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What is the definition of lubricant?

A substance used to reduce friction between two surfaces in relative motion. Oil and grease are common industrial lubricants.

Learn more about lubricant in the class "Lubricant Fundamentals 130" below.

Lubricant Fundamentals 130

Mechanical Systems Department

Class Information

Tooling U classes are offered at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
The typical class consists of 12 to 25 lessons and typically requires at least two hours of instruction time.

Class Name	Lubricant Fundamentals 130
Description	This class describes different types of industrial lubricants and explains the importance of proper lubrication procedure.
Prerequisites	none
Difficulty	Beginner
Number of Lessons	18

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Class Outline

Class Objectives

Objectives

What Is a Lubricant?

Friction and Wear

How Lubricants Work

Lubricant Functions

Types of Lubrication

Lubricating with Oil

Lubricating with Grease

Solid Lubricants

Lubricant Selection and Viscosity

Effects of Viscosity

Lubricant Delivery Methods

Applying Lubricants to Machinery

Lubrication Frequency

Effects of Overlubrication

Maintaining and Storing Lubricants

Lubricant Safety

Summary

Define lubricant.

Describe the relationship between friction and wear.

Explain how a lubricant reduces friction.

List the functions of a lubricant.

Identify the main types of lubrication.

Describe the characteristics of oil used in industry.

Describe the characteristics of grease used in industry.

Describe the characteristics of solid lubricants.

Define viscosity.

Explain the role of viscosity in lubricant selection.

Identify common lubricant delivery methods.

Describe proper lubricant application procedure.

Identify signs that a machine should be lubricated.

Describe the potential effects of overlubrication.

Describe proper procedure for maintaining and storing lubricants.

Describe proper lubricant safety procedure.

Class Vocabulary

Term	Definition
additive	A substance added to another substance to change or improve its performance. Certain lubricants include additives.
asperity	A microscopic peak on a surface. Even surfaces that appear smooth contain many asperities.
base stock oil	Refined mineral oil that contains no additives. Additives can be added to the oil to create specific properties.
bearing	A friction-reducing device that allows one moving part to glide past another moving part. A common example includes ball bearings.
centralized lubrication system	An automated lubricant delivery method that lubricates multiple machine parts at once.
churning	Undesirable friction that occurs between fluids. Overlubrication may lead to churning.
contamination	The presence of foreign materials such as dirt or shop debris in a lubricant. Contaminated lubricant can damage machinery.
corrosion	The gradual chemical attack on a material by atmosphere, moisture, or other agents.
downtime	Unproductive blocks of time during which machine operations cease, often due to mechanical problems.
drip feed	A type of lubricant delivery system that includes a small reservoir of lubricant connected to pipes that distribute the lubricant to machine parts.
elastohydrodynamic lubrication	A type of lubrication that occurs under extreme pressure and causes the surface under pressure to expand.
filtered	Used lubricant, such as oil, that has been processed to remove dirt and contaminants.
flammable	Easily ignited and capable of starting a fire.
friction	The resistance to relative motion between surfaces. Friction is caused by contact between surface asperities.
full-film lubrication	A type of lubrication in which a lubricant film completely separates two surfaces in contact.
grade	A classification that describes the thickness of industrial lubricating grease.
grade 2	The most commonly used grade of industrial lubricating grease.
graphite	A soft, black, carbon-based material that can be used as a solid lubricant.
gravity lubrication system	A type of lubricant delivery system that uses individual lubricant reservoirs from which lubricant is distributed to machine parts. This system is often used with drip feeds or wick feeds.
grease	A commonly used semi-solid industrial lubricant composed of oil and a chemical soap or other additive.
hand-operated gun	A device used to apply lubricant manually to machines.
load	The weight or burden that is supported by a material. The properties of lubricants can change under heavy loads.
lubricant	A substance used to reduce friction between two surfaces in relative motion. Oil and grease are common industrial lubricants.
lubrication delivery system	One of the various available methods of applying lubricant to machinery.
lubricity	A general term used to describe a lubricant's effectiveness. An effective lubricant has a high lubricity.
Material Safety Data Sheet	Mandatory information that must accompany almost every chemical in the workplace, including lubricants. An MSDS includes details such as the risks, precautions, and first aid procedures associated with the chemical.
mineral oil	A type of oil manufactured from petroleum and natural minerals. Mineral oil is often used as an industrial lubricant.
mixed-film lubrication	A type of lubrication that combines elements of full-film and thin-film lubrication. Some points of contact still occur between surfaces.
natural lubricant	A lubricant that occurs in nature and is not manufactured.
NLGI Scale	A scale created by the National Lubricating Grease Institute to measure the viscosity of industrial grease. The NLGI scale ranges from 000 to 6, with 000 being the most fluid grease and 6 the most solid.
oil	A slippery fluid commonly used as an industrial lubricant. Both natural and synthetic oils are used in industry.
oil mist system	A lubricant delivery method that pipes oil throughout the machine to desired locations and dispenses the oil with a spray nozzle. Oil mist systems cool and lubricate many machine parts at once.
overlubrication	The process of applying too much lubricant to a machine component. Overlubrication can lead to machine malfunction.
preventive maintenance	Maintenance performed while a machine is in working order to keep it from breaking down. Preventive maintenance includes lubricating, tightening, and replacing worn parts.
refined petroleum	Crude oil that has been processed and purified. Mineral and base stock oils are made from refined petroleum.
relative motion	A change in position of one object in relation to another object. Contact between two objects in relative motion causes friction.
respirator	A breathing device worn to prevent inhalation of hazardous substances.
semi-solid	A substance that has a gel-like texture and is not classified as a fluid or a solid. Industrial grease is classified as a semi-solid.
solid lubricant	A lubricating material that comes in solid form, such as graphite powder.
synthetic lubricant	A lubricant manufactured from chemicals or additives not found in nature.
Teflon	A proprietary solid lubricant used to coat surfaces and reduce friction.
thin-film lubrication	A type of lubrication in which the lubricant film becomes too thin to completely separate two surfaces in contact. This can happen due to increased machine speed or pressure.
viscosity	The measurement of a substance's resistance to flow. Viscosity is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a lubricant.
Viscosity Index	A scale used to classify the viscosity of industrial oils. The Viscosity Index (VI) measures the rate of change of a substance’s viscosity in relation to a change in temperature.
wear	The gradual removal of material on a surface caused by contact between surface asperities. Lubricants are used to reduce wear.
wick feed	A type of lubricant delivery system that includes a small reservoir of lubricant that distributes the lubricant to machine parts through a strip of absorbant material, which also filters the lubricant.

What is the definition of lubricant?

A substance used to reduce friction between two surfaces in relative motion. Oil and grease are common industrial lubricants.Learn more about lubricant in the class "Lubricant Fundamentals 130" below.

Lubricant Fundamentals 130

Mechanical Systems Department

A substance used to reduce friction between two surfaces in relative motion. Oil and grease are common industrial lubricants.

Learn more about lubricant in the class "Lubricant Fundamentals 130" below.