Service Spotlight:
Miniature & Micro Ball Bearing Efficiency
Bearing speed is affected by a variety of factors including bearing geometry. Bearing rings must be ground to very tight tolerances and polished to a smooth and shiny finish. Bearing steel must be of high quality with small, evenly spaced carbides. Large carbides and inclusions reduce the quality of the steel and create “tear outs” and “comet tails” in the raceway. This not only slows the bearing, but shortens the life of the bearing. Similarly superior ball quality must be maintained for optimal performance. Pacamor Kubar Bearings (PKB) uses only the most reputable steel and ball vendors to ensure reliable, repeatable quality in all our domestically produced miniature ball bearings. The bearing retainer/cage must be produced from high quality materials and piloted in such a way, that it does not drag on any of the bearing components. Retainer drag will not only slow the bearing rotation, but will result in premature failure of the bearing assembly. Proper lubrication will enhance bearing performance and extend bearing life. Too much or too little lube or the wrong viscosity of bearing lubricant will also impair bearing performance.
Some limiting factors include component quality, lubrication density, retainer material and design. The upper level assembly into which the bearing will be placed can also limit the bearing speed. Atmospheric conditions such as contamination, ambient or fluctuating temperatures, and moisture all impact the bearings speed capabilities. It is important to discuss the bearing’s operating environment with PKB, to be sure that vacuum conditions, salt baths, and other environmental factors are considered for optimum performance.
Special coatings, various ball and retainer materials and a wide range of bearing lubricants are available to satisfy specific environmental conditions, speed, temperature, and other factors.
Bearings are an essential component in many products and assemblies. The bearing allows the shaft to turn and control speed and vibration in an assembly. Getting product to market expeditiously is crucial to any project plan. A bearing designed from standard envelope dimensions with minimal special features will help contain project costs and reduce component lead times. When choosing a bearing, refer to the standard bearing envelope dimensions offered, and work with PKB to satisfy the specific requirement.
PKB manufactures bearings for all miniature and instrument applications. PKB miniature bearings are found in medical and surgical handpieces, bone saws and drills, and fluid pumps for the medical industry. PKB produces annular bearings for miniature motors, actuators, and electrical sub assemblies for robotic applications such as pick-and-place robots and packaging equipment. PKB instrument bearings are used in guidance and missile applications as well as specialty products produced for rocket booster components.
Customer Testimonial:
“We used to advise after 3 months to a year that we recommend changing the bearings; several years ago we stopped changing the bearing…We have not changed a bearing for years and have had no failures due to bearing wear…the bearings are exactly the same which is amazing!!”
PKB = Quality + On-time + Competitive + USA Made
- Made in Troy, NY USA
- AMERICAN owned and operated Small Business
- VETERAN owned and operated
- DFARS-compliant
- ISO 9001:2015 certified
- AS9100D certified factory
- FAA TSO-C149 Aircraft Bearings
- ISO 14644-1 Class 6 Clean Room
- ISO 14644-1 Class 5 Clean Benches
- U.S. / Canada JCP Certified
- In-house DMIR for expedited aerospace projects
- Lowest prices of ANY domestic ball bearing manufacturer. Let us show you!
Let our engineers help you, with recommendations, or assistance with your bearing design! sales@pacamor.com
What bearing attributes are closely linked to speed, and how?
Speed is affected by many factors, including bearing geometry. Bearing rings must be ground to tight tolerances and polished to a smooth and shiny finish. Bearing steel must be of high quality with small, evenly spaced carbides. Large carbides and inclusions reduce the quality of the steel and create “tear outs” and “comet tails” in the raceway; this slows the bearing and shortens its operating life. Finally, retainers must be piloted so they do not drag on any of the bearing components. Retainer drag slows the bearing and results in premature assembly failure.
What are some of the limiting factors associated with speed, and how do you overcome them?
The upper-level assembly into which bearings are placed can limit speed. Contamination, ambient or fluctuating temperatures, and moisture as well as vacuum conditions, salt baths, and other environmental factors should be considered for optimum performance. Special coatings, various ball and retainer materials, and a variety of bearing lubricants satisfy specific environmental conditions, speed, temperature, and other factors.