"Life" of ball bearings

When the ball bearing rotates with the load, because the raceway surface of the ring and the rolling surface of the rolling element are continuously subjected to alternating loads, even if the use conditions are normal, the raceway surface and rolling surface will appear fish scale damage due to material fatigue. Called exfoliation or exfoliation. The total number of revolutions before this rolling fatigue operation occurs is called the "(fatigue) life" of the bearing.

Even for bearings with exactly the same structure, size, material, processing method, etc., when rotating under the same conditions, the (fatigue) life of the bearings will still have a large difference. This is because material fatigue itself is discrete and should be considered from a statistical point of view.

Some ball bearings seem to last a lifetime, others are shorter. The life of a ball bearing is directly related to the weight of the load it carries and the speed at which it operates. In order for a bearing to function properly and throughout its service life, the joint needs to be properly lubricated. According to calculations, according to the ambient temperature, the ball bearing should be refueled 1-4 times a year. The maximum load of a ball bearing is related to the force driving it. Otherwise, the elements can stress the component and cause cracks. If the ball bearing is a swivel bearing, the maximum load will be what the bearing can effectively carry throughout 1,000,000 cycles. If the bearing won't spin or is grinding, it's probably worn out. If you determine that your machine has reached the maximum life of its ball bearings, they will need to be replaced in order to continue operating.