One of the most important factors for the effective functioning of a miniature ball bearing is the lubricant and the lubrication method. Due to the size of the miniature ball bearings, there may be considerable differences in performance characteristics between individual lubricants.
Key Factors for Lubricant Selection:
- Speed of the inner and/or outer ring
- Type of rotation (with interruptions, continuous, oscillating, etc.)
- Loads
- Operating temperature and ambient temperature
- Permissible noise emission
- Expected service life
- Storage time before use
- Ambient conditions (vacuum, chemicals, aggressive media, etc.)
- Required starting and running friction torque
Our research and development department works together with our lubricant suppliers to develop the optimum solution for the customer's specific application. Hundreds of types of oils, greases and solid lubricants have been tested. Standard products are L23 (oil) and G48 (grease).
Oils
Oils - Applications
| Code | General | High Speed | High Speed & High Temperature | High Temperature (>200°C) | Low Temperature (<-50°C) | Low Starting Friction Torque | Low Noise Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L2 | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | |||
| L23 (Std) | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| L25 | ■ | - |
Oils - Technical Data
| Code | Designation | Temperature Range (°C) | Temperature Peaks (°C) | Viscosity (cSt @ 20°C) | Flashpoint (°C) | Setting Point (°C) | Military Specification USA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L2 | Isoflex® PDP 38 | -65 to +100 | - | 23 | +200 | -70 | - |
| L23 (Std) | Winsor L 245X | -57 to +185 | +204 | 24 | +216 | -60 | MIL-L-6085 |
| L25 | Krytox® 143 AB | -40 to +232 | - | 230 | +215 | -40 | - |
Greases
Greases - Applications
| Code | General | High Speed | High Speed & High Temperature | High Temperature (>200°C) | Low Temperature (<-50°C) | Low Noise Level | H1 Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G21 | ■ | ||||||
| G48 (Std) | ■ | ■ | |||||
| G58 | ■ | - | |||||
| G79 | ■ | ||||||
| G86 | ■ | ||||||
| G90 | |||||||
| G100 | ■ | ||||||
| G144 | ■ | ||||||
| G163 | ■ |
Greases - Technical Data
| Code | Designation | Temperature Range (°C) | Base Oil Viscosity (cSt) | Penetration (ASTM @ 25°C) | Dropping Point (°C) | Base | Military Specification USA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G21 | Nye Instrument 704C | -65 to +150 | 3 / 100°C | 296 | +260 | Bentone Clay | MIL-PRF-23827C |
| G48 (Std) | Turmogrease Li 802 EP plus | -35 to +140 | 85 / 40°C | 257 | > 250 | Lithium | - |
| G58 | Klüber Isoflex® LDS 18 Special A | -50 to +120 | 15 / 40°C | 280 | +185 | Lithium | - |
| G79 | Isoflex® Klüber Topas NB 52 | -50 to +120 | 30 / 40°C | 280 | +240 | Barium | - |
| G86 | Asonic® GLY 32 | -50 to +140 | 25 / 40°C | 280 | +190 | Lithium | - |
| G90 | Isoflex® Klüber Barrierta L55/2 | -40 to +260 | 400 / 40°C | 280 | - | - | - |
| G100 | Nye Rheolube® 740 S | -30 to +120 | 116 / 40°C | 295 | +240 | Polyurea | - |
| G144 | myonic high speed lube | -40 to +200 | 46 / 40°C | 340 | > 200 | Polyurea | - |
| G163 | myonic H1 high speed lube | -40 to +140 | 46 / 40°C | 325 | > 200 | Polyurea | - |
Grease Selection Quick Guide
| Extreme Low Temperature (-65°C) | G21 - Nye Instrument 704C |
| Standard General Applications | G48 - Turmogrease Li 802 EP plus (Standard Grease) |
| High Speed Applications | G100, G144, G163 - High Speed Specialty Greases |
| Extreme High Temperature (+260°C) | G90 - Klüber Barrierta L55/2 |
| Low Noise Requirements | G79 - Isoflex® Topas NB 52 (Barium Base) |
| Food Grade H1 Certified | G163 - myonic H1 high speed lube |
Lubrication Technical Notes
Important Reminders
- Standard products are supplied with L23 oil or G48 grease
- All lubricants are thoroughly tested and validated in myonic laboratories
- Complete operating conditions (temperature, speed, load) must be considered when selecting lubricants
- Performance of different lubricants may vary depending on bearing size
- For special applications (vacuum, chemical environments, etc.) please contact myonic technical support
Lubrication Method Comparison
| Lubrication Method | Advantages | Disadvantages | Suitable Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Lubrication |
- Low friction - Excellent heat dissipation - Good high-speed performance |
- Requires sealing - May need circulation system | High speed, low friction requirements |
| Grease Lubrication |
- Simple sealing - Long-term lubrication - Reduced maintenance |
- Speed limitations - Less effective heat dissipation | General applications, maintenance-free requirements |
Need a special lubrication solution? The myonic R&D department can provide customized lubricant testing and selection services. We have tested hundreds of lubricants and can find the optimal solution for your specific application.