Mark Gelardini, senior engineer SKF, application engineering manager, industrial sales CEE, Switzerland, received his MSc from Bern University in Applied Sciences. Gelardini is a sponsor/member of SKF SuPB product innovation and development programs. Scientific interests include bearings in spindle applications, high-speed bearings, and lubrication.
Modern spindle applications of rolling bearings require very high speeds and very high loads, often combined with poor lubrication conditions and/or high solid contamination. Examples of these applications are high-speed and high-cutting rate machine tools, where rolling bearings need to survive very though conditions. Rolling bearings in high speed and high load conditions might suffer from poor lubrication and potentially surface distress and adhesive wear.