Thin Section Bearings Offer Space and Weight Savings

When space and weight savings are important, slim section bearings offer a solution. They are particularly useful in combating unwanted axial loads.

Kaydon offers standard Reali-Slim and Ultra-Slim bearings in bore sizes from 0.75'' to 40'' or 19 mm to 1 m. They can be specified with radial or four-point contact, different cage designs and alternative materials options.

Weight Savings

The space and weight saving characteristics of thin section bearings make them ideal for applications where critical spaces, high accuracy and minimum weight are key. Examples include airborne optical and infrared scanning equipment, medical equipment and robotics.

The small cross sections of thin section bearings, in proportion to their bore sizes, contribute to significant weight savings. The smallest of these bearings weigh as little as 25% of their steel counterparts.

Kaydon’s standard assortment of Reali-Slim thin section bearings includes both open and sealed designs, along with a variety of options such as cage types, materials and lubrication choices. They can also be manufactured in one of three internal geometrical contact styles; radial, angular or four point contact.

The smallest bearings in this series, which are referred to as “slim” or “thin”, use a single piece ribbon cage and the larger sizes feature a two piece crown cage. All of these cage options, along with a wide range of ball types and retainers, ensure that engineers can choose the right thin section bearing for their application.

Space Savings

When it comes to designing equipment with space and weight restrictions, bigger is not always better. That’s why many engineers rely on slim section bearings to save space, reduce friction and increase design flexibility.

In many cases, these compact bearings perform as well or even better than their larger counterparts. The defining feature of thin section bearings is their fixed cross-section. This means that the distance between the bore and the outside diameter stays the same at all bore sizes, making them a great choice for applications with limited space.

The slender proportions of these bearings make them perfect for aerospace, robotics and medical systems. They are also ideal for high precision applications, such as gimbals and missile tracking systems. Silverthin offers both standard and custom thin bearings in a variety of configurations to meet any unique application requirement. This includes the Kaydon Reali-Slim series of inch-standard bearings, designed to save weight, fit into tight spaces, reduce friction and increase design options.

High Load Capacity

When space is at a premium and weight reduction is key, designers must find ways to reduce overall component mass. Thin section bearings are an ideal way to lower the overall weight of a design while maintaining high load capacity.

These small diameter bearings can support both radial and axial loads. However, axial loads should be limited due to shallower raceways. SSB offers both inch and metric sizes of thin section bearings including single row radial, angular, and four-point angular designs.

These bearings can be manufactured with a wide range of materials, with 52100 vacuum-gassed chrome steel and 440C martensitic stainless steel being among the most popular. They can be produced with open, shielded, or sealed closures and may also be specified with a variety of lubrication options. These include standard lubricants, special dry film lubricants, and various surface treatments. Choosing the correct lubricant for an application is critical to ensuring long service life and good performance.

Reliability

The thin section design of these bearings offers inherent resistance to unwanted moment loads. This capability is especially useful for projects with critical space and weight savings requirements. These types of systems include aerospace, radar platforms and satellite systems, camera gimbals, medical scanners, robotic arms, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

Tolerances for shaft and housing fits as well as radial play (diametral clearance) are specified in the product data sheets. Contact your RBC Sales Engineer for help determining these tolerances for your specific application.

Standard slim bearings are available in a variety of materials such as AISI 52100 chrome or 440C stainless steel, coated with platings like thin dense chrome and with a range of seals including elastomeric Buna N and Polytetra-flouroethylene (PTFE). Bearing sizes are offered in radial or angular contact designs and with a number of retainer and separator options. These choices along with internal fit-up, lubrication and corrosion resistance options provide maximum design flexibility to solve your applications challenges.