Category Archive: Uncategorized

Hydraulic System Contamination: Where Does It Come From?

Operating machinery that continually falls prey to contamination can be frustrating, and this is only made worse if you are unable to determine just how these substances keep making their way into your hydraulic system. With the help of a provider of hydraulic maintenance in Minnesota, take a look at some of the top causes of hydraulic system contamination.

Machine operation

It will be important to keep an eye on both normal and abnormal operation, as the wear that is caused by both can lead to the presence of internal contamination within your system. For example, if your machine fails due to insufficient lubrication, your system could eventually end up shut down with a mechanical or thermal malfunction.

While a machine’s operation can cause internal contaminants to form, there are several other components that could be the source of a problem as well. Each mechanism in your system has its own set of pollutants that it can produce, and you could find your system being tainted with contaminants from internal parts such as the seals, gaskets or filters.

In some instances, the lubricants that your machine uses could already be contaminated before their arrival at your facility, and you could unknowingly be introducing a harmful substance directly into your system. To avoid this, make sure that each shipment received from the manufacturer is checked to ensure that these lubricants are free of contamination before putting them to use.

Shop environment

In addition to the issues that may be occurring within your hydraulic system, the external environment in which your machine is located can also introduce the presence of contaminants into the system. Most shops are susceptible to omnipresent levels of dust, minerals and moisture in the atmosphere. On top of these common substances that exist in all shops, your shop’s production focus can also introduce other specific contaminants into the environment such as metal, wood or other chemicals. All of these outside sources can come into contact with your system at any time and can potentially cause problems for your machinery’s operation.

Regular maintenance

Making sure that all of your machinery undergoes routine maintenance can go a long way toward keeping the occurrences of contamination low. Service such as re-welding, part replacement and general repairs can ensure that your machine is working at its optimal level, which can in turn keep contamination that results from abnormal wear at bay. Routine oil flushing is also necessary so that your system can be rid of any harmful substances that may have previously been in the system, as well as any contamination that may have been created during the maintenance process.

When it comes to the regular maintenance of your hydraulic machinery, our team at M & M Hydraulic Company has you covered. We have been repairing and monitoring hydraulic equipment in machine shops since 1976, and we are prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure that your machinery stays running so that your business can continue to be efficient. If you are in need of an experienced, knowledgeable provider of hydraulic maintenance in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa or Wisconsin, give us a call today to learn about everything we can do for your business.

How Often Should You Perform Hydraulic Maintenance?

From machine shops to construction sites, hydraulic systems are at work everywhere in our world today. The ability to use compressed fluid to create energy and force makes the hydraulic system invaluable across a wide range of industries. Whether you’re a farmer or an engineer, chances are, you count on hydraulics every day to get your job done.

If a hydraulic system is at the heart of the equipment you use in your daily operations, then you already know how important it is to keep your hydraulic system in good repair and operating efficiently. Any lapse in regular service and maintenance can result in poor performance and expensive repairs that will cost your business time and money. However, it can be difficult to know how often you should perform hydraulic maintenance. The truth is, there is no one answer to this question. Hydraulic systems are made up of a lot of different parts that require servicing at different intervals. However, here are a few guidelines from your local experts in hydraulic maintenance in Minnesota that you can follow:

• Filters: Contaminated hydraulic fluid can cause corrosion and clog up your hydraulic system. Filters work to keep the fluids in your hydraulic system clean, so it is essential that the filters are checked and replaced regularly. Your hydraulic system may have a gauge to let you know when to change the filter. If not, a good place to start is by checking with the manufacturer; they typically provide recommendations as to how often the filter should be changed.
• Hoses: The hoses in your hydraulic system should be replaced about every 6 years, but you should also be checking them regularly for signs of wear and tear. You should also be checking your hoses for proper tension, diameter and pressure capacity.
• Fluids: Hydraulic fluid is the heart and blood of your hydraulic system. If you don’t keep the fluid clean and the fluid levels within range, your hydraulic system will, quite literally, die. A good rule of thumb is to check the fluids after the first 100 hours of operation and then replace them every 1,000 hours.
• Housings: The housings in your hydraulic system can become caked with dirt and dust, which can then interfere with the heat transfer in your system. If heat does not transfer properly, you will have problems with your fluid temperature control. You should regularly be checking your housings to ensure that they are clean and in good repair.

Regular hydraulic maintenance will help keep your system performing at its best and help you avoid down time and costly repairs. However, knowing what to look for and keeping up with regular maintenance can be a lot to manage. For expert help and regular hydraulic maintenance in Minnesota that you can count on, call on M & M Hydraulic Company. With over 40 years of experience with all kinds of hydraulic systems, we have the tools and expertise to help keep your hydraulic system in perfect working order.

Should Pneumatic Maintenance Be High on My List of Priorities?

Pneumatic systems can be found everywhere, especially in the industrial and manufacturing sectors, for the driving of automatic machines. These highly effective systems use compressed air to transmit and control energy. Despite their reputation for being highly reliable, durable and adaptable, pneumatic systems still can break down and require regular maintenance.

