Online guide to the mounting of rolling bearings

The correct mounting and dismounting of rolling element bearings can save time and dramatically increase the life of bearings, as well as maximising the availability of critical plant and machinery by avoiding costly breakdowns. The key is to ensure that the appropriate tools and equipment for the mounting and dismounting of rolling bearings are on hand for the engineer at the installation or assembly stage.

Appropriate tools may include thermal mounting and dismounting tools (i.e. heating plates), induction-heating devices, mounting paste and heating rings, as well as feeler gauges, hydraulic extractors, hydraulic nuts and hand pump sets. Using the correct tools ensures that bearings are mounted and removed easily and quickly without causing damage to the bearings or surrounding equipment and in a safe and reliable way.

The new Schaeffler Mounting Toolbox is a web-based information guide on how to professionally install rolling bearings. As well as learning about which tools and fitting aids are required to install rolling bearings, users can also view short educational videos that demonstrate how these tools should be used in practise.

On entering the website http://mounting-toolbox.schaeffler.com users are presented with a ‘Virtual Plant’ home screen, which serves as the main user interface, allowing easy, fast navigation around the website and easy access to the information provided. The objective is to make users feel that they are actually in a factory, looking over the shoulder of a Schaeffler professionally-qualified mounting service technician, who is demonstrating how to correctly mount the bearings.

The website provides details of mounting tools and accessories, and demonstrates the benefits of correctly mounted rolling bearings, which include longer operating life for the bearing, reduced unplanned downtime, and higher machine availability. Moreover, correct alignment and lubrication can achieve improved energy efficiency of machines and equipment.