Smart tribology training kit for real-time evaluation of lubricant quality based on temperature and noise characteristics under variable loading conditions
Muhammad Nurtanto1*, Constantinus Rudy Prihantoro1, Hamid Abdillah2, and Gulzhaina K. Kassymova3

1 Department of Technological and Vocational Education, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering Vocational Education, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Banten, Indonesia
3 Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Abstract

This study develops a Smart Tribology Training Kit to evaluate lubricating oil quality based on temperature and noise changes in frictional components under real time operating conditions. Lubricant degradation often increases temperature, noise, and wear in mechanical systems. However, conventional lubricant testing commonly relies on complex and expensive laboratory analysis that cannot directly represent real friction phenomena in vocational learning environments. This limitation reduces students^ conceptual understanding of tribology, condition monitoring, and predictive maintenance. The research applied an experimental engineering approach through several stages, including needs analysis, construction design, finite element analysis (FEA) based structural simulation, fabrication, assembly, and performance testing. The experiments used load variations of 2 kg, 6 kg, and 11 kg at rotational speeds of 981 rpm and 1489 rpm under three lubrication conditions: without lubricant, SAE 10W-30 used oil, and SAE 10W-30 new oil. The analyzed parameters included structural displacement, safety factor, temperature, and noise level. The results indicate that the training kit structure achieved a maximum displacement of 0.014 mm with a safety factor of 1.208, confirming that the system is safe for load based testing. Performance testing showed that the absence of lubricant generated the highest temperature and noise levels, while new lubricant significantly reduced both parameters. At 1489 rpm with an 11 kg load, the system without lubricant reached a temperature of 35.7 degrees Celsius and a noise level of 99.9 dBA, whereas the new lubricant produced a temperature of 32.2 degrees Celsius and a noise level of 89.2 dBA. This study contributes to the development of an interactive tribology learning medium that supports vocational education in the fields of lubricant monitoring, mechanical diagnostics, and predictive maintenance.

Keywords: Smart tribology training kit, lubricant quality, frictional loading, temperature and noise monitoring, predictive maintenance.

Topic: Physics Education