Thin Section Bearing Material

Thin section bearings are specified in applications that require a high level of accuracy and low torque. They are also popular in applications where space and weight reduction is a concern.

With a constant cross section, thin section bearings offer significant space savings and system weight reduction.

DFARS compliant, available in standard and custom configurations, inch and metric, sealed or unsealed, up to 42" in diameter. Special options include specialized coatings like thin dense chrome.

Material

Thin section bearings are available in a wide variety of sizes and styles. They come in radial contact, four point angular contact and two-row angular contact designs with several ball and retainer options. They can also be configured with seals or shields.

The thin section design of these bearings helps to keep the overall assembly weight low, which can be a significant advantage in applications with tight space and weight requirements. However, it’s important to remember that the tolerances and roundness of the shaft and housing on which the thin section bearing is mounted will have a direct impact on the internal clearance (radial play) in the bearing.

For example, a duplex pair of RBC thin section angular contact bearings were specially designed for an aircraft instrument gimbal assembly to provide combined radial and axial load capacities, low operating torque, and corrosion resistance. The result was a lighter and more compact assembly, with no loss of performance.

Balls

Manufacturer of large diameter thin section ball bearings for the aerospace, industrial and robotic industries. Products include flanged & non-flanged, sealed & unsealed in standard and custom configurations. Capabilities include remanufacturing, engineering, balancing, vibration analysis and training. Products can be used for precision robotic joints, radar and microwave equipment, solar array panels & guidance systems.

Thin-section ball bearings have the advantage of requiring less space than other types of ball bearings, and they can also be designed to carry high moment loads. They are typically made with honed or superfinished raceways to reduce internal friction and vibration, and they can be specified with different tolerances depending on the application.

Proper shaft and housing fits are critical for thin-section ball bearings. A light press fit onto the shaft can decrease the internal clearance and cause the bearing to run hotter. Shaft and housing fits that are too tight will create excessive stress on the inner ring.

Cage

The cage, also referred to as the bearing retainer or separator, is a key element in any ball bearing. It separates the balls and positions them at equal intervals around the raceway, providing optimum load capacity, running accuracy, vibration and noise control.

Different cage styles are available for thin section bearings, depending on application requirements. These include full complement, angular contact, and four point contact. There are also many options for ball types, alternative materials, seals and lubrication choices.

The radial cross section of a thin section ball bearing is significantly smaller than a standard bearing, which helps to save space and lower the overall weight of a design. They are commonly used in handling devices, industrial robots, textile machines, and medical equipment. They can be produced with a range of finishes including specialist coatings like thin dense chrome that helps extend service life and reduce vibration. In addition, they can be produced open, sealed or shielded.

Seals

Many types of seals can be fitted to thin section bearings including nitrile/BUNA-N, metal and high temperature PTFE. A range of shaft and housing fits are available too.

Because they don’t change cross sections as bore sizes increase, thin section bearings offer significant design efficiency advantages. This allows systems to be designed with much smaller components, reducing space and weight requirements, lowering the total cost of the system.

Angular contact and four point contact versions of thin section bearings are available too, each designed to excel in demanding applications. While single angular contact thin section bearings wouldn’t be recommended to support moment loads, duplex pairs can cope well. Four point contact thin section bearings feature 'gothic arch' raceways that create 4 contact points between the balls and the raceways, ideal for moments and reversing axial loads. These can be used in place of conventional radial contact thin section bearings. However, they cannot accept pure radial loads.