Does thermography provide an early warning of bearing wear?

Thermography is a non-invasive technique that involves using infrared cameras to detect temperature variations on the surface of machines, including bearings. It can indicate irregularities arising from friction, misalignment, or imbalance, which are often precursors to more significant wear and failure.

The correct understanding is that thermography plays a crucial role in predictive maintenance by providing real-time data on temperature changes that can signal developing issues within a bearing. While it does not explicitly give a timeline indicating when a failure will occur, it can certainly help identify overheating and abnormal patterns indicative of wear before it results in catastrophic failure.

The assertion that thermography does not provide early warnings fails to acknowledge its capability in offering insights that, if monitored correctly, can allow maintenance teams to take preventive action before a bearing completely fails. Hence, understanding thermography's role in monitoring bearing conditions is essential for effective equipment maintenance.