What Is a Turntable Bearing?

A turntable bearing is a large ball-bearing designed for applications where rotational motion is needed. They are used in many heavy machinery and industrial processes, supplying the rotary motion that larger machines need. These types of bearings can support radial and axial loads. The bearings are typically made of high purity chrome alloy steel and have excellent service life.

Turntable bearings are commonly found in welding tables, machine tools, and automation equipment. They can be used to provide rotary motion in a variety of ways, including by using a slewing ring or an outer ring. Typically, a bearing will have four components: the inner ring, the outer ring, a raceway, and a seal. All of these pieces are important for the bearing's performance, and the bearing's design depends on the forces that it needs to support.

There are several kinds of bearings available, including single-row and double-row products. Single-row products are available in a variety of sizes. For instance, a 10 mm shaft mounted in a 12 mm hole will have a 2 mm play. In addition, they are also available in flanged or rectangular cross sections. This can be a convenient option for applications where there is a need for alternate hole patterns.

Double-row turntable bearings can include two rows of axial rollers. This helps ensure a stable axial load-carrying capacity. Also, a deep race groove allows the balls to move more smoothly. An optimized geometry ensures that the combination of moment and thrust loads can be handled.

Turntable bearings are generally made from high-purity chrome alloy steel, which has a high degree of hardness and purity. Additionally, they can provide a reliable and accurate rotating structure for industrial applications. As a result of their durability and strength, turntable bearings are often used in industries that require high-performance.

In addition, they have a convenient mounting design that makes it possible to install and repair the bearing without additional machining. Most of them are designed with a labyrinth-type sealing structure, which prevents outside contaminants from entering the bearing. Typical greases that are often used include calcium, aluminum, and lithium grease.

A ball-style turntable bearing is ideal for reducing friction and wear. Its compact structure is suitable for precision working conditions. It can be easily installed and maintained, and it has a smooth rotating surface.

Slewing ring bearings are used in a wide range of applications. This type of bearing is designed to withstand axial, radial, and tilting moment loading. Although they can accommodate both axial and radial loads, they are particularly useful for low velocity applications. Their four-point contact is ideal for sustaining these types of forces. While they may seem like a large bearing, the slewing ring is actually relatively thin, allowing it to be easily mounted directly to a seat surface.

Some slewing rings are specially designed for applications that require low-speed, axial load support. These are used in a variety of applications, including worm drive rotation systems. Other applications may also use these bearings, including foundry shakeout tables.