Recognizing wear in drive technology

Wear and tear on drive system components is often easy to recognize, provided you know what to look for. By regularly inspecting and listening to your system, you can detect many problems early and prevent them from developing into costly downtime. This article explains what you should look for as a maintenance worker and how to recognize different types of wear and tear.

Visual cues you shouldn't ignore

A visual inspection often reveals a lot. Think of scratches or discoloration that indicate metal-to-metal contact, broken teeth on gears or sprockets, or cracks in belts and couplings. Oil leaks or dirt accumulating around seals are also clear indications that something is wrong. By being alert to these issues, you can intervene quickly before the damage worsens.

What sound and vibrations tell you

An installation that suddenly starts to rattle, squeak or bang often indicates that there is wear and tear. Worn out bearings, gears or links make themselves heard. An increase in vibration is also an important signal. It can indicate imbalance or components that are no longer working properly. By listening and feeling, you gain valuable information about the condition of your drivetrain.
If a machine moves more slowly, produces less power, or behaves inconsistently, it's often a sign that something is worn out. Overheating of motors or bearings is common with wear, as is increased energy consumption without a clear cause. Such functional symptoms are often the result of internal problems that are not immediately visible, but can be measured.

Smart measuring with the right instruments

Technical tools allow you to objectively determine wear. Vibration analysis helps you detect anomalies in rotating components. Thermography reveals where hot spots arise due to friction or overload. And oil samples can reveal metal particles that indicate internal wear. By combining these techniques, you gain a complete picture of the condition of your system.

With bearings, you often see pitting on the raceways, play, or discoloration due to overheating. You'll hear humming or rattling, feel increased vibration, and see temperature rises during thermographic inspection. Sprockets show wear due to broken teeth, erosion, or play. This is noticeable as jerky movements and noise under load. Chains stretch, links wear, and sprockets show wear. The chain then sags or runs poorly, which you hear and feel during use.

Belts, such as V-belts and timing belts, show signs of wear due to cracks, fraying, or glazed areas. They lose tension and can slip, which you'll notice when starting or stopping the system. Electric motors wear primarily in the bearings or brushes, and worn insulation or rotor imbalance causes irregular current draw, overheating, and vibration. So, act quickly, or have it repaired. our own mechanics Perform an inspection. An appointment is quickly scheduled.