If the temperature of a deep groove ball bearing suddenly rises, does it mean that the deep groove ball bearing is about to fail?

If there is a sudden increase in temperature during the operation of deep groove ball bearings, it is usually an abnormal signal that may indicate that the bearing is about to fail, but it may also be an early manifestation of other potential problems. The temperature of deep groove ball bearings during normal operation should be relatively stable, and even if there are temperature changes, they should be gradual and predictable; Once there is a rapid increase in temperature, it needs to be given sufficient attention.

There may be various reasons that can cause a sudden temperature rise, among which the most common is lubrication problems, such as insufficient lubricant, deteriorated lubricant, or improper lubrication, which can lead to increased friction and rapid temperature rise of the bearing. In addition, if dust, moisture, or other pollutants enter the interior of the bearing, it will also cause abnormal friction on the rolling contact surface, thereby generating a large amount of heat. Installation issues are also an important factor that cannot be ignored, such as misalignment of bearings, tight fit between bearings and shafts or seat holes, and excessive preload on the shaft, which can all lead to increased resistance during operation and cause temperature rise.
Another situation is that the bearing has already begun to experience internal damage, such as peeling of the raceway, ball breakage, or deformation of the cage. Once these damages occur, the friction and vibration inside the bearing will significantly increase, causing the temperature to rise rapidly. In many cases, the typical manifestation before bearing failure is an abnormal increase in temperature, accompanied by increased noise and vibration.

A sudden increase in temperature cannot be simply equated with 'immediate failure', but it is indeed a very clear warning signal. If measures are not taken in a timely manner for inspection and maintenance, the bearings are likely to experience serious failures in a short period of time, and even cause the entire mechanical system to shut down or be damaged. In this situation, it is recommended to immediately stop the equipment operation, check the lubrication condition, bearing assembly status, and whether there is internal damage, and decide whether to replace the bearings or perform other maintenance operations based on the inspection results.