Case Study: Custom Testing for Window Shades
Background
A global manufacturer of light control technologies such as dimmers, switches, shades, and sensors, came to Nye with a new brake design within their window shade systems. The company already used Rheolube® 368AXF in another product and wanted to verify that it was the best lubricant for their new design. For many of our customers, in-house testing is not feasible given the time, cost, and equipment required. This customer needed Nye to test Rheolube® 368AXF against other PTFE greases to see which performed best in their new shade.
Challenge
- Determine which grease has the lowest oil separation under specified conditions
- Determine which grease can operate for 400,000 brake cycles with less than a 25% change in torque.
Solution
New Application & Validation Test Apparatus
- Nye built a custom fabricated test stand which held the brake unit in place, while a servo motor with torque feedback capabilities cycled the internal greased components and monitored operating torque in real-time.
- Nye then compared the torque results of Rheolube® 368AXF against the torque results of other PTFE greases.
| Product | Chemistry | Temp Range (°C) | Oil Separation (24 hrs @ 100°C) | Evaporation (24 hrs @ 100°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHEOLUBE 368AXF | PAO / Lithium Soap | -20 to 125 | 4.6% | 0.3% |
Results
After the testing data was analyzed, plotted, and supplied to the customer, they concluded that Rheolube® 368AXF was the best solution for their application and implemented it into their design. Rheolube® 368AXF is a rust inhibited, PTFE fortified grease that exhibits excellent friction reduction and load carrying capabilities while meeting the customer’s low oil seperation requirements.
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