Bearing Autopsy: upload a photo of a failed bearing, get the likely causes
A failed bearing is telling you why it died. Bearing Autopsy reads the photos, names the likely damage types and root causes, and tells you what to check next. Rolling bearings, in your browser, on any phone.
How it works
| Step | What you do | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Photograph | Take up to 4 clear photos: raceways, rolling elements, cage, the shaft and housing fit. | Better light and a plain background give a better reading. |
| 2. Read | Press Read the photos. All photos in the case are analysed together. | Visible clues, such as spalling, smearing, fretting, discolouration, fluting or cage wear. |
| 3. Rank | The clues are matched against the failure modes in the Rotec AI knowledge base (ISO 15243). | A ranked list of likely damage types and root causes, with confidence. |
| 4. Refine | Answer a few questions on the application, lubrication and condition monitoring. | A sharper ranking and a report you can share. |
What it can recognise
Bearing Autopsy looks for the visual signs behind the main bearing failure modes: fatigue spalling and flaking, abrasive wear, smearing and skidding, fretting and false brinelling, corrosion from moisture, electrical fluting from shaft currents and VFDs, true brinelling and indentation, cracks and fractures, overheating and cage damage. Each one links to its own guide in the bearing failure modes library.
What it cannot do
- It cannot see inside the bearing or measure anything. A photo is a clue, not proof.
- It works on rolling bearings only. For plain (journal) bearings use the Plain bearings view in Failure Analysis.
- It does not replace a qualified failure analyst, a lab report or your bearing supplier on a critical or warranty case.
Credit and pricing
One reading is one case, with up to 4 photos analysed together. Credit is used per reading, never per photo. Everyone gets 1 free reading. A Rotec AI licence includes 2 readings a day, plus the Bearing Selector, life and load calculators, cross-reference, lubrication and the other premium tools. Individual plan Rs 499 a month or Rs 4,990 a year (US$19 a month or US$190 a year outside India, contact us for a payment link). Enterprise on request.
Related tools and guides
Questions
What is Bearing Autopsy?
Bearing Autopsy is an AI tool from Rotec AI. You upload up to 4 photos of a failed rolling bearing and it lists the likely damage types and root causes, with the clues it could see and the ones it could not. It is a preliminary guide, not a final diagnosis.
Can AI identify bearing failure from a photo?
It can recognise common visual signs such as spalling, smearing, fretting, brinelling, electrical fluting, corrosion, overheating colour and cage damage, and match them to the failure modes in ISO 15243. A photo cannot show everything, so Bearing Autopsy also asks about the application, lubrication and monitoring data to sharpen the answer.
Which bearings does it work on?
Rolling bearings only: ball and roller bearings of any size. Plain (journal) bearings have their own guide in the Failure Analysis tool.
How many photos can I upload?
Up to 4 photos for one case. Photos of the inner ring, outer ring, rolling elements and cage together give a better reading than a single picture.
What counts as one reading?
One reading is one case, analysed with all of its photos together. Credit is used per reading and never per photo. A failed or empty reading is not counted.
Is Bearing Autopsy free?
Everyone gets 1 free reading. After that it needs a Rotec AI licence, which includes 2 readings per day. Individual plan: Rs 499 per month or Rs 4,990 per year (US$19 a month or US$190 a year outside India, contact us for a payment link).
Does it replace a failure analysis lab or an engineer?
No. It is a fast first look to narrow down the causes and tell you what to check next. For a critical machine, a warranty claim or a repeat failure, confirm with your bearing supplier or a qualified failure analyst.
Are my photos stored?
Photos are sent to an AI service to produce your reading. Before a reading you tick an agreement that lets Rotec AI keep your photos and the details you enter, to improve the tool and build anonymised field cases. Your name and company are never published. Please do not include people or company names in the frame.
Bearing Autopsy gives a preliminary guide from photographs. Confirm critical decisions with your bearing supplier or a qualified failure analyst.