PENERAPAN METODE AQUEOUS PADA PROSES PENCUCIAN BEARING DALAM KEGIATAN PEMELIHARAAN MESIN DI PT TIMAH TBK UNIT SUNGAILIAT

Abstract

Bearing is a shaft-supporting component that withstands radial and axial loads, making its cleanliness crucial for machine reliability. At PT Timah Tbk Unit Sungailiat, bearing cleaning is still carried out manually using diesel fuel, a method that is time-consuming, dependent on operator skills, and poses risks to health and safety. This final project applies a bearing washing machine with an agitation system based on aqueous cleaning, which uses water-based solutions combined with industrial detergents, as a safer and more efficient alternative. The construction includes the frame, power transmission system, main shaft and taper, bearing housing and seal, as well as a locking plate, which are then assembled and tested through no-load functional tests, load functional tests, and cleaning effectiveness tests on ball bearings and cone bearings. Additional evaluation was conducted through questionnaires with 13 respondents regarding design, ease of operation, cleaning effectiveness, work efficiency, and safety. The results show that the machine operated properly in both no-load and load tests. The average cleanliness level of bearings reached more than 90% within 10–15 minutes of washing. User evaluation scores were: ease of operation 4.6; design and ergonomics 4.3; cleaning effectiveness 4.4; work efficiency 4.3; and safety 4.0. Therefore, aqueous cleaning is feasible to be applied as an alternative to conventional cleaning methods, as it is more effective, safer for operators, and environmentally friendly, although improvements in safety and equipment stability are still required.