Ball Bearings

Ball bearings are widely used in a number of industrial applications. Extremely useful, ball bearings are used to facilitate rolling elements for smooth radial or axial motion within a spinning system. This type of bearing uses balls to maintain the separation between the moving parts of the bearing. The ball bearing reduces rotational friction and support axial and radial loads. Ball bearings reduce the amount of friction between components in a system and this helps in the movement of heavier objects smoothly and with less effort. These ball bearings provide smooth movement of parts or complete pieces of equipment.

One of the least expensive type of rolling element bearing is the ball bearing. The cost of producing balls in these ball bearings are not very costly and hence ball bearings can be found in everything from the washing machines to computers.

Features of Ball Bearings

• The ball bearing system requires a thin film of lubricant for high-speed applications to reduce friction and facilitate heat dissipation, corrosion prevention, and long bearing life.
• The raceways and the balls both have a fine surface finish.
• With proper lubrication, less noise, less torque and long life, all can be achieved in ball bearings.
• Ball bearings require one time lubrication.
• Ball bearings may fail due to improper lubrication, excessive temperature or if the bearing or the raceway has been damaged.

Ball Bearings Assembly
All ball bearings are manufactured with four essential parts: the inner ring, the outer ring, the rolling elements or balls , and the separator. The in-expensive ball bearings usually do not have the separator , however this is very important and is a must in ball bearings to prevent rubbing contact between the bearing balls and side walls.




Materials used in Making Ball Bearings

• Stainless Steel
• Chrome Steel
• Ceramic

Series Available in Ball Bearings
Manufacturers and suppliers produce ball bearings in various series:

• Series 100: Extra light series
• Series 200: Light series
• Series 300: Medium series
• Series 400: Heavy series

The size of the ball increases as the series increases and the larger size of the ball, the greater the load carrying capacity. Most ball bearings are manufactured to meet every standards of roundness, since any deformation can cause the moving parts to fail.

Applications of Ball Bearings
In hundreds of everyday applications, the application of ball bearings is seen.

• Ball bearings are used in medical instruments, especially dental instrument. In dental and medical hand tools, it is required that the pieces withstand sterilization and corrosion. Because of this requirement, they are made of 440 degree C stainless steel, which allows smooth rotations at fast speeds.
• It is said that ball bearings were very important to the German war industry during World War II . The ball bearing factories were often a target of allied aerial bombings during war time.
• In aerospace industry, ball bearings are used on commercial, private and military aircraft , including gearboxes, pulleys and jet engine shafts.
• The wheels in a skateboard contain two ball bearings in each of the four wheels.
• Some manufacturers experimented with making balls in space on the space shuttle.
• Applications for ball bearings include machine tools, precision spindles, radar mounts, truck cranes and numerous others.

Bearing Types :
Needle Bearings | Cylindrical Bearings | Sleeve Bearings | Spherical Bearings | Ball Bearings | Linear Bearings | Roller Bearings | Radial Bearings | Y-Bearings, Track Bearings | Thrust Bearings