Benefits of Choosing Thin Section Bearings

Choosing the best thin section bearing is important if you want to get the most out of your machine. There are several factors to consider, including the radial play, cost, and applications.

Cost of a metric thin section bearing

Among the many benefits of thin section bearings are their design flexibility, reduced weight, reduced friction, improved accuracy, and reduced overall system costs. Their use is widespread in many critical applications, including aerospace, medical equipment, robotics, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Thin section bearings can also be manufactured in stainless steel, providing corrosion resistance. These types of bearings are also available in sealed, shielded, and open configurations. They are commonly used in optical encoder applications.

In addition to providing a wide range of sizes, thin section ball bearings are available in a variety of popular greases. Fiber glass reinforced PTFE seals are also available for applications that need low torque performance.

Precision thin section bearings are designed to provide reduced friction, increased accuracy, reduced maintenance, increased design flexibility, and improved speed. They also can help to improve machinery efficiency and reliability.

These bearings can be manufactured in various specialty steels, offering high temperature capability, corrosion resistance, and alternative load capacity. Their ABEC-1 through ABEC-9 precision levels are available on most models.

Applications for thin section bearings

Compared to standard rotating bearings, thin section bearings are smaller and lighter. They also have less cross section. This makes them perfect for applications with limited space. They are also accurate, which is an added benefit.

They offer a frictionless solution for articulating parts. They also deliver inherent resistance to moment loads. This makes them ideal for robots, medical scanners, and measuring equipment. Optical and targeting systems, data storage, robotics, and packaging equipment also utilize thin section bearings.

They are available in different designs and materials. The most common type is the C-Type. This bearing has a single row of balls and a Conrad-type assembly. This design can withstand moderate axial and reversing loads. It is also used for radial loading.

They are made from 440C martensitic stainless steel or 52100 vacuum-gassed chrome steel. In addition to these materials, they can be manufactured with a variety of lubricants. Dry film lubricants such as graphite, PTFE, lead, and tungsten disulphide can be used to ensure long service life.

Cleaning a metric thin section bearing

Unlike standard ball bearings, thin section bearings are made with smaller balls in a larger area. This results in reduced friction and improved efficiency of operation. They are also lighter. They are ideal for applications where space is limited. They are used in a variety of high tech applications including airborne optical equipment, medical equipment, machine tools, robotics, and aerospace.

Thin section bearings are also known for their durability. They offer high radial load resistance and can withstand moderate axial and reversing loads. The standard material used is 52100 chrome steel. They can be manufactured with special seals or shields for applications where this is necessary.

The most popular type of thin section bearing is the C-type bearing. This type is very popular due to its high performance and durability. It is available in a variety of ABEC precision classes. It also has a high static axial load capacity of 770 kg.

Thin section bearings can be manufactured with special seals, such as vacuum-compatible lubricants. These seals are also available with different bearing sizes.

Choosing the correct radial play

Choosing the correct radial play for thin section bearings is a critical design consideration. The right fit can reduce the risk of ball slippage, lubricant failure, and faster bearing wear.

The most common radial play for ball bearings is medium. However, special radial play may be required for different coefficients of thermal expansion or to accommodate differential thermal expansions.

Radial play affects the load distribution, contact angle, and fatigue life of a bearing. Radial play can be measured on an assembled bearing and can be verified on specially designed gages. Radial play is also affected by the housing and bearing O.D. and by the shaft-to-bearing fit. Radial play can also be controlled by axial preload. Axial preload can be accomplished with shims, take up nuts, and springs.

The radial play for thin section bearings must be determined before mounting. It is important to mount a thin section bearing in a clean, dry, and lubricated location. Specified bearing styles must also be used. In addition to the radial play, proper shaft and housing fits are also critical to the operation of thin section ball bearings.