It would be impossible to believe how the modern world might have advanced without bearings. Each kind of machine that entails motion uses bearings in one way or the other for smooth and friction-free movement. Bearings, therefore, have been an integral part of the industrial age, as documented in the historical traces linking back to the stone-age. In reference to the development of bearings, a significant milestone was achieved through advanced metal forming processes when, in 1794, Philip Vaughan acquired a patent for a ball bearing made of steel. Its design is what we call the basic blueprint for today’s ball bearing.
In today’s world, a wide range of industrial and manufacturing machines heavily rely on specialized ball bearing and bearing assemblies as integral motion control components. In addition, the development of more compact, accurate, and lightweight, thin section bearings has been witnessed with the fast-increasing demand for superior automation and robotics. From semiconductor to defense to aerospace to optical lenses and camera gimbals, these high precision bearings have become crucial across multiple industries worldwide.A prominent name in the field of customized and manufactured precision bearings and aerospace bearing tools Carter Manufacturing Ltd. Based in Oxfordshire Carter is the Master Distributor of Silverthin Precision Thin Section Bearings in Europe and possesses sa capabilities in technical support, product stockholding and delivering top-quality thin section bearing solutions for over twenty years.
Why are Thin Section Bearings so important?
Thin section bearings are generally used in critical applications and environments where the weight must be minimized, tight space, and absolute precision must be guaranteed. In such types of applications, thin section bearings help cost reduction compared to standard bearing sizes and offer the benefit of using just one bearing with little effect on the overall weight. Many definitions are used across the industry to differentiate between ‘standard’ section bearings and ‘thin’ section bearings. The most commonly highlighted difference is that when the bore diameter is more than four times greater than that of the radial cross-section, such a bearing is termed a thin section bearing. Its cross-sectional size can vary; however, it is typically two times the diameter of the ball.
These types of bearings are typically available in various arrangements as one design doesn’t particularly fit all applications. These configurations are; 4-point contact, radial contact, angular contact, full complement, duplex bearing pairs and different cross-sections.
How to select the best Thin Section Bearing for your application?
The type and scale of loading required in a particular application determine the configuration of a thin section bearing. For example, in environments where axial loads are present in one direction, Silverthin recommends their specialized A-type angular contact ball bearing. This option is also a good fit for radial or combined thrust applications. Still, it is not suitable for applications that demand the support of moment loads or reversing axial loading.
How to decide over applications demanding heavier load capabilities?
As soon as substantial moment loads are identified, Carter Manufacturing suggests their Silverthin X type, or 4 point contact ball bearing option. This design utilizes ‘gothic arch’ raceways to form four contact points between the balls and the raceways. Making it the perfect solution for reversing axial loading and is ideal for moment loading. As per the recommendations stated by Carter Manufacturing, even though the X-type bearing can be used for other light loading conditions, it is not always encouraged to replace the C- or A-Type bearing for pure radial loads.
As a standard rule, Silverthin recommends cautiously monitoring the application speed (RPM) while specifying the X-type of bearing for axial or moment loads combined with radial loads. Carter’s team of experienced engineers has proven to be highly supportive in this regard. They can provide and determine from statistical data & research limiting speeds and combined load. They also add recommendations about using radial bearing with combined radial loads, axial or moment loading, and limiting speeds and separator selection.
Radial contact bearings, such as Silverthin Type-C bearings are suited to radial loading. This is because their deep ball grooves have the durability to endure higher loads. Even though this particular kind of bearing is used in applications with mainly radial loads, Carter advises that it can also effectively endure reversing axial loads, moderate axial loads, and moment loads.
What are some other applications of Thin Section Bearings?
Thin section bearings were primarily developed for applications that have crucial space limitations. Therefore, they are recognized to be a perfect fit for work holding devices such as indexing, rotary tables, and turntables. They also offer a friction-less solution for articulating parts such as robotic arms or other joints like elbows. Different types of thin section bearings are extensively utilized in diverse mechanisms, including data storage, robotics, medical imaging, packaging equipment, satellite systems, and optical & targeting systems.
Carter Manufacturing Ltd. specializes in an application design consultancy about the whole range of Silverthin Thin Section Bearings. Their highly equipped engineering team creates customized bearing designs by keeping the space, load, accuracy, and reliability in mind and manufactures them as per your application needs. Carter offers precision thin section bearings in sizes from 1” ID (Internal diameter), typically for uses that are as light as miniature gimbal mounts on satellites, up to 40” OD (Outer Diameter) for large rotary tables deployed in commercial and industrial applications.