• Home
  • Tech
  • How To Reduce Friction In Machines

Tech

How To Reduce Friction In Machines

author-img By Arnab Dey 5 Mins Read December 7, 2022

Machines

Friction is the resistance that an object or surface experiences when rolling or sliding over another. Usually, machines have many parts in constant contact and motion when in use.

This increases the likelihood of these pieces of equipment experiencing friction. This force has several negative effects on a machine and their owners.

For instance, friction can make equipment produce annoying screeching sounds. This noise pollution can be disturbing at home or distracting at work. Additionally, the force can cause excessive heat that could lead to an explosion or fire.

Friction is also a major cause of machine wear and tear. This contributes to slow material removal or machine deformation, which necessitates frequent repairs, servicing, or equipment replacement. Eventually, this strains an owner financially.

Machine inefficiency is another negative effect of friction. This can cause additional energy or fuel consumption. Furthermore, machine inefficiency slows down the work processes. High energy or fuel expenses lead to financial strain, while the low output can reduce income if one depends heavily on the equipment.

Here Are Three Prime Steps To Reduce Friction In Machines

As explained above, friction can negatively affect a machine owner in several ways. Fortunately, these impacts are avoidable.

Steps To Reduce Friction In Machines

Below are some things you could do to lower equipment friction:

1. Use Ball Bearings

Rolling friction is considered less than the sliding kind. This is one reason why ball bearings are used to reduce friction in machines. A ball bearing has a ring of small-sized metal balls that can roll freely. These are mounted between two surfaces that rotate over each other. This way, a machine’s moving parts don’t slide against each other but roll.

For instance, in the case of an axle and wheel, the former is secured on a ball bearing’s inner part while the latter is attached on its outer side. This way, the small-sized metal balls in the ball bearing reduce friction by making the wheel and axle roll over each other.

When buying ball bearings, you may also find bushings. If you’re not sure which one to get, you may ask brick-and-mortar retailers or online stores like reidsupply.com to explain the difference. This way, you can choose the best one for your needs.

In contrast with rolling-element bearings, bushings are thin hollow tubes made as single parts. They’re a bearing type used in machines’ rotating or sliding shafts to reduce friction.

2. Consider Lubrication

Lubrication can also help you lower friction in machines. This is the application of grease, oil, fine powder, or graphite on equipment components to provide a protective layer between two contact surfaces. By separating the two parts, there’s less interlocking because the surfaces don’t rub against each other directly but through the layer of lubrication.

This way, the parts move smoothly, heat generation is reduced, wear and tear are lessened, and friction is also minimized. As a result, your machine runs more efficiently for a longer period. This reduces the need for frequent repairs, which saves money. It also prevents unplanned replacements, in which case you can take an equipment loan.

Lubrication

When buying a lubricant, choose the best one for your needs. First, ensure the type you pick is suitable for your machine. In most cases, equipment manufacturers provide information in manuals about the best lubricant for a machine. It’s best to follow the provided instructions for the best results.

High-quality products are also good to consider, as they’ll offer maximum protection and last longer. Some manufacturers sell their own lubricants or distribute the products in retail stores. It’s advisable to buy from these sources.  

3. Make Surfaces Smoother

A rough surface will experience more friction than an even one. Therefore, one way to reduce this force is by making machine parts smoother.

For instance, a park slide is polished to even the rough regions, reduce friction, and make movement easier. Other methods of removing irregularities are using sandpaper, grinding, and chemical etching, whereby harsh chemicals are used to smoothen a rough surface.

Final Thoughts

Friction is expected when working with machines. However, this force has several disadvantages. It causes noise pollution, wears and tear, and machine inefficiency. Additionally, it raises the risk of fires or explosions and increases energy or fuel consumption.

These impacts lead to low productivity and production, which means minimized income. Also, an owner may have to do unplanned replacements due to reduced machine life or unexpected repairs, which can cause financial strain.

Fortunately, there are ways to lessen friction and avoid the mentioned negative effects of the force. As advised in this article, you can use ball bearings, lubricate equipment parts, or make machine surfaces smoother.

Read Also:

Share This Article:

author-img

Arnab Dey

Arnab is a professional blogger, having an enormous interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, He carries out sharing sentient blogs.

View All Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *