title = "Gear and Bearing Inspection and Replacement"

content = """
Gears and rolling element bearings are precision components that transmit power and control motion in production machinery at Ridgecrest Metalworks. Their condition directly affects machine accuracy, noise, and reliability. Systematic inspection and timely replacement prevent unexpected failure.

Rolling element bearing inspection methods:

Listening and feel: Rotating a bearing by hand reveals roughness, grittiness, or intermittent tight spots that indicate contamination, surface damage, or inadequate lubrication. A smooth, quiet bearing has a consistent feel through full rotation. During operation, stethoscopes or electronic ultrasonic detectors amplify bearing noise to detect developing defects inaudible over background noise.

Vibration analysis: The most reliable method for detecting developing bearing defects in running machinery. Characteristic fault frequencies (BPFO, BPFI, BSF, FTF) appear in the vibration spectrum; their amplitude increases as the defect grows. A bearing with incipient damage shows subtle frequency content detectable by an experienced analyst weeks or months before failure occurs. As damage progresses, broadband noise and high-frequency impacting become apparent.

Temperature measurement: Bearing operating temperature significantly above ambient (> 50–70 °C above ambient for most standard bearings) indicates excessive friction from lack of lubrication, overloading, misalignment, or contamination.

Visual inspection of removed bearings: When a bearing is replaced or removed during overhaul, the failed bearing is examined:
- Flaking (spalling) of raceways or rolling elements: Fatigue failure; may be acceptable life if time in service was near calculated L10 life
- Fretting corrosion: False brinelling or fretting marks on races from vibration while stationary; indicates inadequate lubrication at standstill or vibration during transport
- Contamination damage: Denting and indentation of raceways from particles; indicates inadequate sealing or contaminated lubricant
- Corrosion: Red-brown staining; indicates water ingress or storage without corrosion protection

Gear inspection: Gearbox gears are inspected through inspection ports (sight glasses) or when gearboxes are opened during scheduled overhaul. Visual checks for pitting (fatigue) on gear flanks, scuffing (adhesive wear from momentary loss of oil film), and tooth breakage. Gear mesh noise change (increasing gear mesh frequency amplitude in vibration analysis) provides early warning of gear deterioration before opening is required.

Bearing replacement policy at Ridgecrest: Critical machine bearings (spindle bearings, main drive bearings) are replaced on a scheduled interval based on calculated L10 life and operating conditions, regardless of apparent condition. Non-critical bearings are replaced on condition (when inspection or analysis indicates deterioration).
"""

version = "0.0.1"
