible to overheating and failure.
With proper calculation of bearing torque, engineers are able to determine the material type, lubrication, and design parameters that they should use. This results in less resistance, less power consumption and increased life of bearings and the system in general. Moreover, the optimization of the calculation of bearing torque reduces the risk of machine failures and expensive maintenance.
The quality of bearings and excellent engineering at Bearmax USA will ensure that our customers get the best out of their machines in terms of performance and service life. Accurate bearing torque calculations also mean that all bearings are working to their optimum capacity, which leads to the overall success of your mechanical systems.