So, should pneumatic maintenance in Minnesota be high on your list of priorities? Well, that depends. Should safety, performance, efficiency and operating costs be high on your list of priorities? Because when you put your pneumatic maintenance on the back burner, you’re no longer taking these important considerations into account.

We understand that the daily maintenance concerns of any manufacturing or industrial operation can be overwhelming, and it’s important to know what needs to be a priority, but if you’re thinking your pneumatic system doesn’t need to be at the top of your maintenance checklist, think again. Below are just a few reasons why your pneumatic maintenance in Minnesota should be a top priority:

• Safety of operations: Safety should always be your primary concern. Compressed air is a volatile element in your pneumatic system, and a faulty pneumatic system can prove to be highly dangerous to your employees. Excessive internal pressure caused by a system malfunction can build up in the system, causing hoses, joints and other components to explode, resulting in injuries to your employees and damage to the equipment and the surrounding area.
• Performance and efficiency: Uneven moving speed, low accuracy and low loading are just a few of the challenges that occur when a pneumatic system is not properly maintained. Most pneumatic system failures result in general power losses that sometimes occur abruptly, but usually involve a slow loss of power. Poor performance from your pneumatic system not only means a lack of efficiency but a loss of money as well.
• Costs: Finally, the cost of keeping up with regular pneumatic maintenance in Minnesota is nothing compared to the cost of repairs or, even worse, having to replace your pneumatic system. Contaminated air can cause unnecessary wear and corrosion of your system’s components, insufficient lubrication can result in system failure and leaks can even cause the system to explode. Regular maintenance can help you avoid the costs, not to mention the liabilities, of a system failure.

In the midst of busy daily operations, it can be easy to overlook the regular maintenance of your pneumatic system, especially since problems usually occur slowly over time. But just because you can’t see an issue doesn’t mean it’s not lurking right beneath the surface. If you want to ensure the safe operation, continued performance and controllable costs of your pneumatic system, then regular maintenance should definitely be at the top of your list of priorities.

If you don’t have the time or the expertise to perform the maintenance yourself, let M & M Hydraulic Company help. We offer pneumatic system repairs and pneumatic maintenance in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin, and look forward to assisting you soon!

Assessing Hydraulic Fluid Fire Resistance

There are many different substances in the world that have the potential to cause fires. Today, we’re going to look at hydraulic fluids and how they are often the cause of industrial fires. Let’s find out about fire resistant hydraulic fluid from an expert hydraulic service in Minnesota.

What are hydraulic fluids?

Hydraulic fluid is the energy transfer channel found in all hydraulic systems, but the purpose of hydraulic fluid is more than just the simple transmission of power. Yes, it transmits hydraulic energy, which is its main purpose and function; however, it is also useful in four secondary functions: contamination removal, heat transfer, lubrication and sealing. For the purposes of today’s topic, let’s take a closer look at heat transfer.

Hydraulic machines operating normally produce excess heat, typically caused by inefficient components like motors and pumps. To prevent overheating, as well as damaging seals and internal components, the built-up heat in components must be able to relocate. The good news is that, when oil returns to the reservoir, it likely has to pass through a cooler. A cooler helps the oil to maintain an optimal temperature range so it can pump back out into the system at a more ideal temperature. On the other hand, hydraulic fluid may carry heat into a system during cold starts.

Fire prevention is crucial

Hydraulic fluids and other related fluids are used in a range of industrial work situations and applications where the prevention of fire is of the utmost importance. Tunneling and mining are industries in which this is a particular concern. As an example, there have been many reported instances that can point to mineral oil-based fluids as a major energy contributor to large fires. Between the development of fire-resistant fluids that can mix with other fluid substances and the use of fire suppression equipment, many industries in the danger zone for fires have options.

Causes of hydraulic fluid fires

A fire situation can crop up from any number of causes. For example, a fire may start from fluid coming out from a high-pressure spray device. Unfortunately, although there are spray ignition and burn tests, there is no universal test to determine all the possible hazardous scenarios.

Safety regulations are crucial

From the push for goal-setting safety regulations arose a new approach requiring fluid selection to be based on a risk-based approach. It allows the use of other methods of engineering fire safety standards—such as shielding ignition sources or automatic fire fighting systems—therefore placing new requirements on fire testing.

Safety is crucial, which is why experimental testing programs are important. Also important is the need for risk assessments to determine more causes of industrial fires to avoid problems in certain situations. Through studies of the industries most likely to fall victim to hydraulic fluid fires, experts can conduct tests that lead to better hydraulic fluid fire resistance options.

Assessing hydraulic fluid fire resistance is important for worker safety and the state of your industrial facility. When your equipment is in need of hydraulic service in Minnesota, don’t hesitate to contact M & M Hydraulic Company!

Get Back to the Basics of Lubrication to Prevent Machine Failures

All types and sizes of industrial facilities will run into lubrication-related equipment failures from time to time. What’s interesting is that this category of failures has been an issue for the last two decades across the United States. Unfortunately, this type of problem can quickly turn into expensive fixes due to needed maintenance, as well as money loss for a business due to unplanned downtime, because employees cannot do their job without certain equipment.

