The wheel bearing is the core component of the castor, determining its flexibility and service life. Once the bearing fails, the entire castor will cease to function properly. In daily use, “bearing burnout” is one of the more common and severe failures. So, what is bearing burnout? How does it occur? And how can it be prevented and resolved? This article will provide you with detailed answers.
1. What is caster bearing burnout?
Bearing burnout refers to the phenomenon where abnormal heating during operation causes discoloration, softening, melting, or damage to the raceway, rolling elements, or cage. Once burnout occurs, the bearing is essentially rendered unusable, and the casters lose their rotational capability, affecting the normal operation of the equipment.
2. Introduction to Common Types of Castor Bearings
Different types of castor bearings are suitable for various usage scenarios. Understanding their characteristics helps in proper selection and reduces the risk of failures
1). Plain bearings: Suitable for high-load and high-speed applications, commonly used in heavy-duty mechanical equipment.
2). Roller bearings: High load-bearing capacity, moderate rotational flexibility, suitable for medium-load scenarios.
3). Derlin Bearing: Made of engineering plastic, suitable for humid or corrosive environments, but with higher resistance.
4). Ball bearings: Smooth rotation and stable operation, suitable for applications requiring low noise and high stability.
5). Standard bearings: Simple structure, suitable for low-speed and short-distance movement, with low maintenance requirements.
6). Tapered roller bearings: Possess strong load-bearing capacity and adaptability, suitable for complex working conditions.
3. Common causes of bearing burns
There are many reasons that can cause burns on caster bearings, including the following:
1). Overloading: Exceeding the bearing’s designed load-bearing capacity, resulting in increased friction.
2). Insufficient clearance: The internal clearance of the bearing is insufficient, which limits thermal expansion and contraction, and can easily generate high temperatures.
3). Poor lubrication: Improper selection, excessive or insufficient amount of lubricant can affect the heat dissipation effect.
4).. Poor installation accuracy: The machining accuracy of the shaft or bearing housing is low, resulting in unstable bearing operation.
5). High speed: Exceeding the rated speed of the bearing generates a large amount of heat.
6). Excessive shaft deflection: The shaft is severely deformed, causing uneven bearing force and local overheating.
4. Solution to Bearing Burns
To prevent bearing burns, it is recommended to start from the following aspects:
1). Proper selection of lubricants: Choose appropriate lubricating grease or oil, and control the amount to ensure the formation of an effective oil film.
2). Reasonably adjust the bearing clearance and preload: avoid overheating caused by too small clearance or too large preload.
3). Optimize the sealing structure: prevent impurities such as dust and moisture from entering the interior of the bearing and affecting the lubrication effect.
4). Check the machining accuracy of the shaft and bearing housing: Ensure that the bearings run smoothly and are evenly stressed after installation.
5). Control the operating speed: Avoid long-term overspeed operation and replace the bearing type that is more suitable for high-speed operation if necessary.
5. Conclusion
The health status of bearings is directly related to the service life of casters. By selecting correctly, installing reasonably, and maintaining regularly, the occurrence of bearing burns and other faults can be effectively prevented. I hope this article can help you better understand the use and maintenance of caster bearings, extend equipment life, and reduce maintenance costs.
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Post time: Nov-17-2025
