We're just getting started with taking our lubrication program out of the stone ages. From reading the magazines of noria and this web site I have learned a lot.

We already have a thermography program in place. We have a lot of gear drives and hydraulics at our plant. I've identified that we need to start cleaning up our lubes.

Can someone please give me advice on how to start a wear debris analysis program. We want to start catching failures in the early stages. Thanks.

Although a particle counter and ferrous wear detection device is best for a large operation. If you are just starting out and your budget is tight there are patch making funnels that attach to a vacuum pump. You filter your diluted oil sample thru the patch and view it under a shop microscope to detect wear debris and other contamination. Check out the suppliers of sampling equipment such as Schematic Appraoch, Easy Vac, and Pall filter for the items you need to get started. Email me if youwish to discuss your needs further.

Freezer,

You seem to have made up your mind to perform "Wear Debris Analysis" therfor you will be conducting either filter patch and or analytical ferrography analysis. As indicated above there are some suppliers out there for the filter patch process, unfortunatly there isn't any detailed reference material avaliable for this process. Ferrography on the other hand comes with a very detailed bible from which to complete a reasonable analysis. In either instance you will need a minimum of 250X power to gain any significent insight regarding the morphology about how a particle was generated. The polarization light from ferrography will also help you to identify the type of metal.
There are a few suppliers of ferrography equipment and materials out there and they put of courses for level 1-2-3 etc. You need to start off with one of these to determine if this is what you want to do.
I am however curious why you decided to jump over the more traditional oil analysis processes in favour of wear debris analysis. This type of analysis will tell you what is wearing but you wou't know if the root cause was the wrong oil or the oil's properties were depleated or changed etc.
Perhaps getting Noria in to perform a base audit would help you to kick start your fluids analysis program.
regards......

The best way to start an oil analysis program is ansewring some questions:
- What I want from OA?
- What I need to know?
- What analysis give me the right information?
- Which of these ones need to be on syte and which ones in private labs?
With this answers in hand you will be already in the right way.

Freezeer,

I too am working on revamping an oil analysis program. We have looked at on-site equipment, such as the lab from CSI Emerson, and other companies that have off-site oil analysis, such as Analyst Inc and Wear Check. I would reccommend you start off slower, getting data such as particle counts, acid number, and water content. These can tell you alot about how your oil is performing. We are also getting spectrochemical analysis. There are oil analysis companies, such as Eaton Hydraulics, that will do the analysis for you and give possible origins of the contaminants. Most companies also have on-line services so that you can view your results quicker. I suggest you check out different companies, tell them what you are looking for, and then send them one or two samples to see what their reports look like. Hope everything works out for you. Good luck

Dear sir;
I saw your bulletin up on noria and I found that one of the best ways to make sure that your
machinery stay running smoothly is by not having to worry about it. I'm refering automatic lubrication dispensers. I use a couple of brands made by this company called pulsrlubeusa. Let me tell you, my work load lightened up by at least 25%. What was great was that there are some areas that were next to imposible to reach and down right nasty. I no longer have to worry about that one area so often anymore and I have the peace of mind of knowing that my equipment is running smoothly.