Calculating Grease Quantity, Frequency
Calculating Grease Quantity, Frequency
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16/12/2020 Calculating Grease Quantity, Frequency
Use this handy calculator as a general guideline for establishing grease frequency and volume in
bearings. If you need help creating precision calculations for your equipment, consider contacting a
Noria lubication expert to help you get started.
Units of Measurement
Imperial Metric
Width: Moisture:
in Make Selection
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16/12/2020 Calculating Grease Quantity, Frequency
Shaft RPM:
The values calculated are based on the data that is input and may not re ect actual in-service
environments. To increase the accuracy of regrease volumes and frequencies we recommend
the use of condition-based tools such as grease analysis and ultrasound.
This formula can be used with metric measurements as well; just use 0.005 instead of 0.114. The
result will be grease quantity in grams. This formula works for all bearings and is widely accepted as
the best way to calculate grease quantity.
Once the required grease volume has been calculated, you will need to determine how often to apply
that amount of grease. This timeframe is known as the regreasing frequency. This calculation is more
complex. The machine’s operating conditions must be collected along with some additional bearing
information.
Temperature is known to affect both grease and oil, so naturally one of the rst correcting factors that
must be collected is operating temperature. The hotter the environment, the more frequently the
grease must be replenished. The ambient contamination (how dusty the environment is) and moisture
(how humid the environment is) work in a similar manner. The dirtier and wetter the environment, the
more often the bearing must be regreased.
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16/12/2020 Calculating Grease Quantity, Frequency
Simple things like the bearing’s physical position and vibration will also affect the grease’s run-out and
frequency of reapplication. If the bearing is mounted on a vertical shaft, the grease has a tendency to
run out of the bearing quicker, thus needing to be replenished more often.
When the bearing is subjected to vibration, it causes the oil in the grease to separate from the
thickener, allowing it to drain away from where it is needed much faster. Therefore, these two
correcting factors — position and vibration — should be taken into consideration.
The nal correcting factor is that of the bearing element shape. This is important because each
different element stresses the grease differently. For instance, a ball rolling across the race churns the
grease differently than a spherical element, which churns the grease much more heavily.
Below is a chart of these correcting factors and how they operate together. Once they have been
calculated properly, the nal pieces of the puzzle are the bearing ID and speed of rotation. Through
some simple math, you are left with a run-time (in hours) frequency for regreasing.
Once you know the proper amount and frequency to use, be sure you are also using the proper
regreasing procedures to apply the grease to the right place in the right amount at the right time.
Reference: SKF
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