Step motor life is usually determined by the life of the bearings. Bearings are often specified to give an “L10” life (outside the USA, it may be referred to as “B10” life.) This is the life at which ten percent of the bearings in that application can be expected to have failed due to classical fatigue failure (and not any other mode of failure like lubrication starvation, wrong mounting etc.), or, alternatively, the life at which ninety percent will still be operating. The L10 life of the bearing is theoretical life and may not represent service life of the bearing. Bearings are also rated using C0 (static loading) value. This is the basic load rating as a reference, and not an actual load value. Rolling element bearing life is determined by load, temperature, maintenance, lubrication, material defects, contamination, handling, installation and other factors. These factors can all have a significant effect on bearing life.
These bearing life curves represent the maximum axial and
radial loads for 20,000 hours L10 bearing life at various speeds. The shaft radial load limit (and bearing load ratings) are highly dependent on the distance from the mounting face where the load is applied. These curves were calculated with the radial load applied at the distance from the mounting face shown on the curve (usually the center of the flat / keyway).
A common cause for shaft (and bearing) failure, are high radial loads that are created when a pulley is attached to the motor shaft at a large distance from the motor mounting face, and the belt has high tension. To avoid this condition mount pulleys and gears as close to the face of the motor as possible, and avoid over tightening belts. This will dramatically reduce the shaft stress, and increases the life of the bearings.
