Overview
The Grease Calculation Tool is a tab inside the Component Task modal that uses SKF-style engineering formulas to calculate recommended relubrication quantity and frequency for bearing applications. Enter the bearing's physical dimensions, shaft speed, and environmental conditions — Redlist calculates the optimal grease quantity (oz per point) and relubrication interval (days or hours), which can be applied directly to the task with one click.
The tool is available in both the Component Task modal and the Program Component Task modal.
Accessing the Grease Calculation Tool
The Grease Calc tab is accessed from within the Component Task modal.
From the navigation, click Asset Management, then click Assets.
Click an asset to open its profile.
Click the Components tab.
Click a component task to open the Component Task modal.
Click the Grease Calc tab.
You can also click the calculator icon (🖩) that appears next to the Frequency field on the Details or Parts tab — this jumps directly to the Grease Calc tab without navigating through the tab bar.
NOTE: The Grease Calc tab only appears for bearing type component tasks.
How to Calculate Recommended Grease Values
Open the Grease Calc tab (see Accessing above).
Select a Unit of Measurement — Imperial (inches) or Metric (mm).
Optionally select a Sizing Source — Bearing Size or Housing Size.
Select a Bearing Type — Ball, Cylindrical/Needle, Tapered/Spherical, or Journal Bearing.
Enter the bearing dimensions:
Width — bearing width in the selected unit
Outer Diameter — bearing outer diameter in the selected unit
Shaft Diameter — shaft diameter in the selected unit
Shaft RPM — shaft rotational speed
Set the environmental condition factors (see Understanding Environmental Factors below).
Review the calculated results in the Calculated Quantity/Frequency card.
Results display "—" until all five required fields are filled in: Width, Outer Diameter, Shaft Diameter, Shaft RPM, and Bearing Type.
Understanding Environmental Factors
Select the option that best describes your operating environment for each factor. All factors default to the least severe option.
Factor | Options |
Temperature (Housing) | < 150°F · 150–175°F · 175–200°F · > 200°F |
Contamination | Light non-abrasive dust · Heavy non-abrasive · Light abrasive · Heavy abrasive |
Moisture | < 80% humidity · 80–90% · Occasional condensation · Occasional water on housing |
Vibration | < 0.2 ips · 0.2–0.4 ips · > 0.4 ips |
Position | Horizontal bore centerline · 45° bore centerline · Vertical centerline |
How to Apply Recommended Values to the Task
Once the results card shows calculated values:
Review the recommended quantity and frequency — the card also shows the task's current values for comparison.
Toggle the frequency display between Days and Hrs as needed.
Click Update to recommended Qty/Frequency.
If the calculated frequency matches an existing frequency in your system, it is applied immediately and a success message appears.
If no matching frequency exists, the Frequency Suggestion Modal opens (see below).
When values are applied, Redlist also attempts to automatically link or create a matching grease product in inventory based on the bearing type and operating conditions.
NOTE: If the task has more than one product attached, the recommended frequency is applied but the quantity must be set manually on the correct part in the Parts tab.
How to Handle the Frequency Suggestion Modal
If the calculated frequency does not match any existing frequency in your system, the No Exact Frequency Match modal opens:
The calculated number of days is pre-filled in the field.
Nearby frequencies appear as pills — each pill shows how many days it differs from the calculated value (e.g., "+2 days").
To use an existing frequency: click a pill to select it, then click Save.
To create a new frequency: clear the field and type the desired number of days, then click Create.
To leave the task unchanged: close or cancel the modal — no changes are applied.
NOTE: A disclaimer is visible below the pills — grease quantity is calculated based on the original frequency. Changing to a different frequency may require adjusting the quantity accordingly.
Use Cases
Setting relubrication intervals from a manufacturer datasheet — A reliability engineer adds a new task to a pump bearing. They enter the exact OD, width, shaft diameter, and RPM from the bearing datasheet, set Contamination to "Heavy abrasive dust" and Vibration to "> 0.4 ips" to reflect the operating environment, and apply the calculated interval — replacing a generic rule-of-thumb with an engineering-backed value.
Standardizing PM intervals across a fleet — A maintenance planner reviews bearing tasks across twenty identical motors. They open the Grease Calc tab on each task and verify that intervals are consistent with the actual bearing dimensions and conditions, correcting any tasks that were set manually without calculation.
Updating intervals after an environmental change — A pump bearing moves from an indoor clean environment to an outdoor dusty installation. The technician opens the task, updates the Contamination and Moisture factors, and applies the new recommended interval to reflect the harsher conditions.
Best Practices
Use the bearing manufacturer's datasheet: For the most accurate results, enter bearing dimensions from the OEM datasheet rather than estimating from memory or visual inspection.
Set environmental factors for worst-case conditions: If conditions vary seasonally or between shifts, use the more demanding setting to avoid under-lubricating.
Prefer existing frequencies over creating new ones: When the Frequency Suggestion Modal opens, check whether a nearby frequency is close enough before creating a new one. Fewer distinct frequencies simplifies route scheduling.
Troubleshooting
Issue: The Grease Calc tab is not visible in the Component Task modal.
Solution: The Grease Calc tab only appears for bearing type component tasks. If the tab is missing, verify that the component's task type is configured as a bearing application.
Issue: Results show "—" after entering values.
Solution: All five required fields must be filled before a result appears: Width, Outer Diameter, Shaft Diameter, Shaft RPM, and Bearing Type. Confirm all five have values.
Issue: A warning about multiple parts appears after clicking Update to recommended Qty/Frequency.
Solution: The task has more than one product attached. The calculated frequency is applied automatically, but the quantity must be updated manually on the correct part in the Parts tab.
Issue: A toast message says the grease product could not be created.
Solution: Redlist could not automatically create an inventory part for the matched grease product. Navigate to the Parts tab and add the product manually.
Summary
The Grease Calculation Tool takes bearing dimensions and environmental conditions and produces engineering-based recommendations for relubrication quantity and frequency. Applying the results updates the component task directly, keeping PM intervals accurate and consistent with the actual operating environment. Inputs are saved with the task and restored each time the Grease Calc tab is opened.