The oil sample matters more than the oil change. Metal particles in an extruder gearbox are an early warning of bearing or gear-tooth distress, and they show up in analysis months before anything is audible on the floor. A gearbox failure takes the whole line down and the lead time on a replacement is measured in weeks.
The steps ChatterFix schedules for this PM. Every step is a checkable item on the work order — a technician can speak their way through it without touching a keyboard.
The oil sample matters more than the oil change. Metal particles in an extruder gearbox are an early warning of bearing or gear-tooth distress, and they show up in analysis months before anything is audible on the floor. A gearbox failure takes the whole line down and the lead time on a replacement is measured in weeks.
Nothing, for a long time — then a bearing lets go, the gearbox is scrap, and the line is down until a rebuild or replacement arrives.
Sample quarterly even when you are not changing oil. Trend the particle count across samples: a rising trend is the signal, not any single absolute number.
This procedure — and every other PM for your industry — is already built into ChatterFix. Pick your industry and it lands on the right equipment, on the right interval, in about three minutes.