The lifespan of electronic appliances is generally determined by the complexity of their components, often measured by Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF). However, cooling fans present a unique case.

Unlike most electronics, the longevity of a fan primarily depends on the durability of its mechanical parts, particularly the motor’s bearings. While various bearing types exist, ball bearings are the industry standard due to their reliability.

Ball bearings can fail through two primary mechanisms: fatigue and grease degradation. While fatigue is a concern in high-stress applications, the relatively low load on fan bearings minimizes this risk. Therefore, the lifespan of the bearing grease significantly impacts the overall fan lifespan.

电子设备的使用寿命通常由其组件的复杂性决定，通常以平均故障间隔时间（MTBF）来衡量。然而，冷却风扇的情况则有所不同。

与大多数电子设备不同，风扇的使用寿命主要取决于其机械部件的耐久性，尤其是电机轴承的耐久性。虽然存在多种轴承类型，但由于其可靠性，滚珠轴承已成为行业标准。

滚珠轴承主要通过两种机制失效：疲劳和润滑脂降解。虽然疲劳在高应力应用中是一个问题，但风扇轴承上的相对较低的负载使这一风险最小化。因此，轴承润滑脂的使用寿命对风扇的整体使用寿命产生了重大影响。