Lubrication Technologist Training begins with a detailed exploration of lubrication theory, lubricant development and performance measurement.

Each segment throughout the course will have a pre-test and a post-test to validate the content.

Week 1
(Class time = 35 hours)

• Review of Scope for Entire Training Program
• Review of ICML Test Body of Knowledge – MLT I
• The Role of Lubrication in Machine Reliability
• Lubricant Fundamentals Content
• Lubricant Construction
  • Base Oils
  • Additives
  • Thickeners
• Lubricant Performance Properties
  • Viscosity
  • Viscosity Index
  • Oxidation
  • Thermal Degradation
  • Combustion Engine – Soot and Dispersancy
  • Corrosion Control
  • Air Control
  • Moisture Control
  • Friction and Wear Control
  • Other properties
• Lubricant Performance Measurement
• Performance of Greases
  • Consistency and Slumpability
  • Mobility
  • Water washout
  • Thermal Stability
  • Separation Stability
• Food grade and Ecologically Acceptable Lubricants
• Review and Contrast of Various Product Performance Measurements
  
• Vendor Presentation: Visit a Lubricant Manufacturing Site.
• Exercise: Viscosity Measurement Methods
• Exercise: Viscosity Blending Methods
• Exercise: Projecting Viscosity Grades at Various Temperatures

Week 2
(Class Time = 35 hours)

The second week of Lubrication Technologist training addresses issues pertaining to oil and grease application, product handling and contamination control

Grease Application

• Dispensing Tools
  • Dispensing Metrics – Frequency and Volume
  • Exercise – Various methods for calculating viscosity requirements and contrast of the results
  • Bearing Characteristics which influence lubrication
  • Application Discussion – Motors
  • Feedback tools
  • Temperature
  • Ultrasonic feedback
• Automation
  • Single point lubricators
  • Single Line Parallel
  • Dual Line Parallel
  • Single Line Progressive (Series) systems
• Oil Application Methods
• Viscosity Selection Exercise
• Application Methods
  • Hand application
  • Drip
  • Wick
  • Splash
  • Bath
  • Force Feed
  • Circulation
  • Once Through
  • Oil Mist
• Contamination Control
  • Solid contaminant
  • Moisture Contaminant
  • Heat Contaminant
  • Air Contaminant
  • Exercise: Disassemble various types of breather filter elements and discuss where failures could occur.
    • Desiccant
    • Mechanical
    • Bladders and Bags
• Vendor Presentation: Review of Bearing Isolators and other sealing technology
  
• Seal Product Function, Installation and Type Review
  • Lip Seals
  • Bearing Isolators
  • Mechanical Seals
  • Cylinder Boots
• Vendor Presentation: Review of element design and construction
• Filter Product Review
  • Mechanical Elements
  • Vacuum Distillation
  • Thermal Exchange
  • Centrifugal
  • Electrostatic Separation
• Leakage Stability
• Lubricant Consolidation, Handling and Vendor Selection
• Bulk and Packaged Product Storage and Handling
• In Plant Handling and Management
• Exercise: Discussion on product type, selection and utility
• Exercise: Lubricant and Vendor Consolidation and Selection
• Review – first two weeks

 Week 3
(Class time = 35 hours)

In week 3 instructors will begin to focus on matching the theoretical issues to the practical exercise of lubricant review and selection for all the major types of lubricated components.

 Lubrication PM Optimization and Design

• Exercise – Develop a Lubrication PM Chart for a type of mechanical process/operation/machine center. Use existing Excel model or paper model.

Combustion Motors Lubricants and Selection

• Exercise: Case Analysis – lubricant selection
• Exercise: Case Analysis – contamination control

Bearing Lubricant Selection

• Exercise: Case Analysis – lubricant selection
• Exercise: Case Analysis – contamination control

Gear and Coupling Lubricants and Selection

• Exercise: Case Analysis – lubricant selection
• Exercise: Case Analysis – contamination control

Compressors and Refrigeration Systems Lubricants and Selection

• Exercise: Case Analysis – lubricant selection
• Exercise: Case Analysis – contamination control

Turbines Lubricants and Selection

• Exercise: Case Analysis – lubricant selection
• Exercise: Case Analysis – contamination control

Hydraulics Lubricants and Selection

• Exercise: Case Analysis – lubricant selection
• Exercise: Case Analysis – contamination control

Wire Rope, Chain and Miscellaneous Lubricants and Selection

• Exercise: Case Analysis – Wire Ropes and Chains

Vendor Seminar:Automatic Lubrication Systems – system operation and inspection.

Lubrication Failure Problems and Symptoms

Week 4
(Class time = 23 hours, Lab time = 12 hours)

In the fourth week instructors will introduce proactive oil analysis system development and lubricant data analysis, including equipment design for repeatable sample collection, and integrate the new content into the previous lessons.

• Introduction to Oil Analysis – material review
• Oil Analysis Strategies
• Oil Sampling Best Practices
  • Lab: Equipment analysis – sampling location selection
• Properties Analysis Pre-Test
• Properties Analysis
  • Viscosity and viscosity index degradation
  • Oxidation and corrosion via AN and BN
  • Additive depletion via FTIR, Cyclic Voltammetry
  • Additive and Wear metals detection
  • Contaminant detection
  • Secondary Tests
• Simple Field Tests to Measure these properties (assemble necessary items)
  • Color Test
  • Blotter Test
  • Air Separation
  • Moisture Separation
  • Crackle Test
  • Exercise: Case Analysis – fluid properties
• Vendor Presentation Exercise: Ultra Sonic Energy Systems
  • Exercise: Visit to an Oil Analysis Laboratory - Polaris
• Accessorizing Machinery
  • Design Stage
  • Field Retrofit
    • Sample Port Selection
    • Breather Upgrade
    • Filtration Fitting Upgrade
    • Product Selection and Installation
  • Lab: Equipment analysis – accessory selection
• Reservoir Management
  • Drains
  • Fills
  • Flushes
  • Exercise: Case Example – exercise with machine tool system retrofits.
• Wear Debris Analysis
  • Understanding and Analyzing Machine Wear
  • Particle Morphology
  • Technology and Instrumentation
  • Exercise: Case Analysis – machine wear
  • Selecting Analysis Test Slate, Alarms and Limits
• Advanced Exercise: Comprehensive Case Analysis and Practice Development, including:
  • Performing a Machine Lubrication Study
  • Selecting an Analysis Slate, Alarms and Limits ( continued)
  • Oil Analysis Report and Data Interpretation
  • Mechanical Inspection Methods
  • Inspection Tools
  • Oil Analysis and Mechanical Inspection Integration

Week 5
(Class time = 32 hours, Exam Time = 4 hours)

In the fifth and final week of this intense study, the students will spend two additional days integrating the concepts and details that they have learned through several case analyses and problem solving exercises.

With the remaining three days the students will return to and review all the content from the initial week, providing one last opportunity to clarify and reinforce concepts and technical details prior to the exam.

The International Council of Machinery Lubrication will administer the Level 1 exams for both oil analysis and machine lubrication technologies on the morning of the final day. This seminar currently carries a first time concurrent exam pass rate of 88%.

Advanced Integration (Continued)

• Exercise: Case Studies – Oil Analysis and Mechanical Inspections Integration

MLT I – content final review and exam preparation (8 hours)

MLA I – content final review and exam preparation (8 hours)

ICML – Machine Lubricant Analyst Level 1 Certification Exam

ICML – Machine Lubrication Technician Level 1 Certification Exam

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