Hydraulic systems get their contamination from four primary sources—new oil, built-in, ingressed and induced. Contrary to popular belief, new hydraulic fluid is not clean. The manufacturing and handling process exposes the fluid to various forms of contamination, and although I wouldn’t call it filthy, it’s often times many ISO codes higher than … [Read more...] about How did my hydraulic system get so dirty?
Where should I take my oil samples?
Oil sampling and analysis is a method of determining and tracking the health of your hydraulic fluid. A oil sample is taken and sent to a lab to discover ISO particle count, water saturation, additive content and viscosity. These qualities in normal range are imperative to a reliable hydraulic system, and sample testing is the best way to test for … [Read more...] about Where should I take my oil samples?
How do you avoid seal failure?
Bashar Kasrawi, product development engineer at Trelleborg Sealing Systems said that there are a number of reasons for seal failure in hydraulic systems, but the most common may be a surprise to some: improper installation. “Seals are sometimes considered a commodity item by designers and engineers—a known quantity that doesn’t appear to require … [Read more...] about How do you avoid seal failure?
UV LED flashlight helps with industrial leak detection
Poorly maintained equipment can leak more than fluids, it can leak money. Spectroline’s LeakTracker (LT-300) is a powerful, economical leak detection flashlight that’s suitable for all industrial fluid system applications. LeakTracker has a high-output UV LED that delivers superior fluorescent dye response, making industrial leaks easier to … [Read more...] about UV LED flashlight helps with industrial leak detection
What are kidney loop systems?
Hydraulic systems are generally equipped with system filters. The system filters are either placed on the pressure side (e.g. downstream of pumps, before system components) or on the return side (e.g. before fluid is reaching the reservoir). Dan Zoller, Group Product Manager Filter Systems, Schroeder Industries, said that in a case where only … [Read more...] about What are kidney loop systems?
Why do seals fail?
It’s a fact of life that regardless of how well a hydraulic seal is engineered or how durable the compound, all hydraulic seals will fail at some point. Seals are by nature much softer and less durable than the metal components that they contact. Kenneth James, Mechanical Engineer at MFP Engineering reminds all design engineers that a seal can … [Read more...] about Why do seals fail?
When should you flush a new or rebuilt hydraulic system?
What causes contamination? Particulate contaminants circulating in fluid power systems cause surface degradation through general mechanical wear (abrasion, erosion, and surface fatigue). Dan Zoller, Group Product Manager Filter Systems, Schroeder Industries, explained that this wear causes increasing numbers of particles to be formed, the result … [Read more...] about When should you flush a new or rebuilt hydraulic system?
How do you set a target fluid cleanliness level?
Solid contamination in hydraulic fluids is subdivided into three groups: extremely hard, hard and soft particles. Dan Zoller, Group Product Manager Filter Systems, Schroeder Industries, explains that extremely hard particles can cause substantial damage in fluid power systems if they are not removed as quickly as possible. Preventive measures can … [Read more...] about How do you set a target fluid cleanliness level?
What is oil sampling?
Hydraulic fluid will have innate properties originating from its base stock, but will also contain additives to improve performance factors such as lubricity, corrosion protection, viscosity index and water saturation, to name a few. If a high quality hydraulic fluid came from the factory with excellent properties, how can we guarantee that oil … [Read more...] about What is oil sampling?
How do O-rings work?
As a sealing product, O-rings have been a very cost-effective and simple choice since the 1940s. However, there does seem to be some mysticism about how these relatively simple shapes actually function. Robert W. Keller, PhD, Director of Technology Sales at Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies explains that in reality, the simple physics and the … [Read more...] about How do O-rings work?
