title = "Equipment Lubrication: Types, Intervals, and Records"

content = """
Proper lubrication is one of the most important and most frequently neglected maintenance activities. Approximately 70 % of mechanical bearing failures are related to lubrication problems: wrong lubricant, wrong quantity, contaminated lubricant, or missed lubrication. At Ridgecrest Metalworks, lubrication is managed through a formal lubrication program with defined points, lubricant specifications, quantities, and intervals.

Lubricant types used at Ridgecrest:

Hydraulic oils: ISO VG 46 or ISO VG 68 anti-wear hydraulic oil for most hydraulic systems. Hydraulic oil must remain clean (ISO 4406 cleanliness class typically ISO 16/14/11 or better for servo systems) and within specified viscosity and acid number limits. Used hydraulic oil is tested every six months; oil is changed based on condition rather than a fixed calendar interval.

Gear oils: ISO VG 150, 220, or 320 EP (extreme pressure) gear oil for gearboxes. Gear oil in worm drives may be ISO VG 460 or higher. First oil change after initial gearbox break-in (typically 200–500 hours) removes wear-in metal particles. Subsequent changes are per oil analysis or fixed interval (typically 2000 hours or annually, whichever comes first).

Spindle oils: Light ISO VG 10–32 spindle oil for machine tool spindle bearings. Never use general-purpose grease or EP oil in spindle bearings; additives can damage the precision surfaces.

Greases: Greases are defined by base oil viscosity, thickener type (lithium, calcium, polyurea), and NLGI consistency grade. Mixing incompatible grease types causes thickener separation and loss of lubrication. The Ridgecrest lubrication chart specifies the exact grease type for each point; no substitution without maintenance engineer approval.

Way lubricants: Slideway oil (ISO VG 68 or 220 way oil with stick-slip additives) for machine tool slideways and linear guides. Way oil must not be substituted with hydraulic oil; the different friction properties cause chatter and poor surface finish.

Lubrication records: Each lubrication point is identified on a machine lubrication diagram (schematic showing all lubrication points, lubricant type, quantity, and interval). Operators or technicians record completed lubrication on the PM checklist. The CMMS tracks lubrication history by point. Over-greasing rolling bearings (too much grease) is a common and damaging error; quantity is specified by the manufacturer (typically one-third to one-half fill of bearing cavity).
"""

version = "0.0.1"
