Smart lubrication for smooth resistance to friction

December 11, 2021 12:40 pm

Smooth and precise slideway operations demand special attention to the frictional properties of a lubricant.

Successive industrial revolutions have transformed the traditional shop floor into a dynamic matrix of interacting machines, equipment, and skilled workers. Today, manufacturing processes are demanding more precision and finesse, and duly, machines and instruments are being expected to assure continuity without breakdowns. Manufacturing industries, whether large or small, encounter an everyday challenge in controlling friction and heat – the inevitable results of a shop floor. To overcome this and ensure precision in output, deploying the correct lubricant can go a long way in boosting performance and augmenting returns.

Managing friction

The force of friction plays the critical role of opposing the relative motion of two surfaces in contact – consequently, causing the surfaces to scrape against each other to produce wear and tear. Lubricants play a key role in arresting this friction between two surfaces to enhance machine performance and ensure longer life. Smooth and precise slideway operations, especially, demand special attention to the frictional properties of a lubricant. Loss of frictional control can cause inaccuracies – in a metal removal process, this ultimately reduces machine tool productivity. Thus, the correct lubrication solution is key to minimizing friction, protecting machines, enhancing efficiency, and improving productivity.

Stick-slip effect

In slideways, also referred to as linear bearings, the surfaces in contact are flat and the motion is linear. Slides operate with a break and stop at the end before returning in the opposite direction. Due to stepwise operations and susceptibility of slideways to stick-slip phenomenon, lubrication plays an important role.

Stick-slip is caused by continuous alternating between static and dynamic friction. This can result in inaccurate machining operations, unacceptable output quality, and subsequent losses. To facilitate smoother operations, special additives called friction modifiers can be added to the lubricant to improve friction control. Modern slideway lubricants usually contain well-balanced friction modifying additives that enable accurate and smooth operations in the designed operating conditions.

New-age versatility Modern machine tools and slideway designs demand applied lubricants. Increasing speeds and loads coupled with greater expectations for machine accuracy require sophisticated slideway lubricants. In addition, there are a variety of friction material pairings, like metal-on-plastic, that have specific lubrication needs. The modern slideway lubricants meet these challenges with a carefully balanced combination of base oils and additives to achieve low-static friction for easy start-up, continuous transition from rest to movement, and smooth operations even under heavy loads.

It is critical to choose the right slideway lubricant for machine tools to achieve improved productivity of equipment, protect parts from damage and prevent friction stick-slip. There are several recognized friction tests to demonstrate frictional properties of slideway lubricants such as Cincinnati Lamb Friction Test, SKC Tribometer, and Darmstadt Rig Test. These enable the evaluation of static and dynamic friction characteristics of a lubricant and the effect of various slideway materials.

Innovation & excellence

Understanding the challenges of Stick-slip under varying circumstances in a machine shop, Mobil™ Lubricants has developed a premium series of slideway lubricants that specifically meet the requirements of accuracy, aqueous coolant separability, and equipment protection of precision machine tools.

The Mobil Vactra™ Oil Numbered Series has been carefully formulated from high quality base stocks and performance balanced with an advanced additive system that provides controlled frictional properties, compatibility with aqueous metalworking fluids, and corrosion protection. The unique additive package provides exceptional frictional properties on a wide variety of way materials, including steel-on-steel and steel-on-polymer. Reducing stick-slip and chatter allows smooth, uniform motion enhancing machine productivity and accuracy, prolonging tool life, and enhancing surface finish.

The series has been specifically designed to provide an extra margin of machine protection by satisfying the stringent demands of slideways. The oils exhibit excellent lubricity and load carrying performance, contributing significantly to improving the production of quality parts. For optimal productivity and profitability in today’s competitive market, choosing the right lubricant that deals with specific industrial challenges can make a remarkable difference.

For more information, visit www.mobil.in/business

(ExxonMobil Corporation has numerous affiliates, many with names that include ExxonMobil, Exxon, Esso and Mobil. For convenience and simplicity, those terms and references to “corporation”, “company”, “ExxonMobil”, “EM”, and other similar terms are used for convenience and may refer to one or more specific affiliates or affiliate groups.)