Effect of Bearing Type on the Wear and Surface Condition of Shafts under Long-Term Service

Abstract. This study presents a comparative analysis of two shafts on which material feeder discs were mounted. In the first configuration, a bronze sleeve bushing was used, whereas in the second one, two needle roller bearings (SKF, 40×47×16 mm) were applied. Both shafts operated under identical service conditions on equivalent machines positioned side by side, in a two-shift system over a period of five years, corresponding to approximately 15,000 operating hours. Both maintenance and service of the systems were carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, which ensured comparable operating conditions. The conducted study aimed to determine the differences in wear, reliability, and maintenance costs between the shaft equipped with a bronze bushing and the one fitted with needle roller bearings, as illustrated by the condition of the components shown in Fig.1. The obtained results may serve as a basis for optimizing design solutions in similar drive systems used in industrial applications [1-3].