The influence of lubricants on cam failure

This paper studies the effects of lubricants on the failure and reliability of cams. Experimental investigations of the influence of lubricants on cam failure have been carried out at a metalworking factory. This paper presents following:

– A classification of industrial oils for cams. To establish this classification, two essentials of parameters have been taken into account: the environment (ambient temperature) and the cam operating conditions (load and sliding velocity).

– A flowchart of lubricating oil selection procedure for cams as a function of all relevant influencing factors.

– An analysis of the symptoms and the causes of failure of machine tool cams.

– An analysis of the average life and curves of cam reliability of machine tools as a function of tribological properties of some industrial oils.

The obtained results have proved that the tribological properties of lubricants has a great influence on:

– reduction of failures,

– extension of the life and

– increase of the reliability of cams.