What are the main causes and preventive measures for worm gear bearing failure?

Main Causes of Worm Gear Bearing Failure

1. Poor Lubrication or Deteriorated Oil Quality: Insufficient lubricating oil, excessively high oil temperature, or contaminated oil can lead to bearing oil film failure, rapidly increasing friction and wear, raising temperature, and even causing oil emulsification.

2. Overload or Impact Load: Exceeding the design load capacity during operation or experiencing sudden impacts can subject the bearing to abnormal stress, resulting in fatigue cracks or localized crushing, ultimately leading to bearing failure.

3. Installation Errors and Misalignment: Insufficient bearing housing rigidity, improper axial or radial clearance during assembly, and loose bolts can all cause uneven bearing stress, generating vibration and noise. Long-term accumulation can lead to bearing wear or seizure.

4. Environmental Factors and Contaminant Intrusion: Dust, metal shavings, or moisture in the working environment can easily enter the bearing, forming hard abrasive particles that accelerate scratching and peeling of the rolling elements.

Preventative Measures for Worm Gear Bearings

1. Selection and Rigidity Guarantee: Select a worm gear reducer with appropriate load-bearing capacity based on actual operating conditions. Reinforce the bearing support or use steel bushings to improve support rigidity and ensure the bearing maintains the correct meshing clearance during operation.

2. Strict Lubrication Management: Regularly check the quality and quantity of lubricating oil, and use dedicated lubricating oil that meets equipment requirements. Under high-temperature or high-load conditions, use cooling devices or replace with high-temperature resistant oil to prevent oil film rupture due to excessively high oil temperature.

3. Load Control and Shock Protection: Avoid overloading during operation and set reasonable safety factors. For operating conditions that may generate shocks (such as startup and shutdown), use soft starts or buffer devices to reduce the impact of instantaneous shocks on the bearing.

4. Regular Inspection and Maintenance: Establish a bearing inspection system, using the "look, listen, touch, smell, and measure" five-step method to check bearing temperature, noise, vibration, and oil quality. If abnormalities are found, stop the machine immediately for repair, replace the lubricating oil or damaged parts to prevent small problems from developing into major failures.