Many industrial facility operators have paid into advanced maintenance management systems and predictive tools in an attempt to avoid lubrication-related equipment failure, in hopes of lessening downtime. To their dismay, the problem continues. But there are engineers out there working on a solution. They are applying new technology to traditional preventative maintenance techniques in an attempt to reduce machine failure.

Now, let’s get back to the basics of lubrication so you can better prevent machine failures and hopefully avoid costly hydraulic repair in Minnesota:

• Predictive maintenance: The tools for plant maintenance are more advanced today than they have ever been, and reflect a reactive mindset to maintenance. Moreover, machine maintenance advertising has moved from maintenance management solutions to predictive maintenance and condition monitoring products. Using tools like vibration analysis and infrared thermography, you can diagnose problems early and reduce downtime. But the goal is to prevent machine failure from happening in the first place.
• Addressing failure: The fact is, lubrication related issues are costing industrial facilities about $1 trillion annually, many of which are brought about by a lack of system checks on automated lubrication delivery systems and not having a professional lubrication program in place. A lot of good can come from addressing machine failure at the source, which is often found to be poor or inadequate lubrication. Identify the cause to avoid industrial equipment wear and future machine failures.
• Discovering the problem: A big problem is inadequate lubrication. This causes negative effects, like repeated equipment failures, unplanned downtime, production loss and environmental impact.
• Lubrication is complex: Proper lubrication is essential to an industrial plant’s efficiency. Although some organizations treat lubrication like all other maintenance tasks, unfortunately, some others don’t because they are not aware of the problem. There are factors that determine lubrication requirements, which involve five data elements: components, lubricants, task types, procedures and frequencies.
• Basic preventative measures: Many facilities are moving toward a traditional back-to-basics mentality, while embracing new technology. Between diagnostic systems, trained lube techs and regular maintenance, lubrication-related failures will decrease.
• Starting a best-practice lube program: The demand for better preventative measures is on the rise, and facility management agrees that proper lubrication is highly proactive and preventive. By establishing a best-practice lube program that includes lubrication training for staff, using the right tools and improving lubrication logistics and control, you can reduce machine failures.

Regular maintenance of your industrial machines is one of the best steps you can take to ensure you don’t lose customers or money. And when something goes wrong, let the professionals help. Contact the team at M & M Hydraulic Company for reliable and guaranteed hydraulic repair in Minnesota!

Contaminants That Cause the Need for Hydraulic Repair in Minnesota

Oil analysis is essential for finding contaminants and avoiding them. Failing to perform these tests leads to expensive hydraulic repair in Minnesota, and we have the experience to attest to that. Fortunately, it is possible to find and neutralize contaminants before they damage your equipment. Here are four common contaminants and how oil analysis helps to detect them:

• Abrasives: If anything causes a problem for your equipment, it is abrasives. They include dust, dirt or product contamination, and since they are present in all environments, they can be difficult to control. Most machines have certain tolerance levels for abrasives, and if you stay within them, your lubricant quality remains high. You still need to be careful; even the softest particles cause equipment and cutting wear, and thrust bearings can fail when exposed to enough abrasives. Oil testing indicates whether abrasive levels are beyond tolerance, and sometimes further testing is required to determine the type of abrasive. Sometimes, the only way to remove them is filtration of the lubricant, and if that is not possible, it must be changed out completely.
• Water: Dissolved water is the most benign, and unless the humidity level in your shop is extremely low, it generally does not indicate a problem. It is normal for oil to absorb humidity, but if that is happening due to machine conditions rather than the environment, more analysis is necessary. Emulsified water is the most damaging, and it clouds the lubricant, making it less free-flowing. Free water is also dangerous, although not quite to the levels of emulsified water. Water causes rust and equipment wear, and it is normally detected by appearance of the oil alone. Solutions include correcting the source of the water and changing out the lubricant.
• Incorrect lubricant: This is a common problem, even with experienced shops. Many breakdowns are linked to using the wrong lubricant. Tests determine whether the oil has the required viscosity for its function. Sludge formation shows the viscosity is inadequate, and eventually that will jam components and lead to expensive repairs. Filters will plug up, too. Once tested, lubricant is often replaced with the correct type so the machines function properly.
• Wrong additives: If your lubricant requires an additive and you consistently skip it, do not be surprised when problems arise. Some components require anti-wear and extreme-pressure additives to extend the life of the oil and increase reliability. If equipment faces excess workload without these additives, wear and tear increases, and it will not be long before you need to call us in for repairs. Testing reveals whether you need additives, and will even determine the correct ones to use. Once you start using additives, the lubricant falls within required tolerances and you will enjoy better functioning equipment. If you went without additives for a long while, it may be necessary to replace the lubricant and then introduce additives.

M & M Hydraulic Company is your reliable service for hydraulic repair in Minnesota and the upper Midwest. Call us today for oil analysis, maintenance or repair.