nhbb :: hitech engineering

testing

Engineering Test Laboratory

NHBB maintains a fully equipped engineering test laboratory to test and confirm the performance characteristics of bearing designs.

Thermal testing of materials and lubricants is done using both refrigeration and high temperature input to the test bearings.

Since significant rotational speed is a critical element in many of our customers’ applications, NHBB uses high speed test spindles to evaluate bearing attributes (such as design, material, lubrication, etc.) and their effect on performance and life.

Bearing fatigue and load carrying capability is evaluated on an ongoing basis on endurance test rigs. Both continuous rotation and oscillation tests are performed under pre-established load conditions.

Testing of bearings in customer provided equipment provides the most realistic test conditions. NHBB engineers coordinate these tests with our customers to insure testing conditions are at least as demanding as the true application environment.

Materials Laboratory

Our Materials Laboratory has been specifically designed and equipped to perform complex chemical, metallurgical, and visual analyses of the many component parts in ball and roller bearings. In addition to performing analyses on internal projects, this laboratory is available to perform wear and failure studies on customers’ bearings.

Modern chemical analysis of organic compounds is carried out on a dual-beam infrared spectrophotometer. Likewise, alloy composition is determined with X-ray defraction spectrography and nondestructive test methods.

Metallurgical studies can be made with a metallograph and microhardness testers. The metallograph will perform microstructure photography at magnifications from 25 to 2000 times, while microhardness testers investigate surface effects and alloy homogeneity using diamond identification methods.

During laboratory wear and failure analysis, bearings are disassembled and examined. All findings can be recorded permanently with a photo-microscope for analysis and future reference.