SYCLOPS—a qualitative debris classification system developed for RAF early failure detection centres

Wear debris analysis of material originating from aircraft lubrication systems is one of the main stays of the Royal Air Force equipment health-monitoring programme. Although this is an effective tool in the assessment of equipment condition, it is labour intensive and relies heavily upon the experience of the operator. For the past 10 years there has been an ongoing Ministry of Defence sponsored research programme to develop WDA procedures for application within RAF Early Failure Detection Centres. This paper summarises this work to date and describes how this has resulted in the successful development of the SYCLOPS wear debris characterisation package.