What factors affect bearing life?

TIME:2025-10-17

The core factors affecting bearing life can be categorized into two main categories: internal material processing and external operating conditions.


Internal Material and Manufacturing Factors

 

  • Material Quality: The purity, hardness, and toughness of bearing steel directly determine the basic lifespan. Excessive impurities or improper heat treatment can accelerate wear.
  • Machining Precision: Substandard surface roughness and dimensional tolerances of raceways and rolling elements can lead to stress concentration and shorten service life.

 

External Operating Conditions

 

  • Loading Conditions: Heavy loads exceeding the rated load and impact loads can significantly reduce bearing lifespan. Unbalanced loads can also cause localized excessive wear.
  • Lubrication Conditions: Insufficient lubrication, deteriorated lubricant, or mismatched lubricant types can increase friction, leading to heat generation and seizure failure.
  • Operating Environment: Humid, dusty, and corrosive environments can cause bearing corrosion, while foreign matter can cause grinding damage.
  • Installation and Maintenance: Coaxial misalignment during installation, improper interference fit, and long-term lack of maintenance can accelerate bearing failure.