Bearings for Mining & Aggregate

Typical duty

• Heavy shock loads from crusher jaws, hammers and falling ore.
• Continuous abrasive dust, plus water sprays in dust suppression.
• Misalignment from welded frames, tumbling screens and settling foundations.
• High temperatures in kiln and dryer service.
• Limited maintenance access, so long relubrication intervals are a requirement.

Installation & maintenance notes

• For vibrating screens, use a bearing designed for shock and unbalance, and inspect seats and shafts at every change.
• Dust ingress kills more bearings than fatigue: seal quality and greasing practice decide the outcome.
• Check shaft surface finish and roundness - re-used worn shafts negate the effect of a new bearing.
• For kiln and dryer positions, use high-temperature grease and allow for axial growth.
• Record the grease quantity and interval; over-greasing is a common cause of overheating.

Common mistakes in this industry

• Fitting a general-purpose bearing in a vibrating screen and losing the cage within weeks.
• Re-using a fretted or undersized shaft seat, so the new bearing rotates on the shaft.
• Standard grease in a hot dryer position, which carbonises and blocks the lubrication holes.

Further reading

• Wear, Fatigue, Corrosion: Telling Failure Modes Apart
• Spherical Roller Bearings for Heavy Duty and Misalignment
• Lubrication: Grease, Oil and Re-lubrication Intervals