Why is the installed filtration on my machine not sufficient?
Why should I also install a bypass filtration!
A customer asked us this question and… it’s justified…
We cannot give a general answer to this question because the causes of medium contamination are diverse and vary from application to application.
Some clues:
- Contamination in the form of manufacturing residues from the components
- Contamination during assembly of the system (welding beads, metal shavings, etc.)
- System dirt (component wear, corrosion, etc.)
- Environmental dirt
There is a very good information sheet about this from the DGUV, wood and metal department:
The filtration selected and installed by the system manufacturer should correspond to the required cleanliness class of the components and cleanliness should be ensured with proper filling, filter changing and maintenance of the system.
This is also the case with many machines and systems, but the sources of error are diverse. Here are some more examples:
- Entry of dirt when filling the system
- Residual dirt and manufacturing residues from assembly and components
- Excessive environmental pollution
- Increased wear on components due to changes to the manufacturing process (increase in cycle time, etc.)
- Dirt entry during maintenance and repair of the system (possibly by external companies)
If you assume that everyone is acting to the best of their knowledge and belief, many mistakes could be avoided. In practice, however, these cannot (always) be ruled out 100%.
Our recommendation:
If there are any abnormalities such as defective components, frequent machine downtimes due to error messages or serious process changes that could have a negative impact on oil cleanliness, we recommend taking an oil sample. This can be analyzed in special laboratories and the results can be used to quickly and easily assess whether there is a need for action.
We have very good experiences with the company OELCHECK ( https://de.oelcheck.com/ ) and it is now part of our standard procedure to send oil samples from our customers and check the laboratory results in order to initiate appropriate measures.
If the results of the analysis are bad or if the purity class of the oil determined is sufficient according to If the manufacturer’s information is not sufficient, an oil change combined with a system cleaning or the installation of an additional off-line filter system can make a positive contribution to improving oil purity and extending the service life of components.
Depending on the application, a permanently installed system that continuously filters the medium or a mobile system that is only connected to the system for a certain period of time can be used.
If you have any questions about oil cleanliness, oil analysis and fine/depth filtration, we will be happy to help you.
Lars Benk, 07424/9495-663 lars.benk@schuhmacher-tech.de
Contact details:
LARS BENK
+49 7424/9495-663
Lars Benk: Profile of a field-tested expert
Basic training: Tool mechanic, specializing in stamping and forming technology.
Further training: State-certified technician with a focus on mechanical engineering.
Additional qualification: Degree in technical business administration, combining technical know-how with business expertise.
Professional experience: More than a decade of active work in the field of hydraulics.
Specialization: Certified specialist in oil analysis (MLA II – Machine Lubrication Specialist), with a specific focus on the maintenance and optimization of machines through professional lubricant analysis. Certified specialist for hydraulic fluids – specialist knowledge for optimal hydraulic systems.
